We’re celebrating graduating UCW Art & Design student Anna, whose piece has reached an exciting milestone after being selected for the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) Annual Exhibition – opening on September 12th!
The Attic Find is a large, hand-built ceramic spinning top, created in response to the brief ‘Motion’. Inspired by a battered old toy discovered in her grandparents’ attic, the piece reflects three generations of family history, from Anna’s mum, to Anna herself and eventually her young sons.
“The Attic Find” was created during a difficult time for Anna. The process of creating the piece became a way for her to explore themes of time, memory and loss. Its selection for the RWA Summer Show is particularly poignant for Anna, whose grandfather sadly passed away shortly after the piece’s first exhibition. Having already been shortlisted by the Royal Academy of Arts in London earlier this year, Anna described the RWA selection as “the perfect, emotional culmination of its journey”.
Anna is graduating from UCW with a degree in Art & Design, following a journey into higher education that began as part of her recovery. She credits the support of UCW’s Tutors and HEART Team with helping her rebuild her confidence and find her voice as an artist.
Outside the studio, one of Anna’s favourite memories has been the creative community she built with her cohort. She and her fellow students collaborated to launch their graduating collective, Synergy Severn, which exhibited at The Mount Without in July.
Anna is now exploring wet felting and hopes to combine her experience in administration and the arts through future roles in arts administration and creative support.
Anna is not the only UCW artist celebrating success at the RWA this year. Former UCW Art and Design student Hajnal has had work selected for the RWA Annual Exhibition for the third consecutive year – and this year, one of her paintings has been chosen as the lead image for the 173rd Annual Open Exhibition.
“I was extremely grateful and proud when it turned out that both of my 2 submitted artworks have been selected and accepted by the RWA for the 173rd Annual Open Exhibition.”
Hajnal’s selected work forms part of her body of work, Embracing Imperfection, created using Sumi ink and coffee on canvas. She describes the work as being about accepting ourselves through a minimalist form of expression.
For both artists, this year’s RWA exhibition marks an exciting celebration of their creative journeys and the talent continuing to emerge from the UCW community.
This exciting opportunity is a result of the Art, Film, Game and Graphic Design Careers Excellence Hub. At University Centre Weston our approach goes beyond the traditional classroom setting. Through industry speakers, workshops, employer projects, and more, we equip our learners with the real-world experiences and insights that set them apart in the competitive job market. It’s not just about getting a job; it’s about standing out from the crowd when they embark on their job searches.
If you want to be set up with the skills to enter incredible art exhibitions, and follow in Anna & Hajnal’s footsteps then our BA (Hons) Art and Design degree is for you! Click to find out more! The RWA Annual Open opens on the 12th of September 2026.
