Toff Rigert (Graduated 2009 – Photographer)

After leaving Uni, I moved up to London to check out the art scene. I gathered information on possible exhibition spaces and to continued producing art work, alongside looking for work. During this time I also came back to Chichester to show work in the Joy Gallery and the Joy Festival, all of which I sold.

I am now living in Switzerland where I am currently working on building my own website www.toffcreations.com and working on a new portfolio of work for exhibitions here in Switzerland and England.

University of Chichester helped me to realise what I wish to do in life, and gave me the confidence and skills to research how to make it work. It has also given me the ability to be self-directed and productive. www.akatoff.com

Alice Corby (Graduated 2009 – Artist and freelance art teacher)

Since finishing University I was involved in Hampshire open studios where I sold numerous pieces of work. I have also been keeping up -to-date on exhibitions locally and in London, have been looking for places to exhibit my work and have continued to produce new pieces. In September I started working at a specialist arts school for students aged 11-16; this is giving me some good experience whilst keeping my mind actively creative.

Vikki Leedham (Graduated 2009 – Assistant Curator)

I am the Assistant curator at The Hannah Peschar Gallery, where I've been since mid June. I spent a few weeks getting to know the gallery before the previous assistant left. I now have a range of responsibilities here - ranging from greeting visitors and looking after the reception, to contacting clients and artists about buying and selling work. The amount of artists I have met/spoken to since working here is amazing - so many interesting people! We have buyers from all over the world (including some rather famous Hollywood actors!)   I also take all the photos for the website and promo material (great fun!). The owner/curator is an amazing lady, she is so passionate about art and the gallery, and is full of fascinating stories. The gallery is only open from May till the end of October, so over the winter we will be getting new artists/pieces for next year's season

Vicki Isted (Graduated 2008 – Photographer & Digital Artist)

After graduating from my Fine Art degree, I was unsure of how to progress and decided to take a further course and study a diploma in Photography. During this time I was contacted by several companies to design logos and spent several months creating images for an online bespoke kitchen design application. However, I caught the photography bug and was asked by a local events photographer (www.smileevent.co.uk) to assist and edit photographs; I have since been approached by another larger photography company (www.helentinner.com) and now assist at a greater range of events and weddings, along with the admin side of things! All in all, it has so far been a great experience where I've met so many people and been to some amazing events!

I am now building up my portfolio of work on my fresh new website (www.vicki-isted.co.uk) where I sell photographic prints and t-shirt designs. I have also had work exhibited during the Arundel Festival and photographs printed in Portsmouth's 'The News' and published on Portsmouth City Council's website and have recently had my first private request to photograph a wedding.

Without my degree behind me, and more specifically my first two years studying a minor in Design for Digital Media I wouldn't have the skills and knowledge I gained with Adobe and my understanding of design, print and screen and the ability to work independently with my own ideas.

Katie Parfey (Graduated 2009 – Artist)

Since completing my Degree, I have set up a studio with another graduate and am currently researching for new work with which to approach galleries. Shortly after the degree show, I was made redundant from my job and took this as a sign to commit completely to life as a struggling artist! The degree developed my organizational abilities, my personal discipline and my problem-solving resources and also my self-belief. I have every intention of continuing to push myself and question life through art and will hopefully show in London in future.

Rosina Godwin (Graduated 2009 – Artist)

At the moment I am doing a solo show in Aldershot at the West End Centre (Queens Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 3JD

(www.westendcentre.co.uk) titled DREAMS AND NIGHTMARES - which opened on the 5th October '09 and is on till 17th October '09. The Private View is on Tues 6th Oct, 7-9pm, anyone (staff/students) who wants to come tonight is more than welcome! Jane Askew and myself are also doing a joint exhibition at the Harvey Gallery, Harvey Road, Guildford, Surrey. GU1 3RX www.harveygallery.co.uk

www.rosinagodwin.co.uk / www.janeaskew.co.uk) titled THE UNCANNY:- EXPLORING AN UNCERTAIN REALITY - which opens on the 25th January and finishes on the 6th February 2010.

I had always wanted to do my own exhibition and doing the BA Hons Fine Art degree gave me more confidence to go and do it!

Robyn Allen (Graduated 2008 – Trainee teacher)

Doing a PGCE at the university of Bedfordshire. University of Chichester and course helped me with my confidence in sharing ideas and talking to groups of people. Also started me off on my journey of reflective thinking which is handy for the PGCE.

Jo Wilbraham (Graduated 2007 – Artist)

During my years at university I fell in love with painting portraits. Thanks to guidance from tutors and inspiration from friends and other students, I eventually found a painting technique that both scared and excited me. Pushed by tutors to take bigger risks in painting, I learnt the most and produced what I consider better paintings. Without being encouraged to be analytical of my own work, and to examine my own agendas before painting, I would not have progressed to make paintings I felt I could be proud of. Since leaving University, one of my larger canvases was accepted for the Chichester Open Art exhibition. I was 'highly commended' by the judges, received the 'visitors prize' and sold the work. This has convinced me to push my career forward as a painter. Currently I'm in India working in an orphanage, and I'm looking forward to starting my next body of work based on the children I've worked with. My paintings intend to draw attention to that which remains unseen or unnoticed. This theme related to images of women, and eventually myself whilst at University. I now hope to relate the concept to my experience in India, and to the children I have met here. I also want to continue experimenting with paint and push myself to take more risks to develop my technique and skill. I was told by a tutor in my 2nd year, to stop trying to paint like everyone else and to 'paint like Jo' and this has been the most releasing advice I have had!

Phoebe Allman (Graduated 2007– Arts management intern)

While completing my Fine Art degree I realised that as much as I enjoyed doing my artwork, I did not want to create artwork as a living. I discovered that I loved to organise and plan the projects from time-management and task prioritisation to researching materials and theories. So when I completed my degree I decided to take a plunge and undertook an MSc in Business and Management to give myself the knowledge and confidence to be able to continue a career into Art Management. Since successfully completing the MSc four months ago I have struggled to find a paid job in this time of recession. However, I have assisted a newly emerging arts organisation with their business plan and have recently been given an internship role at an educational theatre company. I hope my Fine Art degree and other experiences will help me to pursue a career into the behind the scenes management of the arts, as this is where my passion lies.

David Pratt (Graduated 2006 – Artist)

Since leaving Chichester university in May 2006 I have been developing some further projects involving drawn imagery in a three dimensional setting. Through this graphic/ found object mix I am experimenting with narratives and the way that the 'vehicle' affects, heightens or transforms them. In this way I am attempting to find a new vocabulary, tweaking and biasing meaning like a cook with herbs. This curious free range blend of genres is doubtless a direct result of my time spent at Chichester where we were never constrained by a single area of study but encouraged to form a dialogue across disciplines. I think what was special about the course was the way it accepted, what you brought to it and encouraged you to think in new contexts. I really enjoyed the three years I spent on this infinitely flexible course. In September I am starting a year at the Prince’s Drawing School in London. David also has work at the Cass Sculpture Foundation: www.sculpture.org.uk

Ashley Weller (Graduated 2006 – Artist, planning to do an MA)

Since leaving the University of Chichester in summer of 2006 I have worked within a number of fields from carpentry through to administration while continuing to develop my own Art in my spare time. Now I have financially found my feet I am able to look forward to starting my own small business. Alongside this I am hoping to do an MA in Arts Management. My time at Chichester gave me the skill and confidence to produce work with a much greater psychological depth, offered many opportunities to display my work within the University and other galleries around Chichester, and gave me experience in organizing and setting up exhibitions and events.

Sam McGann (Graduated 2006 – Artist and support worker)

I work as a support worker for adults with learning difficulties at the moment. I graduated 2006 thinking I would become a teacher and ended up getting teaching experience in a special needs school. This experience gained at the school, coupled with skills learnt on my degree course, landed me my my current job. I still do artwork, and have exhibited and sold work through the Joy Gallery in Chichester. I share a studio space with some other young artists in town and spend a great deal of spare time painting etc. In the future I hope to hone my more creative side in art therapy or work within the field of occupational therapy with art as my focus.

Louise Green (Graduated 2005 – Community Artist)

During my degree I did a vocational project where I worked at HMP Ford art classes for three months and I implemented my own visual diary project. Working there made me realise the immense talent that the criminal mind can have and I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of working with people within this realm. As soon as I finished Uni I started work at West Sussex Youth Offending team, doing community based art projects with youth offenders aged from 11-18, such as painting murals in children's playgrounds, decorating nurseries with wooden animals and numbers and making greeting cards for charity. I thoroughly enjoy it, even though it can be so challenging it can be so rewarding. I also help out at an after-school art group for younger kids and am also about to start working with mental health patients, helping them paint murals and taking them out to art galleries.

Louise Burston (Graduated 2004 – Artist and Curator)

Louise has been studying for an MA in Fine Art at the University of the West of England. During this time she has exhibited at the following:  

• 2007 Zoo Reels, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
• 2007 ‘An-Froo-Ka’, Bristol Zoo Gardens
• 2006 ‘ROOM Editions’ – Room Too, Kentish Town, London
• 2006 ‘ROOM Editions’ – Room, Bristol
• 2006 ‘There You Are’ – Marksman Gallery, Reading
• 2006 ‘Zoo Reels’ – Bristol Zoo Gardens, Bristol
• 2005 ‘You Could Have Gone Smaller But You Decided Against It’ – Hengrove Arts Gym, Bristol
• 2005 ‘Man With Fly Whisk and Trident’ – The Otter Gallery, Chichester
• 2005 ‘You Could Have Gone Larger But You Didn’t’ – Paintworks, Bristol
• 2004 ‘Dave’ – Hengrove Arts Gym, Bristol  

In 2006 Louise obtained an arts council grant for research and development to bring Becks Futures and the British Art Show 06 to Bristol. Early this year she managed and curated An-froo-ka, a site specific exhibition at Bristol Zoo. She is also participating in 'War and Peace 2007', screenings of her video work 'army' will be shown at Stroud Valley Arts, Bath Film Festival and the Watershed Cinema, Bristol over the summer.

Stephen Williams (Graduated 2004 – Art Technician)

Currently I am working as an Art and Design Technician at South Downs College providing technical help to teaching staff and students with their course and project work. I have also been developing my own art practice. During 2006 I have exhibited work at the Gosport Gallery Open Art Show, and at the Havant Arts Network’s Out of the Box exhibition. I also took part in the May Days Arts Trail, open studio event organised by Havant Arts Centre. Studying on the Fine Art Degree programme at Chichester University provided me with solid background knowledge of both the contemporary art world and the requirements of working in an educational setting. This has given me the confidence to follow my own creative direction and to develop a career in the art world.

Jo Tonner (Graduated 2003 – Arts Co-ordinator and Artist)

Fine Art at Chichester offered me a broad approach to the arts enabling me to develop skills in painting, 3D, drawing and media. The degree allowed me to express my ideas and to be flexible in using different materials, increased my creativity and ideas, and made me more passionate towards developing my own art work. This enabled me to further my education by doing an MA in Fine Art painting at Winchester School of Art. Here created very large paintings based on advertising and consumption at Winchester which was bore out of the contextual strand of the modular course at Chichester. The MA lead me straight into doing my PGCE at Brighton Uni teaching Art and Design to secondary pupils, which disciplined my ideas and art practice. Since then I realised my talents could be put to better use elsewhere, like the Cass Sculpture Foundation at Goodwood, where I am now the Foundation Co-ordinator,  which involves using many of the creative skills gained from my degree, and also a lot of the general organisational skills gained from teaching. I spend my day hopping from photo-shopping maquettes into landscapes, organising school groups and running the Visitor's Gallery to designing maps, information booklets and overseeing any events (along with a few other different jobs along the way - usually as a result of another idea from Wilfred Cass my boss). But it is the best job in the  world and my office is in the centre of a 26 acre woodland. Everyday is different!

James Brown (Graduated 2003 – Graphic Designer)

After a couple of knee-knocking, gut-wrenching years wondering through life trying to work out just why I kept getting turned down for graduate jobs, estate agents, NASA scientist etc, I finally stumbled into a terrible temp job, where my manager slowly wore me down into accepting a full time role… ah! Then I contacted an old company I’d done a bit of work experience in the past – got a job, worked in London for a bit – loved it! Then the company started to crumble (not solely my fault!) and I started to panic a bit, until I got a call from the Marketing Director of that previous ghastly temp place. He’d seen some small designs I’d done there, liked it and wondered if I’d like to come back on a short 3 month contract to help him rolling out some new brand initiatives (with influences from my little designs). Nearly two years on, I’m a Graphic Designer, a permanent member of the Marketing team in a company with 28,000 staff and an annual turnover of £1.81 billion. When I joined the company they out sourced all design to external agencies, now I’m working on projects that we role out across Europe. These range wildly from brand management, the update of our corporate website and the creation of mini sites for eight separate countries, to corporate folders, flash presentations and developing characters for internal guides.

Jeni Johnson (Graduated 2003 – Artist)

I work out of a live/work studio in an established artist’s community in South East London. I am producing lots of work, which has been exhibited in Cyprus, Spain, and throughout the UK since leaving university in 2003. I recently made the big decision to be self-employed, allowing myself to concentrate on my painting as much as possible. I look back at my time at university as being my first steps along the path to becoming an artist. I knew that when I graduated I was far from ready to be a professional artist, but my degree had given me direction, and had opened the door to the possibility of a post-graduate course. Most importantly, over the course of my three years at Chichester, I had come to know for certain that I wanted to make a career out of my art. For more information, and to see images of my recent work, visit www.jenijohnson.com

Marie Smith (graduated 2003, artist and arts administrator).

At present I am working at Tate Gallery in London, I'm part of an collective called 4Walls, exhibiting work and applying for an MA.

Wendy Middleditch (graduated in 2003 - Artist, Designer)

My degree show was chosen by aspex Gallery, Portsmouth, for an exhibition at their gallery. From this I started working as an artist-educator for aspex and The Childrens' University - Portsmouth.  I've been working for aspex since 2003, on a part-time basis, and I love my job! I work with school children from the Portsmouth and Gosport area. I also get to meet lots of other artists / educators / curators etc. I am  working on projects such as: START : The Princes Foundation for Children and the Arts. Enquire : Creative Evaluation Methods within a Gallery. I've also been designing for clothkits.co.uk, creating designs relating to my degree show work, which is influenced by Japanese origami patterns mixed with images such as break dancers. These designs are being sampled, and will be launched in Summer 2009. I have been lucky enough to get work experience at a Graphic Design Studio, creating illustrations for promo-brochures for West Stoke House . I'm currently working on some contemporary wedding invitations and setting up a design company to sell these on the internet. I still love painting !

Marylin Rathbone (Graduated 2002 – Artist)

When I left Chichester I joined the 62 Group of Textile Artists and regularly exhibit with them. I have exhibited in other Group and Joint Shows across the Country and had my first Solo Show in 2003. My work was selected for and toured with Art Textiles 2. 'The Kumihimo Viperidae Collection' was inspired by the snake collection at the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge and was exhibited there in the 62 Group's exhibition Encounters. Ringing the Changes was inspired by my research for Encounters and is based both on the pattern and colouration of the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake and on the Kumihimo technique of Maru Yattsu Gumi. One of the great strengths of the course at Chichester was the freedom and time it gave me to discover and develop my own artistic style. www.62group.org.uk

John Miles (Graduated 2002 – Artist and Art Technician)

About 6 months after finishing my degree I found the perfect job in an art centre in Finsbury park, North London. The company I work for are called John Jones ArtSauce. I started out just as a shop floor assistant helping artists with their enquiries on art materials. I have been there over three years now and I am now a full Art technician, which means I go to artist studios and stretch canvases and give them advice on material and techniques etc. some of our clients are big names such as Hockney, Opie, Caulfield (before he died) and Tracy Emin. Because I still paint myself it has become the perfect job as I get discount on materials and surfaces and meet lots of interesting people. Plus everyone I work with is an artist, which makes for a great working community. If it hadn’t been for my time at University of Chichester I would not have had the knowledge or ability to go straight into this kind of job. I left my degree feeling excited and confident about my painting, and this was entirely due to the excellent guidance and attention I got from my tutors. Plus Chichester is such a beautiful town to study in. I do hope to go back one day. Here is a link to some of my paintings. www.mundaneart.blogspot.com

Jeff Bellingham (Graduated 2002 – Designer)

I graduated in 2002, and moved down to the West Country. After two months or so of sitting on the beach surfing, and doing the several freelance graphic design jobs for local galleries, I decided to get a job in my chosen career path, design for the cultural sector. I worked as a designer for Prontaprint for 2 years, getting vital experience of print techniques, before setting up Westcountry Design with my wife (a book designer & Editor). In April 2005 I joined the design department at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, in Exeter, which is embarking upon a £15 million redevelopment project. Here I design exhibitions & graphics for the museum and for Exeter City Council. I have been at RAMM for two years now, and I love it, and as they say 'once you find your perfect job, you will never work another day in your life again' which is so true, coming to work here is great. I have been lucky enough to have designed work for many famous museums & art galleries including: Imperial War Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Museum and the Royal Collection to name a few. In 2006 I designed 10 Drawings by Leonardo di Vinci, an exhibition to celebrate the 80th Birthday of Her Majesty The Queen. The exhibition came from the Royal Collection, and working with Leonardo di Vinci drawings was great experience. Finally, I have just secured funding to study a MA in Design for Exhibitions & Museums. A work based MA, using my RAMM & West Country Design projects as the basis for study.

Zoe Capstick (Graduated 2001 – Picture Editor)

I'm not working as an artist but am currently working as deputy picture editor on NME (New Musical Express).

Tamsin Xerxes (Graduated 2001 – Arts project Co-ordinator)

I always knew I wouldn’t be a professional artist, but when I graduated from University in 2001 I thought my options were limited. I started off working as the Exhibition and Events Co-ordinator for the Arundel Wetlands Centre. I had contacts there through previous part-time work. Within three years I established a commercial Wildlife Art Gallery with a programme of artists’ workshops, events and activities. I learnt everything from organisational structure to marketing and my duties included head hunting new artists to exhibit, doing live radio interviews, managing budgets and designing publicity material. From there I wanted to be an Arts Development Officer and spent 3 months on a voluntary work placement at West Sussex County Council’s Arts Service in Chichester. This was brilliant and really opened my eyes to what was out there in the arts world. As a result, I have been working for the different departments (Youth Music, Arts in Education, Youth Dance and Rural Arts) on a freelance basis, on and off for 3 years now and continue to be a good contact for them if they need extra support. I then did a part time certificate in Arts & Cultural Management, followed by some more freelance work as an Admin support for an organisation in Brighton. This led me to an organisation called Carnival Collective who I helped during the Brighton Festival before doing a work placement with them. I continued to work for WSCC as Arts Project Co-ordinator and worked for various small organisations as a facilitator, administrator, and arts development assistant – you name it! I was surprised at how many jobs were out there that were not ‘pigeon holed’. Through my experience so far I had learnt that I enjoyed connecting people to the arts – being the facilitator and developing arts for people to enjoy. I moved into community working and spent two years as Festival Co-ordinator for The WIRE Project in Littlehampton. Here I worked mainly with young people and used the arts as a learning and developmental tool to raise the profile of an otherwise deprived area of Wick. By this time I had gathered quite a few contacts, experience and knowledge of working in the Arts Field. I knew at this stage I wanted to work with young people and I knew I wanted to work within the arts. I also knew that working for small charitable organisations does not pay well or guarantee a secure post. So I explored ‘proper’ careers such as Arts Therapy, Psychotherapy, Educational Psychology and Teaching. ... This developed into teaching art at secondary level in the quest to find a career which combined my interests with financial security and good future prospects. I then shifted sideways to work within the private sector, focusing more on marketing, business development and specialist project management. As my knowledge and skills base have broadened considerably over the years through experience, i have decided to move into Law, taking advantage of this current fiscal environment to study as a Criminal Lawyer.  I strongly believe that my varied path has been a natural, inquisitive developmental progression to the point i now find myself at.  The experiences of my past occupations have certainly inspired my future decision and whilst the practical element of the arts remain an important aspect of my personal interest, it is the intellectual, social and emotional learning associated with the arts which have become the most vital foundations ... There are so many jobs in the arts field – you just need to explore and look for them.

Jess Loseby (Graduated 2000 – net artist, lecturer)

Since leaving college (BA, 2000, MA 2004) I have been working as a digital artist, specialising in interactive installations, mobile media and net.art. In the last 12 months I have had exhibitions in London, Spain, Canada, Brazil, the US and Scunthorpe! I am currently one of a group of artists co-authoring a book on Flash to be released next year. I also co-run an accessible website-design company and spend 1 day away turning current fine art students to the dark (digital) side…. http://www.rssgallery.com/

David Beech (Graduated 2000 – Artist and Visiting Lecturer)

I have undertaken a few private and some commercial sculpture commissions and exhibited my work on the south coast and recently here in the north east. I moved to Newcastle after two years of graduating from my degree and subsequently have obtained a masters degree in sculpture. I am currently employed by the University of Sunderland as a visiting lecturer. It would be quite hard to try and sum up my time at Chichester in one sentence as it gave me far more than I could have expected. I think from the liberal ethos of the related arts subject and its interdisciplinary methods I attained a sense of fearlessness; or at least I'm never scared to try a new way ... also, the very focused and open-minded tutors helped me immensely. I couldn't say what has had a direct impact on where I am today, but I do know for a fact that I certainly wouldn't be here without it.

Rashida Khatun-Uddin (Graduated 2000 – Project Worker working with severely disadvantaged young people)

My work is far removed from the idealistic world of art. I'm a Project Worker with London East Connexions brokering activities for young people including arts based projects, and I serve as a committee member for a women’s refuge. I have had many short, but sweet careers previous to this (i.e. freelance artist, Administration Officer and Advocate for the Asian Deaf Women’s Association, teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages at a college in London, tutoring secondary school pupils within a South Asian community centre). I did my degree because I enjoyed the subject and had some rudimentary talent for it and it was an important goal post for me in many ways. I don’t think there’s anything I’d change, even in hindsight because I’d not be who I am today, otherwise. I still write and though I think my scribbles of weird creatures are unexceptional, I know of people who rummage through bins to retrieve them!

Janet Scott (Graduated 2000 – Artist)

Since graduating from the University of Chichester I have worked really hard to get my art out there so to speak. In the first 2 years I did many exhibitions here in the South East. Unfortunately, although I won a few prizes, I felt it was a huge amount of work for very little return. I stopped doing so many exhibitions and concentrated on more local venues. I have now worked to commission for several Companies and other private clients. It is not, by any means, plain sailing and I cannot say I earn a decent living but I love what I do and it is still very exciting and challenging.  A bonus is that these clients have now become close friends. I have just gained a studio space in my local Arts Centre, The Phoenix at Bordon, and am moving in there as I write so here's to the next stage!

Leon Cullinane (Graduated 1998 – Artist & curator)

I returned to full time education at Chichester University at the age of 27. Without a formal background but a keen interest in the arts Chichester showed a great deal of support in accepting me to their fine art course. Their policy of blending of the different artistic practices such as music, art, and performance allowed me a lot of freedom to experiment. It was to be instrumental in developing the event based works that I present today under the name C6. Recent works such as 'Stories in motion', a collaboration between myself, Irvine Welsh, Chuck Palahniuk and Phil Hartnoll of Orbital owe a lot to those early experiments. The broad range of arts taught at the university has enabled me to remain adaptable between conventional mediums, allowing me a wider view of artistic presentation. Chichester hosted the first art workshop I participated in and has opened up a European wide network of artists and collaborators that I still work with. I am currently touring interactive works around Europe and America. I have a three year curatorial position with the Nuart festival in Stavanger which culminates with the celebrations for the European capital of culture 2008. A directory of works can be viewed at www.c6.org

Olivia Stevens (graduated 1997 - Curator & Gallery Administrator)

Since graduating I have been involved in a number of curatorial projects across the South East, including the first group show I curated entitled Strange Fruit, which took place in and around the grounds of Chichester University. Studying at Chichester University afforded me the opportunity to engage with and explore many artistic mediums, and the graduate bursary I was awarded to help fund my initial research into staging Strange Fruit could be seen as the little fiscal acorn from which all of my current endeavours have sprang from. I worked as a Gallery Administrator for The Queen Street Gallery in Emsworth as well as writing freelance for an arts site called My Cultural Life prior to undertaking an MA in Gallery Management. I am currently working as a freelance project manager on behalf of WSCC, overseeing the funding and commissioning of two arts projects at Chichester Canal Basin. This is due for completion in 2009. I am also working as a research assistant on behalf of Outside In, an initiative being run out of Pallant House Gallery in Chichester aimed at providing exhibitory and participatory activities for 'outsider' and marginalised artists. I co-run the Athena Writers Group in Chichester and am a volunteer editor working on the launch issue of the iamjoy magazine in Chichester. I recently had an article published in the peer reviewed City E-journal at City University, London. I am working on a number of curatorial projects for 2009 and 2010 including a series of live art commissions as part of the 2009 iamjoy youth arts festival, and I am currently in discussion with The Otter Gallery, Chichester University in relation to a curatorial project with the working title 'Collections in Conversation.'

Dawn Badland (Graduated 1996 – Artist)

Now based in Tunbridge Wells, Dawn held her first solo exhibition ‘Pangaea’ at Sevenoaks Library Gallery in 2001. Since then she has gone on to produce ‘Track Changes’ an ambitious project based around her experience as an artist in residence at the Reserva Ecologica de Guapi Acu, a conserved area of rainforest in southeast Brazil. ‘Track Changes’ toured to Kent, Nottingham and The Otter Gallery, West Sussex. She recently worked at Kent Institute of Art & Design, Canterbury, on a national scheme for artists and produced Hybrid an exhibition which include new prints based on research at Cambridge Zoological Museum. Dawn also works various public arts projects and is the Director of an arts organisation for rural communities. www.dawnbadland.com

Chris May (Graduated 1993 – Artist)

When I left Chichester I went on to do/complete a PGCE in Art (and Drama) at Exeter. Initially I worked full time as a painter, slowly building up a modest reputation in Chichester, thanks mainly to L'Artichaut Gallery.  I began to teach at a college in Gosport, part time - and continue to work there now – teaching about 14 hours a week - the remaining time spent painting (or trying to paint.) I continue to exhibit, and have been taken up by a number of galleries in the past years - more importantly Victor Felix gallery in London where I've showed in London (mostly art fairs like AAF and London Art fair) and earlier this year, showed successfully in San Francisco earlier this year, alongside artists such as John Kirby and Ray Richardson.  More shows lined up with the gallery in San Fran, London and (apparently) New York ...?  My next (one man) show is at West Stoke House (art space) from 10th December - 1st October 2006. It’s pretentiously entitled "Aristophenes' Cloud" (invites on the way!) and it is the first time I've dared to show any landscape type paintings/drawings - bit nervous really.

Jason Ellis (Graduated 1986 - Sculptor)

Way back in the 1980's I completed the BA (Hons) in Related Arts, which no longer exists. The course was very broad and exposed me to a massive amount of fine art, music, literature and dance. I specialised in sculpture and learned a lot from my tutors, Alan Saunders and Carol Naylor, that still resonates 23 years later. I went on to train in sculpture conservation in London for 8 years and then set up in private practise as a conservator in Dublin, Ireland, in 1994. I worked in the conservation profession for 20 years, whilst carving stone on the side, but finally became a full-time sculptor in 2006.