News and events

Dates announced for Brighton's graduate show – Hook, line and sinker

Published 28 April 2010

More than 500 graduating students from the University of Brighton showed their work to over 15,000 visitors this June at the annual Burt Brill and Cardens Graduate Show 2010, entitled Hook, line and sinker.

Transformed into the biggest art gallery in the south east, the Faculty of Arts played host to a variety of work from a range of 25 courses from fashion and 3D Design to photography.

Hook, line and sinker

As one of the city's cultural highlights of the year, the graduate show was accompanied by a bumper programme of activities, including the annual sell-out Graduate Fashion Show on Saturday 5 June and the Family Day on Sunday 6 June. This saw the return of the hugely popular Big Knit, where novices and pros come together with their knitting needles.

The graduate show provided an opportunity for visitors to uncover the next generation of promising artists, and they can commission artwork or compile a collection of the students' work before they become leading lights in their profession.

There are many student names worth remembering:

Steven Woodward, fashion with business student who was runner up at this year's Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD) competition had his work showcased as part of London Fashion Week. His designs were selected from more than 100 entrants in a competition described by Vogue.com as an 'undeniable springboard' for the next generation of talent.

Knitted textiles student Debbie Holman, who received a £2000 bursary from The Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters, will be displaying her clothing range, which is designed to help improve the quality of life for eczema sufferers. Debbie has worked with designers at Accessorize and her work has been sold in New York.

Also the recipient of a bursary from The Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters is knitted textiles student Sophie Penn. She will be exhibiting a range of work created as a result of her extensive research into the ways in which communication can be used in knitted textile design.

Textiles print student Laura Andrews, who has benefited from working in Ecuador, India and also at the design department of Accessorize, displayed her own range of fashion and textiles. With a great interest in fair trade, Laura is currently working as a designer for EcoChic, a company based in Hove, and she also contributes to the online magazine

Fine art print making student, Ania Zydron, jumped at the opportunity to take up a placement at the Nagoya University in Japan as part of her course. She had the opportunity to learn traditional Japanese woodcutting techniques and her exchange culminated in an international student exhibition.

The University of Brighton prides itself on producing some of the UK's most talented artists and designers. Past graduates include legendary Biba designer Barbara Hulanicki and Turner Prize-winners Keith Tyson and Rachel Whiteread. Fashion graduate Julien MacDonald who was voted British Designer of the Year 2001 and Gresham Blake has become modish tailor to style-conscious stars and listed in Time Out as one of Brighton's new wave of entrepreneurs. Karen Craig has also had outstanding success as one half of fashion duo Marchesa, the British couture label and must-have brand among Hollywood celebrities.

For more information, call the university press office on 01273 644756