Creative | University of Brighton Alumni Association

Kayleigh Peters with her ceramics, on display at the Liberty Specialist Markets offices in London

“Being selected for the Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM) Art Award has been an incredible start to my career”

When Kayleigh Peters graduated in 2021 with a BA in 3D Design and Craft, she started her own art practice and a year later she awarded the Liberty Specialism Market Art Award. Here she tells us what the opportunity has meant for her.

Alumna Charlotte Lillington has released a 2021 Calendar full of colourful Brighton snaps!

Hi everyone, My name is Charlotte and I graduated from the University of Brighton in 2015 after studying a BA Honours degree in English Language and Media. I’m a Brighton lover and have been a resident for over 8 years, I have been snapping the streets for much of my time living here and have…

Media and English Literature grad Cat tells her story

Alumna Cat van Maanen set up Conker Magazine when she graduated. Here she tells us about her experiences…. “I graduated in 2017 from the University of Brighton with a BA (Hons) in Media and English Literature. Throughout my academic life I had been keen to explore the prospects of a career in journalism – I…

Melody Hesaraky’s story since graduating

Melody Hesaraky graduated in BA Hons Design and Craft in 2014. She was one of our shortlisted Alumni Award nominees. Here is her story. What have you got up to since leaving the university? In 2014 I received my BA(Hons) Bachelor of arts in 3D Design and Craft from University of Brighton. My curiosity and…

The Future of Footwear – by Alex Witty

Alex Witty is one of our (BSc) Product Design students. Alex has won several awards and prizes, including the ‘Santander Universities – University of Brighton Growth Grant’, and the ‘Fred Maillardet Breakthrough Award’. Here’s Alex’s story in his own words: “I’m Alex Witty, a 3rd year Product Design (BSc) student at the University of Brighton…

Need it Made by Alex Burn

Alex Burn graduated in Product Design in 2010. As a result of his experiences during his time at Brighton, he then set up his company Need it Made. Here is his story: In the final year of my Product Design and Technology course where we were given free rein to complete any project we wanted…

Alison’s leading role for the Fringe

University of Brighton graduate and recipient of an honorary doctorate degree, Alison Lapper MBE, has been chosen as Freedom Season Ambassador for the Brighton Fringe Festival. The Freedom Season was created in 2018 as a way for disabled, neuro-diverse, deaf and hard of hearing audiences and artists to access the festival more easily. The season…

How Dumbo inspired top fashion designer

Walt Disney’s big-eared elephant Dumbo is the inspiration for the latest collection from one of the UK’s leading fashion designers, Brighton-based Ong Oaj Pairam. Ong, who graduated from the University of Brighton with a BA(Hons) in Fashion and Business in 2008, is famed for his luxury women’s wear designs including his film premiere creation for…

Graduate’s ‘Naked Truths’ chosen for national exhibition

A University of Brighton graduate has been selected to exhibit her work in FBA Futures 2020, the annual survey of contemporary figurative art being produced in UK art schools. Miranda Forrester, who graduated this year in Fine Art Painting, created ‘Naked Truths’ which will feature in what is the UK’s largest annual survey of its…

Painting Oxbridge’s first female professor

A Brighton graduate has been commissioned to create a portrait of the first female Oxbridge professor. Sara Lavelle was selected by a management committee at The University of Cambridge’s McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research to paint pioneering archaeologist Professor Dorothy Garrod. The painting, which is on display at the Institute, marks the 80th anniversary of…