Brighton student's guide to Van Gogh

Lucia Vinti, in her final year of BA(Hons) Illustration, was selected for the project after the Tate Collective saw her drawing of Tate Britain on Instagram. Initially, Lucia was asked to create a series of smartphone backgrounds for Tate.

Later, when the interpretation department at Tate were looking for an artist to illustrate their family guide for the ‘Van Gogh and Britain’ show, they recommended Lucia. She had recently made a book about visiting museums for a project, which influenced Tate in their decision to commission her.

Lucia, 22, said she was “surprised, overwhelmed and extremely grateful” to have been chosen: “I had to re-read the email about 500 times to take it in.”

Her free guide, designed for children and adults, poses questions and provides information about the Dutch post-impressionist painter and his art for each of the exhibition’s nine rooms. Lucia also drew miniature versions of Van Gogh’s artworks.

Lucia Vinti with her guide

A sample of Lucia's guide

Roderick Mills, Course Leader BA (Hons) Illustration, said: “The Tate commission demonstrates the strong entrepreneurial spirit of the students at Brighton, and in this case has allowed Lucia to combine her own pursuit of personal subject matter for the course, with an actual live commission.

“This, hopefully, demonstrates to her what kind of a commercial practice she can have as she approaches graduation – these real life opportunities help to put into practice what the students have been learning on the course.”

Lucia said Brighton was a “really nice place to live as a student” and that she would be “sad” to leave the University this summer.

Of her career ambitions, Lucia said: “I’d like to be an illustrator who makes work for both children and adults, particularly about travel, people and culture. I also enjoy running and organising workshops, so I’d like a job that allows me to do that – maybe teaching.”

The ‘Van Gogh and Britain’ exhibition runs until 11 August.