<p>Running until Thursday 21 June 2018, every year our Degree Shows offer an exclusive window into life at an independent art school, and a chance to preview a new wave of makers ready to take over the creative industries.</p> <p>Illustration graduates from Plymouth College of Art go on to do some incredibly exciting things. Last year Jake Williams won the coveted New Designer of the Year award at industry showcase, New Designers. We’ve picked out three BA (Hons) Illustration graduates from the 2018 Degree Shows to look out for at <a href="https://www.newdesigners.com/exhibitors/plymouth-college-of-art/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Designers</a> this year in July:</p>

<p><strong>Dominique Kirkby</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dominiquekirkby/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dominique Kirkby</a> is an illustrator who works primarily using coloured pencils to create hyper-real images for a range of applications, including textiles and gift wrap products. As well as gaining work experience designing and producing cards and gift wrap for Hallmark Cards during her degree, Dominique’s illustrations were also published on the cover of Made In Plymouth Magazine and exhibited at Theatre Royal Plymouth.</p> <p>A botanical theme and love of nature recurs throughout her work, as seen in her Siamese Fighting Fish pattern which was turned into a floor-length dress in an interdisciplinary project with BA (Hons) Fashion students.</p> <p>For the Degree Shows, Dominique has created complex repeating patterns inspired by the annual Orchids Festival held at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, to be printed on a range of products that could be sold to promote this and similar events. Additionally, a range of her most popular patterns have been printed and displayed on hanging Lucent Satin.</p>

<p><strong>George Goodwin</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/omgidrawedit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">George Goodwin</a> is an illustrator who has designed tour merchandise for BRIT award-nominated musician Jack Garratt and Scottish band Prides, who played the 2014 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony to 7.5 million people on BBC1. His work has been featured in Brut, Rooted and Bedboat magazines, and is stocked by house plants, design and lifestyle store, NoGutsNoGlory.</p> <p>Creating unique artwork inspired by his loves of nature and science-fiction, George’s work promotes a socially conscious message about our relationship with the planet and a need to reconnect with nature across society.</p> <p>George Goodwin said: “For the college Degree Shows I’ve created an illustrated book called Don’t Shoot the Long Tailed Tiger. Designed for all ages to enjoy, I hope that the strong anti-hunting and environmental messages will come across clearly for readers.”</p>

<p><strong>Harl Jones</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/harlillustration" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harl Jones</a> is an illustrator who is passionate about telling stories, specialising in comic-books, picture books and editorial illustrations. She cites nature, magic and Ghostbusters as her greatest influences.</p> <p>For the Degree Shows, Harl has created Fireside, a 24-page two-tone comic about the achievements and frustrations of scouting, with each page spotlighting a different merit badge. Printed on card stock and reminiscent of the Nobrow house style, Fireside is a charming meditation on childhood that reflects Harl’s love of collecting leaves and the passing of the seasons.</p> <p>Harl said: “I am greatly inspired by nature and so try to spend as much time as possible outdoors. I hope that my work can provide the same feeling as I get when I am outside: peacefulness and warmth. After graduation I will be working as a freelance illustrator and attending various comic and zine fairs. I’m hugely passionate about the possibilities for comics and zines, so also plan to run workshops that will offer opportunities for others to learn about these mediums.”</p> <ul><li><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-illustration" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Find out more about studying BA (Hons) Illustration with us</a></li></ul>