Tag: show

Westminster Kingsway College student Bella Morley hopes to become the biggest star in fashion to come out of Croydon since supermodel Kate Moss.

The aspiring designer travels from her home in south London to the college’s King’s Cross Centre every day, where she is studying for a Fashion and Textiles Level 3 Diploma.

Bella, 18, said: “I’ve always been very creative and interested in fashion from a young age. I really like the art and design aspect of it and the course at WestKing really appealed to me.”

Bella explained how one day she will be learning about textile design and printing, and the next she’ll be creating her own fashion collections and gaining the skills to make her own clothes.

“I enjoy fashion illustration and experimenting with different textiles and printing techniques to create imagery, learning different sewing techniques and using lots of different materials,” she said.

“I didn’t know any of these things before. I had an interest in it, but never really went into it in any depth. It was completely alien to me, but now it just comes naturally.”

Bella initially studied A Levels at sixth form but soon realised that she preferred the practical side of a more vocational course.

She said: “The course is more focused on what I want to do and more hands on. At school it’s more about learning by writing about it, but personally I find it easier to learn when I’m doing something.

“The facilities at the college are much better than other places I’ve been. You’re really free to use them as you like, which I’d not really experienced before. I like having that creative freedom.”

While at WestKing, Bella has joined in various activities including an art session at Central St Martins where she will be studying for a BA (Hons) Fashion Communication in September.

“The teaching has been really great. All of my teachers have been lovely and really helpful. I could call them on any day to get help with my work. There’s a lot of guidance and support to develop your ideas,” said Bella.

“I definitely want to do something in the fashion and design industry. I don’t think I could do anything else.”

If you have creative and artistic flair and like Bella maybe want to work in fashion, apply now for our Art, Design and Fashion courses here.

Students showcased their creative talents when they exhibited a “stunning and thought-provoking” collection of work at an Art, Design and Media Show at Westminster Kingsway College.

The show featuring students’ final year project work filled the atrium of the college’s King’s Cross Centre and attracted viewings from creative professionals, teachers, staff, parents and students.

It featured a collection of paintings, drawings, textiles, sculptures, photographs and digital designs created by Art and Design, Fashion and Textiles, Creative Media Production and Animation and Games Design students.

Art and Design students’ work included designs and illustrations for books, vinyl record covers and product packaging. There were also character drawings, paintings and sculptures made of wood and plastic and other materials including some created using 3D printing.

Fashion and Textiles students exhibited various colourful fabric prints and garments alongside the materials they used to make them and photographs of students wearing the finished outfits.

Animation and Games Design students gave demonstrations and displayed large prints of screenshots of many of the games they had created, while Creative Media Production students displayed digitally manipulated prints and sculptures including some that incorporated video.

Grace Jackson, Head of School for Creative, Digital Media and Arts, said: “After many tribulations of multiple lockdowns it is great to see the students stunning and thought-provoking work on display at the college.

“The exhibition really shows their dedication. They have each shown to their creative specialism and the breadth of their knowledge and skills they have gained while studying at WestKing, from traditional methods to modern digital techniques.

 “It was amazing to have a celebration of the students and their fantastic work with their friends, family and industry professionals. I am so proud of every one of them and I wish them all the best in the next step of their journey.”

Explore your artistic and creative side and express yourself at WestKing this September. Apply now for Art, Design and Fashion courses here and Digital Media and Creative Computing courses here.

Westminster Kingsway College (WestKing) Performing Arts lecturer Rob Alexander has shared his top tips for aspiring actors in The Stage.

Rob featured on the renowned publication’s website that covers all aspects of theatre, drama and entertainment news, features, reviews from across the country on 9 June.

In the article, he shares how he started in acting, what prompted him to move into teaching, his advice for drama students and what he would change about the industry.

Rob said: “The Stage contacted me through Twitter asking if I’d be happy to discuss the provision of the creative arts in further education and how it fits into the jigsaw that is the economy, as part of a series of weekly guest articles in arts training articles they were running.”

Rob, who will be leaving WestKing this summer after nearly two decades at the college, recently wrote and performed his latest one-man show Keeper of the Flame, which premiered at the Young Actors Theatre in Islington and will be performed during Camden Fringe this August.

His acting career includes film and TV roles in The Fifth Element, The Chief, and Devices and Desires, while his stage work includes The Caretaker, Sunset Ship and Alice in Wonderland.

Rob said: “It’s been a pleasure working at WestKing with some wonderfully creative and hugely talented students over the years, many of whom are now friends, including one who is directing my new show!”

Read the article: Course Leader Rob Alexander: ‘The creative arts enrich, embolden and enthuse all our lives. Promote it, don’t demote it’

Please note, registration is required to view the article.

WestKing is home to some of the best theatrical stage and production facilities in London. Our tutors have experience in all aspects of performance and will harness your talent by developing your vocal, improvisation and collaborative skills, as well as giving you the resilience and confidence needed to work in this highly competitive industry.

Our acting alumni includes Babatunde Aléshé, Jamali Maddix, Tobi King Bakare, Francis Lovehall, Romario Simpson, Amy Revelle, Shaday Barrowes and Babiyre Bukilwa.

Apply now for a Performing Arts course here.