Newbury College Art and Design students have celebrated creativity, skill and achievement at their annual End of Year Show.
The exhibition brought together final projects by students studying Art and Design at Levels 2, 3 and 4. Visitors experienced a diverse collection of visual art and thought-provoking design, created through a wide range of materials, techniques and creative approaches.
The show opened with a private view for friends and family on Monday 22 June. Students were joined by college governors, the Mayor of Newbury, Councillor Jo Day, and the Mayor’s Consort, Ian Jee. The exhibition then opened to the public from Tuesday 23 June to Thursday 25 June.
Level 2 and Level 3 students responded to the theme “PASSION! Exploring what drives creative expression”. Level 4 students continued to explore Perspective, the theme introduced for their mid-year exhibition in December 2025, with the work on show showcasing a culmination of their Final Major Project alongside brief themes such as Urban Legends.
Students were asked to choose a subject of special interest and communicate it through their final project. The open briefs encouraged them to develop a personal creative response while showing the research, experimentation and technical skills they had gained throughout the year.
The Level 2 programme introduces students to disciplines including drawing, painting, printmaking and digital design. It encourages experimentation, creative problem-solving and the development of ideas, leading to a personal final project.
At Level 3, students develop their creative practice through studio projects, contextual research and specialist technical work. They also build portfolios and gain experience of exhibitions, competitions, live briefs and industry collaboration.
The Level 4 Art, Design and Media Practice programme helps students bridge the gap between college and university or professional practice. Students explore disciplines including fine art, textiles, illustration, photography, printmaking, ceramics and design before specialising in an independent final project. The course also supports students to create professional portfolios, exhibit their work and prepare for careers in the creative industries.
The exhibition gave students valuable experience of presenting their work, discussing their creative decisions and engaging with an audience. These skills reflect Newbury College’s ‘Careers, not courses’ approach, which helps students prepare for higher education, employment, freelance work and other opportunities within the creative sector.
Level 4 student Emily Lewis said:
“I have really enjoyed my time on the Art and Design programme, and I feel it has really helped me and pushed me forward into pursuing my dream career. It inspired me to keep going and showed me that it is possible for me to achieve a job in the creative industries, and that it’s not just a silly dream.”
Fellow student Kara Bance said:
“This course has given me the confidence and support to experiment with new techniques and develop my ideas into meaningful pieces of art.”
The End of Year Show celebrated each student’s individual creative identity and the commitment behind their work. It also gave visitors the opportunity to discover emerging local talent and see the next generation of artists and designers developing their professional voices.
It is not too late to apply to study Art and Design at Newbury College this September. Whether you want to explore your creativity, develop specialist skills or prepare for university and a career in the creative industries, find out more and apply at newbury-college.ac.uk/art