Great course concludes for Chichester’s fine art students

This year’s fine art degree show from the university previews on June 4 from 6-9pm and is then open to the public from June 5-10, weekdays 11am-6pm, weekends 11am-4pm at St Michaels, Bognor Regis Campus, car park entrance off Felpham Way, PO21 1HR.

Kathy, who lives in the Horndean/Waterlooville area, said: “Chichester was just right. It was convenient with regards to the distance. I went to the open day, and I was really impressed with the facilities.

“I came as a mature student. Art was something I have always wanted to do. I did paint when I was a lot younger but I started a family but now that my children are grown up and doing their own thing, I thought it would be time to go back to do what I always wanted to do. It's fulfilling an ambition.”

But it certainly came with pressure: “You think that all students are going to be a lot younger than you and you just don't know how you're going to fit in but it has been a fantastic experience. I think fantastic firstly because of the subject and secondly because of the other people. Once you start to talk to the other people, then you realise that we are all in the same boat.

“I do oil paintings of objects with still lifes. I take my inspiration from still life but it is not quite the still lifes that people are familiar with. I work with objects. They are discarded materials or found objects, and I like to manipulate them with my hands. I construct something new and then I end up photographing it and then painting it.

“It has been a journey. Before my studies I used to do portraits and commissions of pets and then when you start at university they throw so many things at you that you start thinking maybe I could do a little bit of this or maybe I could do a little bit of that but then you start picking and you find your way and you commit.”

As for the exhibition, there are plenty of emotions involved: “I have never done anything like this before. I'm a bit nervous but excited at the same time. You put yourself out there and you expose your thoughts and yourself to the world. You just don't know how it is going to go down but I'm looking forward to it.”

As for what happens next, Kathy will be prioritising family matters for a year: “And then I'm hoping to do a masters in fine art. I'm so pleased to have done this but sad that it has come to the end. I keep saying that I would love to have another year. It has been fantastic. It has been the best thing that I could have done. The tutors have been absolutely amazing and incredibly supportive.”

For the exhibition, car parking is pay by phone. Mon-Fri 8am-6pm £2.10 per hrs. All other times £1.50 set fee. Free entry.

Tim Sandys-Renton, senior lecturer in fine art and programme coordinator, said: “Twelve talented fine art students are graduating this year having steadily built up a considerable level of artistic skill and theoretical underpinning over the last three years. They demonstrate real integrity, have all developed unusual styles, imagery and ideas, and are now ready to present their artistic visions to the wider community. This is an exhibition of contemporary art that builds on traditional skills and ideas as well as introducing highly individual perspectives on the world.”