Art

Special artwork captures the spirit of Llwyn y Bryn

Published

2 years ago

10th September 2021

Editor

Art and Design student Flora Luckman has been commissioned by Gower College Swansea to create a bespoke piece of work that captures the ethos and atmosphere of the Llwyn y Bryn Campus.

Flora has recently completed the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at Llwyn y Bryn and is now progressing to the University of Edinburgh to study Illustration.

“As my final project, I chose to do a children’s book about the environment and traveling around the world,” says Flora. “Our Learning Area Manager Kieran Keogh really liked one of the pages, which featured a world map, and commissioned me to make a bigger piece, based around the multiculturalism of the campus.”

“Alongside our art and design, photography and music students, Llwyn y Bryn is also home to ESOL learners, many of whom came to the UK as refugees and asylum seekers and who want to develop their English skills,” says Kieran. “So it was really important that Flora’s artwork reflect and celebrate all our students, past and present. Llwyn y Bryn is a small campus, very close-knit, and I wanted Flora to really encapsulate that feeling into her work, which I think she has done brilliantly.”

**Gower College Swansea Learning Area Manager Kieran Keogh and Art and Design student Flora Luckman** (Image: Gower College Swansea)

Flora’s base drawing was constructed on eight separate sheets of A1 paper which she then brought to life with different washes of colours, inspired by the colours of the biomes of the world. Each figure was drawn separately, then painted with watercolours and lined with inks. Finally, she scanned them all in and patched everything together into one cohesive piece of work which will now be proudly displayed at the campus.

“It was so exciting to be asked to do this for the College and it has given me such confidence that I can take with me through to university,” says Flora. “It was such an honour to be asked and I hope I have done justice to everyone at Llwyn y Bryn!”

Gower College Swansea has recently been officially recognised as a College of Sanctuary, the first FE College in Wales to receive such an accolade.

“We are delighted to be have been recognised as a College of Sanctuary,” says Diversity and Enrichment Officer, Paul Vincent. “This highlights all the great work that is done throughout the organisation and, in particular, by our ESOL team at Llwyn y Bryn and the Futures/Reach team who are based at our city centre campus, both of whom deal directly with refugees and asylum seekers and provide an outstanding service to their learners, often going above and beyond what could be reasonably expected in their efforts to help and provide guidance.”

“We are thrilled to award Gower College Swansea as the first College of Sanctuary in Wales,” adds Siân Summers-Rees, Chief Officer for City of Sanctuary UK. “We are impressed by their longstanding commitment to reducing barriers for people with lived experience of seeking sanctuary and the provision of opportunities to progress onto higher level courses and employment. Their supportive response to students affected by the pandemic was exemplary and we have been able to share their work with colleges across the UK to inform the growing network of colleges committed to our vision for a welcoming UK.”

“Providing a safe and reassuring space for our students is one of our top priorities, and never more so than over the past very difficult 18 months,” says Principal Mark Jones. “And now, at a time when we are hearing such distressing stories coming from across the globe, it is really wonderful news to be recognised as the first FE College of Sanctuary in Wales.

“FE colleges are central institutions in the communities that we serve and the award recognises our intention to welcome everyone as an equal, valued member of the College community – a place of safety and inclusion for all. I would like to thank everyone involved in the assessment process and offer my congratulations too. What a great way to begin a new academic year!”