Ones to Watch 2025: Pre-Degree

<p>From studio lighting to underwater shooting, the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/pre-degree/ual-level-3-extended-diploma-in-art-design-photography" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Extended Diploma in Photography</a> offers a fully equipped playground for aspiring image-makers. Students develop a professional skill set in both digital and analogue photography, blending theory with practice across portraiture, documentary, fashion and landscape genres. With a strong emphasis on storytelling and visual literacy, this course nurtures technically confident photographers with a clear creative voice.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Nationally recognised by the age of seventeen, Finley McDonald has emerged as a standout talent in wildlife photography during his time at Arts University Plymouth’s Pre-Degree centre. His passion for British wildlife, nurtured through childhood encounters with nature, has developed into a mature, visually arresting practice that blends technical excellence with environmental storytelling. From winning the front cover competition for <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/title-pre-degree-photographer-finley-mcdonald-takes-front-cover-on-the-week-junior-with-award-winning-photo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Week Junior Science + Nature</a> magazine with a striking Kingfisher image, to accepting a place at Falmouth University to study BA (Hons) Natural and Marine History Photography with a professional placement year, Finley’s achievements speak volumes.</p> <p dir="ltr">Finley’s final major project, ‘Images for Change: Wildlife &amp; Conservation’, is a self-published zine shot across Dartmoor, Saltram, Plymbridge and Cann Woods. It makes a quiet but powerful case for conservation, with standout images, reflecting a deep respect for the natural world and a growing belief in photography’s role as a force for change.</p> <p dir="ltr">Finley said,“Arts University Plymouth is a joy to be in and learn from. The people, the environment, and the attitude to learning are excellent."</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://findoesphotography.myportfolio.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafwU9gv3fFPwj0futwdOv50Oafd25Zm3jCxcKKRa8FEFKrcdFC5O16bzOHNGA_aem_kl3nNG_ldtIGWq6NoqQRrw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portfolio</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/findoesphotography_/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a><br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">For 18-year-old photographer Louis West, nature is both a subject and a sanctuary. Based in West Devon and currently studying at Arts University Plymouth’s Pre-Degree centre, Louis began experimenting with photography on his phone in 2020. Since then, what started as a lockdown-era hobby has become a serious creative pursuit. His final major project, ‘Emergence’, captures the dramatic transition from winter to spring across British landscapes. Using a combination of macro, wildlife and wide-angle techniques, the project reveals the quiet drama of seasonal renewal, from frostbitten leaves to early blooms and elusive fauna. </p> <p dir="ltr">Louis’s passion for photography accelerated after acquiring his first DSLR in 2022, and he now shoots with a Canon EOS R5, paired with an array of high-performance lenses that support both expansive landscapes and close-range wildlife encounters. His technical confidence is matched by a reflective approach to composition and a curiosity that drives every image. Whether capturing Dartmoor’s mist or a sparrow’s flight, Louis brings a sense of wonder and progression to his work. After the summer Louis hopes to study BA (Hons) Natural and Marine History Photography at Falmouth University. </p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://louiswestphotography.myportfolio.com/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portfolio</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/louisrowanwest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a><br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">In ‘Remains’, Hannah Lear documents the human marks etched into Dartmoor’s vast, storied terrain. From Bronze Age stone rows to abandoned quarries, her photography balances documentation with a reverence for mystery. Hannah’s ability to intertwine historical research with visual poetics marks her as a strong emerging voice in place-based storytelling.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hannah intends to take up a place at the University of Plymouth next to study BA (Hons) Photography, where we are sure she will develop her storytelling skills and talents even further. </p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannah.photography_x/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a><br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">In ‘Salvage’, Owen Wills brings together thoughtful research, image-making and zine production to examine the environmental impact of fast fashion. Through editorial photography and styling, he questions the aesthetics of consumption and proposes an alternative, one that values sustainability, individuality and reuse. The result is a carefully curated publication that balances visual appeal with a sense of urgency.</p> <p dir="ltr">Owen’s wider body of work, shared via his online portfolio, reveals a developing interest in the cultural spaces that shape identity, from music and subculture to fashion and everyday environments. His images are observational and unforced, often capturing small, revealing details that speak to broader themes. Alongside Salvage, Owen has been building a practice that bridges documentary instinct with a design-led eye.</p> <p dir="ltr">He has received university offers from Falmouth, Goldsmiths, UAL, BIMM and UCA, reflecting a strong trajectory into creative communications, advertising or visual storytelling. His next steps are still to be confirmed, but his final project demonstrates a clear capacity to combine ethics with aesthetics.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/owphotos.portfolio/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a><br /></p>

<p>Fast-paced and hands-on, the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/pre-degree/ual-level-3-extended-diploma-in-art-design-fashion-textiles" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Extended Diploma in Fashion &amp; Textiles</a> pathway equips students to work across design, styling, textiles and promotion. From sketch to stitch, students learn how to turn ideas into wearable pieces, with opportunities to explore garment construction, print design, and fashion business strategy. Whether dreaming of becoming a designer, stylist or costumer, students graduate with the skills and portfolio to progress into the fashion industry or higher study.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Inspired by an Arts University Plymouth study trip to Barcelona and a fascination with marble sculptures, Zizi Hibbard's final collection explores the concept of the divine feminine. Merging influences from art history with a sharp eye for styling and composition, her fashion photography pushes against cultural stereotypes including representations of the Black Virgin Mary. </p> <p dir="ltr">Zizi's deep commitment to sustainability is evident in her use of vintage garments, thoughtfully repurposed to suit her vision. Her practice reflects global curiosity, technical dexterity and strong visual intuition. An aspiring creative director, she cites Paolo Roversi as a key influence and thrives in studio environments where light, mood and narrative come together.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Amira Bukasa’s fashion photography and styling are deeply rooted in identity, culture and heritage. Her latest work explores the intersections of Black identity, third-culture narratives and postcolonial memory, often featuring members of her own family in styled portraits that bridge Western streetwear with traditional Congolese dress. Her final major project includes striking images of her brother and mother, honouring their heritage while questioning how Blackness is represented in fashion imagery.</p> <p dir="ltr">This sensitivity to representation also earned Amira national recognition: her photographic portrait The Future won First Place in the Secondary School category of the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/ma-and-pre-degree-students-win-children-and-young-peoples-portrait-competition" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Children and Young People’s Portrait Competition</a>, a collaboration between The Box, Arts University Plymouth and the National Portrait Gallery. Her image, portraying her siblings in traditional African clothing, was displayed at The Box as part of The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure, a landmark touring exhibition featuring leading global artists including Chris Ofili, Lubaina Himid and Amy Sherald. </p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/amira.bukasa/#">Instagram</a><br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Sol McCullough is an emerging designer and creative entrepreneur from Arts University Plymouth. Currently in his final year of the Extended Diploma in Fashion &amp; Textiles, Sol is already laying the groundwork for his own streetwear and skatewear label, Oren, a designer/maker business based in Saltash.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sol’s final collection features hand-crafted jeans, sweatshirts, and bags: a tactile, expressive wardrobe built for movement and identity. Modelling his own designs in the final shoot, he channels the DIY spirit of skate culture with a deep sensitivity to mental health and self-expression. His garments fuse function with feeling, using cut and material to speak to themes of self-oppression and personal liberation.</p> <p dir="ltr">Known by staff for having “the strongest sewing skills we’ve seen on the course,” Sol now plans to develop Oren as an independent brand, supported by mentorship from The Prince’s Trust. With a clear creative direction and the technical chops to back it up, Sol is poised to make his mark on the UK’s thriving streetwear scene.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/oren_reworked/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Business</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/oren_.sol/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a><br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">An experimental and expansive introduction to visual practice, the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/pre-degree/ual-level-3-extended-diploma-in-art-design" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Extended Diploma Art &amp; Design</a> offers exposure to fine art, craft, sculpture, design and critical theory. Students develop a personal, socially engaged practice, exploring contemporary issues through media ranging from drawing and painting to 3D installation. This pathway supports routes into illustration, architecture, curation, and creative entrepreneurship.<br /></p>

<p>Olivia Moss brings history and emotion to life in a hand-embroidered corselette inspired by the duality of the clown. Drawing from the figures of Pierrot and Harlequin, her final major project explores the circus as a space of contrast – between sorrow and mischief, tradition and transformation.</p> <p>Guided by intensive research and a deep love for textiles, Olivia’s piece elevates hand embroidery as both craft and narrative. Inspired by Vivienne Westwood’s punk sensibility, she uses surface embellishment not just to decorate, but to communicate. Every stitch reflects her growing confidence as a maker ready to enter the professional world.</p> <p>Olivia has received an offer from the Royal School of Needlework, where she plans to refine her skills further, stitching together a future that blends artistic sensitivity with technical excellence.</p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/solstice_.stitches_/">Instagram</a></p>

<p dir="ltr">Helena White’s work balances emotional nuance with visual flair, a combination that sets her apart as a thoughtful and driven illustrator. Her final major project is an ambitious original comic, combining character design, background art and storytelling to explore themes of existentialism, queer youth, nature, and mental health.</p> <p dir="ltr">Helena’s creative process is detailed and methodical, weaving together initial concepts, speedpaints, critical research and peer feedback to create a cohesive final outcome. Alongside her core illustration practice, she has experimented with poster design, animation, book printing and binding, broadening her skill set in preparation for the next chapter.</p> <p dir="ltr">She has accepted a place on the BA (Hons) Illustration degree at Arts University Plymouth, a natural continuation of her visual storytelling journey. With a clear creative voice and a dedication to growth, Helena is already thinking like a professional illustrator and studying Illustration with us will give her the space, community and challenge to take her work even further.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lenadoodllles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/gwend-of-the-world/list?title_no=1040944&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacx4NaqD5g0r8jLKIzEOsqLgpOlHDdSzl3CM8Y2-_DiSbxwZVWT_RlMB137lQ_aem_AG9kgIBukndKGR9Ldn9pPg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Published Work</a><br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">This multidisciplinary route is perfect for students drawn to storytelling through design. <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/pre-degree/ual-level-3-extended-diploma-in-art-design-giga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Extended Diploma in Graphics, Illustration &amp; Game Art's</a> contains modules across branding, visual communication, illustration, and game design, students develop their drawing and digital skills in 2D and 3D formats. They explore creative software, build interactive concepts and respond to real-world briefs, forming a strong foundation for careers in creative tech, publishing or commercial illustration.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Evie Hawkins recently completed painting a public mural in Millbay in collaboration with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/plymouthsartisttogether/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plymouth's Artists Together</a>, with a piece that brings personal loss into public memory. The piece, dedicated to her late friend Taylor, combines illustrative composition with street art sensibility. Her project is both tribute and testimony, reflecting the power of creative process to honour and heal. Though Evie has an amazing eye for detail in graphic design and illustration, she has also shown talent in jewellery design and 3D craft. </p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/eviehawkns.art" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a><br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Moe Guard is a bold visual storyteller whose work spans comics, character design, and digital illustration. Their latest project blends humour, emotion, and a distinctive visual style, showcasing their ability to create layered narratives through both static and animated media. Whether sketching irreverent characters or building surreal worlds, Moe’s work carries a sense of personality and play. With a flair for narrative sequencing and a deep interest in contemporary comic art, Moe has carved out a visual language that feels both instinctive and intentional. </p> <p dir="ltr">This autumn, Moe will continue their journey into visual storytelling on the BA (Hons) Illustration course at Arts University Plymouth, a fitting next step for an illustrator already deeply engaged in the language of comics and visual narratives.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/moezarrrt" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a><br /></p>

<p>Led by industry practitioners and housed in one of the South West’s best-equipped media departments, the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/pre-degree/ual-level-3-extended-diploma-in-art-design-famp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Extended Diploma in Film &amp; Production</a> introduces students to filmmaking, direction, editing, sound and animation. Whether collaborating on short films or exploring podcasting and digital content, students learn how to tell powerful stories with technical precision and creative flair, preparing them for careers in the screen industries or digital media.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Luca Hart is a filmmaker with a gift for quiet tension and layered storytelling. Her final major project, Liminal, is a psychological short film that explores themes of guilt, dream logic, and emotional isolation. Drawing inspiration from the thriller genre, Luca has crafted a film that sits between reality and imagination, a liminal space both visually rich and narratively ambiguous.</p> <p dir="ltr">The making of Liminal has been as ambitious as its concept. Across weeks of detailed planning, Luca has tested lighting setups with nan lites and LEDs, experimented with lenses including fisheye and macro, and engaged in extensive research into sound design, cinematography and psychology. She’s approached every production stage with focus and curiosity, from pitch deck and storyboarding, to booking actors and perfecting sound edits in Adobe Audition.</p> <p dir="ltr">What sets Luca apart is not just technical ability, but a reflective, resilient process.</p> <p dir="ltr">Luca said, “I want to challenge myself with this project in order to make something that I can be proud of.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Luca plans to progress to Falmouth University to study BA (Hons) Television &amp; Film Production, where she will continue to hone her craft in a professional and collaborative setting.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://sites.google.com/aup.ac.uk/lucaharty2fmp/home-page" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portfolio</a> | <a href="https://sites.google.com/aup.ac.uk/lucaharty2fmp/home-page/final-product" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watch Liminal</a> <br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Harriet Edwards is creating a film that communicates a feeling. Her animated short Papercut is a highly personal, metaphorical exploration of sensory overload and emotional embodiment, told through the lens of her own experience as an autistic artist.</p> <p dir="ltr">Harriet said, “I want to create a film that delves into physicality and how it affects us emotionally,I’ve learnt to have faith in my artistic abilities, which is why I would like to be ambitious with this project.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Harriet is animating the entire film in Procreate Dreams, combining traditional drawing with digital techniques, and documenting her journey in a candid production diary. From referencing live-action footage and experimenting with lighting overlays, to troubleshooting continuity and fine-tuning emotional beats, her process reveals an animator unafraid to challenge herself and evolve mid-project.</p> <p dir="ltr">She now plans to continue exploring animation and narrative at Falmouth University, where she will study BA (Hons) Film, building on a foundation of conceptual courage and technical skill that sets her work apart.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://sites.google.com/aup.ac.uk/harrietedwardsy2/home-page" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portfolio</a> | <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MgazSfslFgfZzntmw_tRA8oTMdSpEusi/view?t=2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watch Papercut</a><br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Evie Slaughter’s final major project marks the work of an artist with a deep commitment to form, feeling, and experimentation. Her film, a surreal, genre-bending short exploring loss of identity, mental health, and emotional repression, blends French New Wave aesthetics with avant-garde editing and surrealist claymation. It is as ambitious in its concept as it is exacting in its execution.</p> <p dir="ltr">Shot in high-contrast black and white and influenced by filmmakers such as Agnès Varda and Toshio Matsumoto, the film follows a young woman whose reality begins to unravel after an emotionally hollow interaction with her partner. As her inner turmoil deepens, the film shifts into a psychedelic descent, visually depicting her face losing definition and form- a metaphor for emotional dissociation.</p> <p dir="ltr">Evie said, “I want to create something that successfully evokes emotion and creates a complex, thought-provoking commentary on my themes.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Evie’s highly considered creative process is visible not just in the film but also in its marketing. Her poster, inspired by Jean-Luc Godard and designed using a mix of analogue collage and digital techniques, reflects the handmade, layered nature of the film itself. A pop of red and purple hints at the story’s tonal balance between horror and transformation.</p> <p dir="ltr">Evie now plans to continue her artistic development through a Foundation Diploma in Art &amp; Design at Arts University Plymouth, or potentially a gap year. With her skills in animation, cinematography and screenwriting already in bloom, she’s well on the way to becoming a mixed media filmmaker whose voice is both distinctive and resonant.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://sites.google.com/aup.ac.uk/evieslaughterfmpy2/home-page" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portfolio</a> | <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/13N6K_Oyq-IlpjZducBwC7-cj5LHbEjnB/view" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watch Pas De Visage</a><br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">As this year’s Extended Diploma students prepare to take their next steps, their work stands as proof that creativity can be both personal and powerful, whether it's stitched into fabric, captured on camera, or painted across the city. These are artists and designers who haven’t waited for permission to express themselves, they’ve made space, taken risks, and left their mark.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you’re considering a creative route after GCSEs, there’s never been a better time to explore the possibilities at Arts University Plymouth. Join us on Saturday 31 May for our <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/open-day-pre-degree-may25" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pre-Degree Open Day</a>, where you can discover our UAL Level 3 Extended Diplomas in Photography, Fashion, Art &amp; Design, Film &amp; Media Production, and Graphics, Illustration &amp; Game Arts.</p> <p dir="ltr">Traditional A-Levels aren’t for everyone. Our specialist courses offer a focused, practical alternative that puts creativity at the heart of your education. Come and see the studios at Palace Court, meet our inspiring staff and students, and find out what it’s really like to study at an independent arts university in Britain’s Ocean City.</p> <p dir="ltr">Find out more and book your place at <a href="http://aup.ac.uk/open-days" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aup.ac.uk/open-days </a>— and start imagining where your creativity could take you next.<br /></p>