Art and Design: student success stories
Learn more about the fantastic accomplishments of City Lit's Art and Design students
City Lit's Art and Design students frequently go on to further study, exhibit their work or sell their art. Below, you can view a selection of our students' many and varied accomplishments. If you have a success story of your own, we'd love to hear from you! Let us know more at communications@citylit.ac.uk.
Advanced Art Practice
Anna Gayner
Anna sat both Year 1 and Year 2 of the City Lit Fine Art Course concurrently last year, focusing on painting-based practice to explore heritage and identity.
She has recently been accepted on to an MA in Painting course at the Royal College of Art, the world’s leading Art and Design university.
Speaking of her experience, Anna said, “I loved my time at City Lit and am so grateful to the brilliant teachers who have been so generous in sharing their incredible wisdom and expertise with me."
Alison O'Reilly
After the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design Diploma course, Alison enrolled on the Contemporary Practice Personal Project (CPPP) course to continue developing her practice.
Since CPPP: she’s settled into a new studio in East London with Bow Arts; been shortlisted for the RA Summer Exhibition; and shown her work at City Lit's Mental Wealth Festival. She’s currently planning a group exhibition with three women from their foundation year. In her words, “watch this space!”
Take a look at Alison's website.
Glenda Frieder
Glenda completed the City Lit Foundation Diploma in Art and Design course in 2020, going on to study a BA (Hons) in Fine Art at Goldsmiths University.
She started creating privately commissioned ink and illustration works, before moving into a studio. There, she continues to make sculptural pieces, film projects, and larger scale ink and paint works.
Her latest project will be displayed in a forthcoming group show in early 2024.
Take a look at Glenda's website.
Helen Thompson
Since leaving City Lit, Helen has studied a BA (Hons) Textile Design course at UCA Farnham.
The Foundation Diploma in Art and Design course gave her confidence in her abilities, entering two pieces of work into an Exhibition in London Curated by fellow City Lit student Kate Rossini.
Helen has continued developing at the college, taking short courses which have helped her to create hand-sewn makes, silk scarves, and fabric bowls with a maker in Canada.
Natalie Bonney
Natalie specialised in ceramics and textiles during the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at City Lit, but eventually moved into 3D modelling on a short course at 3D Hobs.
She returned to City Lit to mentor the next cohort of ceramics students and has since taught hand building clay taster classes at Ceramic, a studio in Stoke Newington. She hopes to continue to explore the crossover of technology and ceramics and eventually teach her own hand building course.
Bruno Elorrioroz
Bruno is now in his final year studying a BA (Hons) in Fine Art at City and Guilds of London Art School, after previously completing the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.
He is currently working on compositions exploring hybrid forms of humans, animals, objects, plants, and non-humans.
Katharina Rieppel
After completing the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design course, with the great help and encouragement of the brilliant City Lit tutors, Katharina applied for Fine art BA courses at Central St Martin's, Chelsea and Camberwell and was offered a place at all three colleges. She is now in her 3rd Year at UAL Camberwell School of Art.
Shaowei Lei
Shaowei loved the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design course, still using much of what she learned at City Lit her in her creative practice. She has gone on to study a BA Fine Art Drawing degree at UaL Camberwell. Her work has been displayed Drawing Room Gallery, OXO Tower Wharf Barge House Gallery, and the most recently in the Camberwell Gallery Space.
Shaowei Lei
Shaowei loved the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design course, still using much of what she learned at City Lit her in her creative practice. She has gone on to study a BA Fine Art Drawing degree at UaL Camberwell. Her work has been displayed Drawing Room Gallery, OXO Tower Wharf Barge House Gallery, and the most recently in the Camberwell Gallery Space.
Visual Communications
Wendy Bowen
After completing the Children's Book Illustration course at City Lit, Wendy was selected as "Highly Commended" in Macmillan Illustration Prize 2023 and shortlisted for Best Illustrated Book in the Searchlight Awards. She has secured representation with leading talent agency, Curtis Brown, and is currently working on her debut picture book with a top UK publisher.
Antoinette Brooks
Antoinette Brooks won the Jericho Prize 22/23 and Golden Egg Academy award for her picture book text, ‘Friday Night Cake’. She’s currently working on a picture book with a leading UK publisher. Antoinette’s work is also featured in a poetry anthology curated by the Children's Laureate, Joseph Coelho.
Bruno Elorrioroz
Bruno is now in his final year studying a BA (Hons) in Fine Art at City and Guilds of London Art School, after previously completing the City Lit Diploma.
He is currently working on compositions exploring hybrid forms of humans, animals, objects, plants, and non-humans.
We'd love to hear from you!
Are you a former or current City Lit student who has gone on to further study or exhibit your work? We would love to hear from you and include your story on this page! Please do let us know further details by getting in touch at communications@citylit.ac.uk.
Learn more
>> Get in touch at writing@citylit.ac.uk or give the Writing Department a call on 020 7492 2717.
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