City of Westminster College Photography students have hosted another successful show at Free Range, the largest and most prestigious annual exhibition of graduate art and design in the UK. The private view took place on Thursday 16 June, at Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane and was followed by a three-day public viewing.

 

Untitled 2011 showed work by graduating students of Access to Higher Education Diploma, Foundation Degree, BTEC National Diploma and BTEC Higher National Certificate (HNC) photography courses. There was an impressive range of subjects and styles on display and the students received excellent reviews in Amelia’s Magazine and the Creative Review blog.

 

Photography HNC student Vikki Ellis was singled out in both reviews for her stunning series Austerity, inspired by stories she heard while working in the Civil Service. Her photos were described by Amelia Gregory as: “Some of the very best work I found in the whole Free Range exhibition…hyperreal tableaux with a highly effective painterly feel: dysfunctional working relationships portrayed in blank stares and grey piles of paper.” Creative Review blogger Eliza Williams said: “a lovely series by Vikki Ellis…which responds to the recent period of political change in the UK.”

 

Vikki Ellis, 37, worked as a designer with the Civil Service while studying for her HNC in Photography. Although she hasn’t had time to market her work due to her studies, her client list has already included Voyage Jewellery, NHS, Cabinet Office and Central Office of Information.

 

Vikki says: “I’ve always been into photography but began to take it really seriously a few years ago and my employers allowed me to move to a compressed contract – working a full working week over four days instead of five – so I could come back to College. It has been hard work, but I’d definitely recommend the part-time route – and I’m thrilled with these reviews!”

 

City of Westminster College offers superb professional facilities and expert tuition in Photography and is one of the few Further Education Colleges to exhibit at Free Range each year. Last year the College’s Foundation Degree in Photography student Robert Attard was among five winners of a Free Range Art Award. To find out more about City of Westminster College Photography courses, email tony.nuttall@cwc.ac.uk.

 

View the photographs exhibited at Free Range, as well as original pieces by Fashion & Textiles, Graphics and Multimedia students, at: