Career Thoughts

The Valley between Val D'isere and Tignes

When I was 18, there was no University course that I could imagine staying invested in for 3 years. Instead I moved to France on my own and worked in the Rhône-Alpes surrounded by mountains. I started working in a hotel kitchen and within 3 years I was managing two restaurants in La Tania. The scenery was too beautiful not to photograph and not to paint; as a result by the time I returned to the UK creating art and photography was my escapism to combat trading mountain views for the concrete jungle.

Although working in hospitality had rewarded me with higher confidence in my people skills and a great work ethic, I felt I had nothing to show for it... the industry doesn't feel half as glamorous when your commute is accompanied by rain instead of snow. I started a Fine Art Foudation year at the London College of Art although it was short lived due to the pandemic. My first introduction to Creative Media came from a list of University Degrees and I almost couldn't believe my luck; I felt as though the course itself had been written for me whilst I was living abroad.

View outside Hotel Le Montana, La Tania

The past three years at university have been an incredibly rewarding period for me, from gaining valuable insight into exciting career prospects to spending my summer in Rizhao Polytechnic, China, at their summer school program for Creative Media. Although I'm proud of the quality and variation of projects I've been able to work on, I’m driven to refine my skills further by learning from industry professionals. I don't see graduation as the end of my education, almost the opposite - I can't wait for a future where I can refine my skills in a professional setting, learning from experienced mentors and adapting to the ever-evolving creative landscape.