York School of Art

18/05/2026

When former Primary School teacher Melanie Wilson was looking to enjoy some well-earned "me time" - with a child having left the family nest for uni - she decided on a return to education herself, but this time as a pupil!

Enrolling on our York School of Art Intermediate Drawing & Painting Evening Class, Melanie reignited an artistic spark that had been extinguished at the age of 16 by a discouraging school teacher who insisted she redid the same drawing three times!

Read more about Melanie's story by clicking below ⬇️

When asking our students why they chose to enrol on an adult evening class, one popular answer is to enjoy some well-earned “me time”.

14/05/2026

Exciting news for our York School of Art students!

Thanks to a new partnership with Sheffield Assay Office, our learners can now hallmark their precious metal work with the initials of our 184-year-old institution.

York School of Art is one of a diminishing number of places in Yorkshire where students can still learn traditional jewellery techniques, making this partnership especially valuable in supporting specialist creative education.

For the full story, click below ⬇️
https://www.yorkcollege.ac.uk/events-and-news/news-blogs/york-school-of-art-hallmark-created-in-new-partnership-with-sheffield-assay-office

28/04/2026

✨ K‑Pop creativity on display ✨

Today our BA (Hons) Fashion Design & Garment Technology students showcased their final K‑Pop inspired outfits, alongside their design portfolios and technical packs, as part of a live competition brief with York Rotary.

Set by Jane Albon, this exciting project challenged students to design and make bold K‑Pop inspired outfits. Throughout the brief, Jane generously shared her wealth of fashion industry knowledge, offering invaluable insight and guidance along the way.

A huge thank you to York Rotary, and in particular Jane Albon and Mary Lumley, for creating this fantastic opportunity and for their continued support of York School of Art Fashion students.

We can’t wait to find out who will be announced as the winner! 👀🏆

27/04/2026

Great to see our inspirational BA (Hons) Media Make-up, Special Effects & Hair Design degree graduate Paige Elliott making the headlines in Scotland.

Paige secured a 2:1 on the York School of Art course despite suffering life-changing injuries in a car crash midway through the course.

You can read more about her story in the Dunfermline Press article below ⬇️

The ex-Queen Anne High School pupil has now graduated with a 2:1 degree.

25/04/2026

Are you in the city centre this weekend?

Then, we would highly recommend visiting Spark:York CIC, where a stunning tribute to legendary street performer Purpleman has been spraypainted by our former York School of Art student Tom Sledmore.

Tom, also known as SledOne, was commissioned to create the mural of the much-missed street artist, whose real name was Michael Todd, at the back of the ground floor of the Piccadilly box park.

The poignant words "Rest in Purple" accompany two portraits of Michael, who died suddenly in December at the age of 65.

You can read more about Tom's mural and view pictures and a video in the below YorkMix story ⬇️
https://www.yorkmix.com/watch-stunning-portrait-of-purpleman-unveiled-in-york?fbclid=IwY2xjawRYJklleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFLTDFVcnpMYjllbWo3Umwxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHoHKZffOHRw9ss4G9QkYO7KixJ-DEGEvnFezz-AxWrouvzuo0ar9HiGZbr5T_aem_-P7DUyU4ydq8gLH2HfX6hQ

13/04/2026

York Open Studios starts this weekend 🌞

This year one of our BA ( Hons ) 3d Creative Practice students and the course leader are both taking part 🌞

Clare will be exhibiting her porcelain and textile works at venue 26 whilst Charlotte will be showing her jewellery work at venue 69🌞

Head over to the website for details of artists who will be opening their studios over the next two weekends ! Incidentally our brilliant digital LA plays a large part in the creating the artist directory on the YOS website !!!!

Dates are -
18&19 April
25&26 April
10am-5pm

13/04/2026

We love an inspiring story about our adult learners, so take a bow, Lisa Foster!

After her 35-year career as a vet, Lisa is now using her steady hand to create stunning works of art as a York College University Centre degree-level student.

Lisa, 59, is currently in the second year of her BA (Hons) Graphic & Communication Design studies, having progressed from our Access to Higher Education Art & Design diploma after initially attending a Summer Adult Showcase session on Campus in July 2022.

Her progress on the York School of Art course has been remarkable with the Crow's Nest sculpture that she designed being showcased as part of the Discover: Eggsplore Easter Trail around York after being brought to life by our Ceramics Technician Sarah Schiewe, of Schiewe Ceramics.

She was also part of the small team of students that produced a mural for All4Paws - a charitable organisation at her old university The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh.

Read more about Lisa's fascinating vocational and educational journey ⬇️
https://www.yorkcollege.ac.uk/events-and-news/news-blogs/lisa-uses-steady-hand-from-35-years-as-a-vet-to-produce-stunning-work-on-york-school-of-art-degree

10/04/2026

We love a Time Lapse video at York College & University Centre, so are really excited to share this three-minute clip of our York School of Art under-graduates' three-day project producing their mural for All4Paws.

It is now on display outside the clinic of the student-led charitable organisation that provides support for homeless people with pets and is based in Edinburgh's The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

We hope you enjoy watching our BA (Hons) Graphic & Communication Design students' creativity come to life as much as we did!

10/04/2026

Creativity meets collaboration 🎨✨

Our talented York School of Art students have been hard at work bringing a vibrant mural to life at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh for All4Paws - a charitable organisation that provides support for homeless people with pets.

The three-day project saw BA (Hons) Graphic & Communication Design undergraduates Lisa Foster, Melissa Adams and Michelle Smith, with the support of course lead Monica Gabb and tutor Katy Holmes, produce a stunning piece of work that focussed on All4Paws' core values of Animal Welfare, Trust and Empathy.

A huge well done to everyone involved in making this vision a reality.

Read more ⬇️

A charity that supports homeless people with animals in Edinburgh now has a stunning mural in its clinic thanks to the creative talents of York College…

03/04/2026

L4 students from three creative degree courses (3d, fashion & graphics ) went on a visit to the fantastic in York which is based in Peasholme Green .

The wonderful Lizzy and Mike were great hosts and Mike taught the students how to make their own zines using the Riso Press ! This was such an informative & fun session !

We then went to to visit the Making Waves exhibition which embodied elements of graphics , fashion and 3d art/ processes !

It was great to see a room full of Harold Gosney sketches and sculptures ( helpful for inspiration for students sketchbook design drawings )

Would a visit to the York Art Gallery be complete without seeing the CocA ceramics section of the gallery and of course the boundary pushing Anthony Shaw Collection ?

A great day all round !

Thanks for having us & we are so lucky to have these creative spaces on our doorstep !

03/04/2026

L4 students from three creative degree courses (3d, fashion & graphics ) went on a visit to the fantastic in York which is based in Peasholme Green .

The wonderful Lizzy and Mike were great hosts and Mike taught the students how to make their own zines using the Riso Press ! This was such an informative & fun session !

We then went to to visit the Making Waves exhibition which embodied elements of graphics , fashion and 3d art/ processes !

It was great to see a room full of Harold Gosney sketches and sculptures ( helpful for inspiration for students sketchbook design drawings )

Would a visit to the York Art Gallery be complete without seeing the CocA ceramics section of the gallery and of course the boundary pushing Anthony Shaw Collection ?

A great day all round !

Thanks for having us & we are so lucky to have these creative spaces on our doorstep !