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A new exhibition at The Hive, featuring ¹ú²úÊÓƵ graduates’ and students’ work, is transporting visitors into the world of fantasy and imagination.

It showcases the work of around 30 artists from the Illustration, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Game Art and Animation courses. This free exhibition runs alongside and was inspired by some of the themes of the British Library’s ‘Fantasy - Realms of Imagination’ touring exhibition. Both will be on display in The Hive until February 25.

Third year Illustration student, Sam Morris, is one exhibitor, with an abridged version of her silent picture book, inspired by an item in the Pitt Rivers Museum, in Oxford, that was discovered in Suffolk in 1913. It tells of a young boy who finds a bottle in a museum, which warns of trouble if the witch inside is released.

The 49-year-old, of Twyning, near Tewkesbury, first made black and white ink drawings, based on hundreds of original sketches, then used a digital process to layer it up digitally and play with effects. “It’s lovely for me to see that work displayed amongst other artists and see the way that they have interpreted the world of fantasy,” she said.

A professional artist for 13 years, Sam wants a career as a picture books illustrator. “This degree has taught me about storytelling, how to create narrative and how to use symbolism and metaphors in visuals to convey a multi-layered meaning to my work,” she added.

Illustration graduate Jess Mason’s piece explores perspective from a fairy’s point of view.

“Now we know a lot more because of science and technology, whereas before we embraced and used magic to explain weird things in nature and the world and we don’t have that any more,” she said. “The way to keep that alive is folktales and art, which is what I was trying to do.”

Jess, who graduated in 2018, is a freelance children’s book illustrator and is currently on her 12^th book. “I love it so much,” said the 31-year-old, of Worcester. “It’s a great job, it’s really fun. I still have to remind myself when I’m having a hard time with something that I’m so lucky to be doing this.

“At the beginning of a project you get to do lots of research, designing characters and creating worlds for a story you are illustrating. To have your artwork sent to you in book form, or even better seeing it on a bookshelf, is really gratifying. I’m almost certain that I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t gone to university. It really helped me; it gave me confidence, networking opportunities that I wouldn’t have got if I hadn’t got my degree.”

Fellow exhibitor Mark Daffin is an independent print maker. He graduated from the University in 2014 after an Illustration degree and Master’s in Creative Media. Like much of his professional artwork, his exhibit reflects an interest in medieval heraldry, mythology, folklore and Arthurian legend. One of the pieces is based on crests knights would wear on their helmets in jousting, in this case a mermaid inspired by a drawing he found in the margins of a medieval illustrated manuscript.

“I was inspired to create my own interpretation,” said the 39-year-old, of Worcester. “During the medieval period, many believed that mermaids were real; our fantasy was their reality. Through my imagery, I aim to evoke some of that mystery.”

For Mark doing the degree helped him find his specialism. “I’d always been interested in art and decided that’s what I’d like to pursue,” he said. “I didn’t find print making properly until I’d started the Master’s, I’d tried lots of things during the degree, but couldn’t find something that clicked. I’ve not stopped since.”