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Ones to Watch from Arts University Plymouth's Graduate Shows 2024

Join us in celebrating a new wave of creative talent for a changing world
<p dir="ltr">From cutting-edge fashion design and innovative material practices to timeless costume production and visionary digital world-building, creative graduates are showcasing the culmination of their work at Arts University Plymouth in the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/graduate-shows-2024">Graduate Shows 2024</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Winner of University of the Year for South West England at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024, <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/">Arts University Plymouth</a> offers Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Pre-Degree study across Art, Design and Digital Media. Founded in 1856, Arts University Plymouth is a new kind of Arts University for the 21st century, preparing graduates who are uniquely placed to provide creative solutions to complex global challenges of our times. </p> <p dir="ltr">A world-class ecosystem of creative resources and talented people, Arts University Plymouth was voted by students as the top arts university in the UK for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2022. </p> <p>In no particular order, here’s a roundup of some standout graduates to look out for at the undergraduate Graduate Shows 2024 and beyond. For more information on this year’s graduates, please email <a href="mailto:press@aup.ac.uk">press@aup.ac.uk</a>.</p>
Jasmine Atkinson Queen Charlotte

Jasmine Atkinson's interpretation of Queen Charlotte’s 1781 dress

<h3><strong>Jasmine Atkinson</strong></h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-costume-production">BA (Hons) Costume Production</a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jasmine_poppy_designs">Instagram</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Jasmine Atkinson is a 21-year-old costume designer from Malvern, Worcestershire. During her studies at Arts University Plymouth, Jasmine developed a professional relationship with the Musical Performance Society at the University of Plymouth, Jasmine formed and headed a costume service for the society over the last three years, providing costumes and leading a team of students for stage productions including ‘Into the Woods’, ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Footloose’. <br /><br />Jasmine has created an interpretation of Queen Charlotte’s dress, based on the portrait by Thomas Gainsborough, currently held in Buckingham Palace’s Queen’s Gallery. Recreating a dress from 1781 has required Jasmine to undertake meticulous historical research and sourcing of appropriate materials, allowing Jasmine to demonstrate her extensive technical abilities. The finished costume includes period-accurate underpinnings, stays, panniers and a sack-back dress, working with fabrics including duchess satin and silk organza.</p>
Tinside Lido Prepares for Summer by Matt Marshall

Tinside Lido Prepares for Summer by Matt Marshall

<h3><strong>Matt Marshall</strong></h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-commercial-photography-1">BA (Hons) Commercial Photography</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mattmarshall_photography/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.mattmarshall.co.uk/">Website</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Matt Marshall is a photographer who specialises in fashion and editorial photography. Matt won ‘Best in Show’ overall at the prestigious national Association of Photographers (AOP) Student Awards 2024 this month, as well as winning Gold in the ‘Places’ category and Silver in the ‘People’ category. Last year Matt won in the Single Image category of the EIZO UK Student Awards.</p> <p dir="ltr">Matt’s photographic style blends industry trends with personal experimentation, producing thought-provoking work that he has brought to life for previous clients including Mercedes-Benz, The Casual Basement, and W Model Management.</p>
Olivia Pine Amethisan Cave

Olivia Pine's Amethisan Cave concept

<h3><strong>Olivia Pine</strong></h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-animation-games">BA (Hons) Animation &amp; Games</a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lillypine.arts/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.lillypine.com/">Website</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Olivia Pine is an illustrator and concept artist specialising in environment and character design, with an interest in worldbuilding, spanning a broad range of futuristic sci-fi themes and the natural environments of alien landscapes. Based in Devon, Olivia creates new worlds that are grounded by environmental sciences, scientific theories and real-world cultures. Merging science with art, her work covers environmental themes and promotes a positive attitude towards the natural environment. <br /></p> <p dir="ltr">Primarily a digital artist, Olivia works mostly in Photoshop and Procreate, alongside using Blender, 3DS Max, Substance Painter and Unreal Engine 5 to sketch complex environments or construct intricate props.</p>
Work by Josh Parrett

Work by Josh Parrett

<h3><strong><strong><strong>Josh Parrett</strong></strong></strong><br /></h3> <p><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-photography">BA (Hons) Photography</a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jtparrett/">Instagram</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Josh Parrett is a portrait photographer based in Plymouth. Josh worked as an assistant to renowned photographer Oliver Frank Chanarin in preparation for his national exhibition, <a href="https://karst.org.uk/exhibitions/oliver-frank-chanarin-a-perfect-sentence/"><em>A Perfect Sentence</em></a>, which was shown early 2024 in KARST Gallery. Josh demonstrates a high level of professionalism and commitment to his practice and was featured by skate brand Flatspot as part of the <a href="https://www.flatspot.com/blogs/blog/in-focus-josh-parrett">In Focus series</a>.<br /></p>
Lisa Mc Eleny Part of Ephemeral Bodies Grown manipulated root

Lisa McEleny - Part of Ephemeral Bodies - Grown, manipulated root

<h3><strong>Lisa McEleny</strong></h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-craft-material-practices">BA (Hons) Craft &amp; Material Practices</a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lisamceleny_art/">Instagram</a></p> <p dir="ltr">‘Ephemeral Bodies’, Lisa McEleny’s semi-autobiographical series of work, examines the ageing female form as an object that changes and decays over time. Her series of work tells a narrative of transience and a midlife phase between life and death, between growth and decay, where acceptance, peace and beauty may be found alongside fragility and vulnerability.<br /></p>
Lisa Mc Eleny Latex and grown Chia

Lisa McEleny - Latex and grown Chia

<p>Ephemeral materials, including wheatgrass and chia, are grown, manipulated, interact and merge with other materials including latex, plaster, porcelain and copper, playing with ideas of permanence and impermanence. They are furnished with altered states as subtle representations of bodily changes such as ageing skin and osteoporosis. These interpretations of female ageing form a cohesive group of both living and inanimate, digital and analogue which help the audience witness the processes involved in the artist's creative practice.</p>
Maddy Franklin 2024 image generated in Midjourney

Maddy Franklin, 2024. image generated in Midjourney

<h3><strong>Maddy Franklin</strong></h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fashion-media-marketing">BA (Hons) Fashion Media &amp; Marketing</a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.neosphera.online/">Website</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Maddy Franklin is a biomaterial researcher, specialising in luxury footwear. Her work at Arts University Plymouth, ‘NEÖSPHERA’, investigates sustainable materials and methods, with a focus on footwear and associated branding and communication. </p> <p dir="ltr">27-year-old Maddy utilises artificial intelligence software, including Midjourney, to develop design inspiration, drawing from collaborations like Birkenstock x Dior and Crocs x Simone Rocha. Emphasising ‘quiet luxury’ and ‘elegant comfort’ through organic shapes and material experimentation. Maddy aims to source bioplastic samples for shoe design experimentations. Through ‘NEÖSPHERA’, Maddy seeks to revolutionise the luxury footwear market by integrating innovative biomaterials and forward-thinking design, engaging consumers who value high-quality, sustainable products.<br /></p>

India-May Baker and Molly Vivian's 'Coasting'

<h3><strong>India-May Baker &amp; Molly Vivian</strong></h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-film-screen-arts">BA (Hons) Film &amp; Screen Arts</a></p> <p dir="ltr">India-May: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bimble_tree/">Instagram</a></p> <p>Molly: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mollyannvivian.film/">Instagram</a></p> <p dir="ltr">India-May is a filmmaker whose work explores social realist filmmaking. During her studies, 29-year-old India-May produced work for nationally award-winning women and children’s charity Trevi. Her film ‘Ow Kernow’ made official selection for the 2023 Berlin Fashion Film festival as well as working as a first assistant director and onset producer for 2023 Film &amp; Screen Arts graduate Willow Whatley’s graduate film ‘Alison &amp; Thalia’, which went on to win at the Chagford Film Festival.</p> <p dir="ltr">Molly has produced music videos for bands including The Likelihood, Fox Hole, and Fluff. She is also a cinematographer and director with a keen interest and skill in working with analogue media.<br /></p>
India May Baker and Molly Vivian Photo by Kirsty Smith

India-May Baker and Molly Vivian - Photo by Kirsty Smith

<p>Molly has produced music videos for bands including The Likelihood, Fox Hole, and Fluff. She is also a cinematographer and director with a keen interest and skill in working with analogue media.<br /></p> <p dir="ltr">India-May and Molly have collaborated to produce <a href="https://vimeo.com/958463555" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘Coasting’</a>, a coming-of-age film exploring the effects of grief on a group of friends. This sense of loss and mourning is deftly explored through sophisticated visual storytelling and performance.</p>
Lydia Pennell Ode 2024
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LYDIA PENNELL LINE UP 2

Lydia Penell's Ode collection

<h3><strong>Lydia Pennell</strong></h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fashion-design">BA (Hons) Fashion Design</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/rozsika.uk/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://rozsika.co.uk/">Website</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Lydia Pennell is a fashion designer who embraces femininity. Working exclusively with natural second-hand materials, the garments from Lydia’s brand, ‘ROZSIKA’, are constructed using second-hand clothing and vintage materials in an attempt to minimise waste.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lydia’s collection, ‘Ode’, takes her love of poetry, literature and theatre, coupled with the strength and endearing sense of community with the women in her life, to create a collection that offers a sense of comfort, freedom and peace. </p>
Zara Lily Mc Dermott how to use your throw 2

Spread from Zara Lily McDermott's 'Seeds of Hope' zine

<h3><strong>Zara Lily McDermott</strong></h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-illustration">BA (Hons) Illustration</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/zaralily_illustrates/?hl=en">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://zaralilymcdermott.com/">Website</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Zara Lily McDermott is an illustrator who is passionate about creating a positive impact through her work, drawing inspiration from the natural world and human experiences. Her visual language can range from simple spot illustration to more complex compositions, blending fun colours, bold shapes and quirky characters. Zara produces her illustrations through mixing traditional and digital mediums.</p> <p dir="ltr">25-year-old Zara won the Global Challenges Award at Arts University Plymouth for her innovative zine about ethical foraging, designed to promote good health and wellbeing in a sustainable way. Zara and her zine also won <a href="https://www.creative-conscience.org.uk/winners/foraging-zine">Silver at the national Creative Conscience Awards</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Zara's latest project, 'Seeds of Hope', is a woven jacquard throw and accompanying zine that is representative of female empowerment and community, how we support each other, share wisdom and help each other grow and become stronger. The imagery within the throw is inspired by responses to a questionnaire Zara created which was responded to by over 70 women.<br /></p>
Ruthie Holmes 10

Work by Ruthie Homes

<h3><strong>Ruthie Holmes</strong></h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-textile-design">BA (Hons) Textile Design</a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ruthieholmestextilesdesigner/">Instagram</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Ruthie Holmes is a multi-disciplinary designer-maker with a commitment to handcrafting, who explores pattern, texture, shape, and colour in her work. Sustainability is key to Ruthie’s practice, working with hand block printing onto natural fabrics and using eco-friendly dyes to create bespoke quality textiles homewares. Her coordinated design is reflected in a range of mediums including textiles, glass and ceramics. Ruthie’s portfolio is vibrant and colourful, indulging her lifelong love of colour.</p> <p dir="ltr">‘Connecting the Dots’ is a tribute to her deep connection to the Cornish landscape, innovative use of materials and to 1920s Art Deco, abstract and geometric art. This is what fuels Ruthie’s love of design and her passion and enthusiasm for creating quality, longevity and sustainability in her practice. Her vision is to bring together a cohesive, coordinated look that is inspired by Cornwall.<br /></p>
Cynthia Lewarne Vortex Publishing Company

Cynthia Lewarne's Vortex Publishing Company mockup

<h3><strong>Cynthia Lewarne </strong></h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-graphic-design">BA (Hons) Graphic Design</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cynthia.c.design/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.cynthiaportfolio.com/">Website</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Cynthia Lewarne is a graphic designer whose passion for packaging has seen her deliver design solutions for internationally-recognised brands, working on teams that have generated packaging designs for properties including ‘Star Wars’, Marvel’s ‘Avengers’, ‘Spider-Man’, and ‘Venom’, Disney’s ‘Frozen’, ‘Winnie the Pooh’, and ‘Wreck-It Ralph’, as well as undertaking projects for clients including HSBC and Hot Toys.</p> <p dir="ltr">Having worked in the design industry for 5 years in Hong Kong, Cynthia relocated to the UK and joined Arts University Plymouth in 2022 to complete a BA (Hons) Graphic Design degree. She has extensive experience with corporate materials, from brochures and infographics to complex packaging design and branding packs. Cynthia’s recent commissions have included a series of designs for Vortex Publishing Company, a Hong Kong-based publisher of music magazines.<br /></p>
Dannielle Hunter Kiki 1

Dannielle Hunter's exterior concept for 'Kiki'

<h3><strong>Dannielle Hunter</strong></h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-interior-design?utm_source=href&amp;utm_medium=google_cpc&amp;utm_campaign=undergraduate_open_day&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw9vqyBhCKARIsAIIcLME08qyIdtWxjR0zWCaeIPXxOa33pmJQPvOmyGnA1sp89NqTn6yhahEaAkR6EALw_wcB">BA (Hons) Interior Design &amp; Styling</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/danniellehunter/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://heyzine.com/flip-book/42b16297bc.html">Website</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Dannielle Hunter is an interior designer from Manchester who weaves together colour, textures and design elements to create functional spaces that tell meaningful stories.<br /></p>
Dannielle Hunter Kiki 2

Dannielle Hunter's internal concepts for 'Kiki'

<p>Drawing inspiration from history, culture, client experiences, traditions and trends, and using this to inform every aspect of the design process, Dannielle’s conceptual work ‘Kiki’ designs a hairdresser and training facility in Manchester to empower black women with curls, coils, and kinks, who feel let down by high-street hair salons. ‘Kiki’ is inspired by research into hair discrimination and the spiritual ties that Nigeria’s Yoruba people have to hair. Dannielle’s designs combine energising vibrant hues and soft soothing tones to shape the mood of the interiors, create atmosphere, add personality and improve wellbeing.</p>
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Dezeta Fantie with her work at the Graduate Shows 2024

<h3><strong>Dezeta Fantie</strong></h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fine-art">BA (Hons) Fine Art</a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dezzartzz/">Instagram</a> </p> <p dir="ltr">Dezeta Fantieis an interdisciplinary Black British Caribbean artist who uses a mixture of textiles, collage and text within her work. Dezeta’s practice examines her heritage, black female experiences and history, as well as considering how or which histories are preserved. Different methods of storytelling, cultural memory and ways to memorialise the lives of black women, present, past and imagined, are a continued area of research for Dezeta. She hopes to connect her audience to tactile structures, hidden histories and forgotten narratives. </p> <p dir="ltr">Dezeta’s work with Arts University Plymouth’s Graduate Shows 204 focuses on black hair, its historical significance and her own personal relationship to it. During her studies, Dezeta has been an active member of Plymouth’s creative community, assisting on exhibitions at KARST, MIRROR, Studio 11 and Project Space 1 and creating content for the events.<br /></p>
Maggie Powell The Way We Are Made Acrylic Painting 122x122x4cm

Maggie Powell's 'The Way We Are Made'

<h3><strong>Maggie Powell</strong></h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-painting-drawing-printmaking">BA (Hons) Painting Drawing &amp; Printmaking</a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/maggie_powell_art/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.maggiepowellart.co.uk/">Website</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Maggie Powell is an artist specialising in portraiture, making vibrant acrylic paintings, monotype prints and charcoal studies. Maggie’s approach to portraiture is deeply personal, pursuing an interest in character and connection that relies on a process of self reflection and gleaning insights from her subjects. A painting from her 2023 self-portrait series, ‘Hard Reset’, was shortlisted for the Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Prize 2023 and shown in the competition exhibition at the Atkinson Gallery in Southport. </p> <p dir="ltr">Maggie recently organised and delivered a series of self-portrait workshops in Plymouth, to encourage artists to engage in positive discussions about the self. Culminating in an exhibition, curated by Maggie, she hopes the workshops will help artists understand the differences in the ways they approach drawing themselves in comparison to others. <br /></p>
Jennifer Popiolek Flower Arrangment

Jennifer Popiolek's 'Irrigation Flow'

<h3><strong>Jennifer Popiolek</strong></h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/level-0-extended-degrees">Extended BA (Hons) Photography </a></p> <p dir="ltr">Jennifer Popiolek is a mixed-media artist whose three-dimensional and photographic works explore themes of light, darkness, and the therapeutic nature of artistic practice. Jennifer’s experiences travelling in India, studying arts, ancient dance forms, esoteric practices both physical and meditative, and years spent supporting families through bereavement as an undertaker in the natural death movement, exposed her to a deeper understanding of the dichotomy of the human experience.</p> <p dir="ltr">During recovery from cancer, Jennifer found solace in creativity, gaining skills in corsetry and tailoring before joining Arts University Plymouth’s Extended BA (Hons) degree. Encouraged to experiment with different mediums before specialising, the immediacy and emotional impact of photography resonated with Jennifer and she developed a mixed media practice, exploring the hidden nature of materials including those used daily in her stoma care. Through her practice, Jennifer reveals the ethereal beauty of these everyday practical objects.<br /></p>