Access to HE Students Get Ready to ‘Press to Impress’ at Exciting Art & Design Exhibition

Our Access to HE Art & Design students are set to showcase their incredible creative talent in a brand-new exhibition this March.

Titled Press to Impress, the exhibition celebrates the hard work, skill, and imagination of our students, giving them the chance to present their hand-crafted work to the public and the wider creative community.

The exhibition will launch with an evening event at Monocle on Friday 20th March from 6pm – 8pm, bringing together students, staff, and members of the local arts community to celebrate the opening of the show. Following this, the exhibition will remain open to the public until Monday 1st June, with opening hours from Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm, and at weekends from 10am – 5pm. A second launch night will follow at our Institute of Arts building on Thursday 26th March from 6pm – 8pm.

Visitors can expect to see a vibrant mix of artwork, including printmaking, ceramics and glass, drawing, and mixed media. Each piece reflects the personal ideas, research, and experimentation of our students, offering a glimpse into the professional standards and creativity they are developing.

For many of our students, this exhibition represents a major step towards their future careers in the creative industries.

Niamh Sinclair, 28, said: “Having the opportunity to exhibit our work in a professional setting is fantastic. It pushes you into thinking like a professional artist. Your work isn’t hidden away in a sketchbook anymore – it’s out in the world where anyone can see it. Knowing that people from the creative industry might view your work makes you take it more seriously and challenge yourself. It makes you realise you could achieve something really special.

“My piece is a three-part series called Wintering. It explores how birds survive harsh winters, but also works as a metaphor for how we deal with difficult seasons in our own lives. While researching the project, I spent time observing wildlife and noticed how birds adapt and carry on – they’re proactive and resilient. The series looks at different aspects of winter and encourages us to engage with it differently, rather than just trying to endure it.”

Fellow student Ashley Manns-Agar, 35, added: “Everyone is really excited to see their work on display at Monocle. We’ve all put a huge amount of effort into preparing our pieces, and it’s been great to receive feedback and support from our tutors and classmates along the way – from developing ideas to refining things like posters and presentation.

“Working with other students on the course has helped us collaborate and share ideas about the meaning behind our artwork. Being able to present that work to the public is a fantastic opportunity and something we’re all really proud of.”

Press to Impress offers a unique chance to see the emerging talent of our students and experience the creativity coming out of our vibrant arts community. We invite visitors to attend either launch evening to explore the work, meet the artists, and celebrate the achievements of our students as they take an important step into the professional creative world.

Discover more about our range of Access to HE courses for adults aged 19+ here.