From Animation to Digital Media and Traditional Making, Arts University Plymouth’s Pre-Degree & Sixth Form Class of 2023 are ready to wow the press, industry and public.
This year, Arts University Plymouth’s Pre-Degree & Sixth Form campus was awarded a ‘Good’ rating by Ofsted, which was given for every category of the 2023 inspection, including the Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, education programmes for young people, and provision for learners with high needs.
The Pre-Degree & Sixth Form graduates include successful award-winning students who have already landed offers at leading universities around the country, having produced outstanding work and explored their identities and practices as creatives. Here’s a roundup of some of the most innovative and ambitious graduates in the film and photography spheres from Arts University Plymouth’s Summer Shows and Class of 2023.
Millie Evans
UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Photography
Millie Evans is a photographer whose work surrounds the concept of female empowerment. Within her work, she wanted to challenge the idea of the ‘male gaze’, the idea that presents and represents women as sexual objects for pleasure of the heterosexual male viewer.
Millie has produced images that challenge traditional gender roles, for example making the male subjects in her photography scared, subservient and powerless. She also captured images of women in powerful positions, confident and comfortable in their own skin. The aim of her work is to claim back ownership of how women are perceived and to question the stereotypical portrayal of women in a sexual manner.
Millie will be going on to study BA (Hons) Commercial Photography at University of the Arts London.
Oscar Rowe
UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Photography
Oscar Rowe is a photographer who has spent the two years of his Extended Diploma course developing his own unique style and understanding of photography.
His final major project explores this as well as explores his closest friends’ cultures and identities, delving deeper into their experiences of prejudice and discrimination through interviews. Due to his diverse set of friends, Oscar has a personal connection with this project and hopes to highlight the issues of prejudice and discrimination through his imagery.
Oscar will be continuing his journey as a photographer, progressing onto BA (Hons) Commercial Photography at Arts University Plymouth.
Sam Ellis
UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Film, Animation & Media Production
Sam Ellis is an active filmmaker based in Plymouth, who won the Board of Governors Pre-Degree award at this year’s Summer Show awards for his interesting and innovative use of multiple forms of media. Their course leader said “Sam has had a remarkable year that has seen them go from strength to strength. They are achieving excellent results on their Extended Diploma with continually improving skills and outcomes.”
Sam also worked as a British Art Show 9 Ambassador last year, including leading a workshop at Plymouth’s museum and archive, The Box, focussing on engaging young people with SEND with contemporary art.
Samuel received an unconditional offer to study at Arts University Plymouth at undergraduate level after graduating from Pre-Degree, studying BA (Hons) Animation & Games.
Kinga Bigos
UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Film, Animation & Media Production
Kinga Bigos is an 18 year old aspiring marketer from Poland. For her final major project, she expanded her horizons in photography and filmmaking to make advertisements and campaigns for brands. Interested in the techniques used to engage with viewers and potential customers, Kinga has focussed on visual effects and kinetic typography to replicate different styles of videos.
Kinga will be attending University of Plymouth on graduating Pre-Degree & Sixth Form at Arts University Plymouth.
Mia Hammond
UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Film, Animation & Media Production
Mia Hammond is a filmmaker who joined Pre-Degree after making films with her drama club. They have used the last two years to explore, experiment and develop their identity as a creative. Mia wanted to use their skills to share a story based heavily around their own experiences, and those of many queer people.
Mia’s final major project, Going Out, is a short queer narrative following two young lesbians as they navigate coming out to the world around them alongside their relationship with each other. Mia wanted to create representation created by real members of the LGBTQIA+ community with the experiences and knowledge that can’t just be acquired through research.
Mia hopes to progress onto undergraduate study at the University of Salford, studying Film Production.
There are still a limited number of spaces available to study in Arts University Plymouth’s Pre-Degree & Sixth Form campus starting in September 2023 for school leavers who are waiting to receive their GCSE results. Courses include UAL Level 3 Extended Diplomas in Art & Design, Photography, Fashion & Textiles, Filmmaking & Media Production, and Graphic, Illustration & Game Arts, as well as the UAL Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, which is ideal for applicants who want to discover, experiment and explore across a wide range of disciplines, as well as maximising their chances of gaining a First if they decide to progress on to degree-level study.
