Budding future artists showcased their hard work in a final exhibition of the year as part of Exeter College's Summer Art Shows last week.

The college's Centre for the Creative Industries, off Queen Street, Exeter, was transformed into a lively exhibition space with some excellent top class work on display to include graphics, fashion and textiles, fine art, animation, film and video and photography produced by students studying A level, BTEC and ACCESS to Higher Education, many of whom are progressing onto prestigious universities to continue their studies.

Launching the event at a Private Viewing evening last week, over 200 parents, employers and art and design community leaders from across Exeter and the wider region joined the college in also celebrating the Art and Design Students of the Year Awards – given to those who had excelled in each of the programmes.

Leila Eddakille, 18 originally from Isca College, who won the A level photography award chose a topical and controversial subject for her final piece “I love the humour of the photographer Martin Parr so have based my piece -Tesco Horse installation – on a current issue. I've had lots of fun experimenting with ideas in the dark room and have been really inspired to carry my photography on – I'm taking a gap year travelling and taking photos before coming back to the UK to do a Geography degree.”

Being photographed amongst her own exhibits was Layla McCammon, 17 originally from West Exe, who won the BTEC level 3 art and design award “I really loved the course and it was great that I was able to try out everything at the beginning before finding out that I really enjoyed textiles, working with different samples and experimenting with new techniques. It's inspired me to continue at the college doing the Foundation Diploma before going onto University.”

Another student who wanted to encourage other students to do her course was Elise Jennings,19 from Umberleigh, who is finishing her Fine Art and Textiles level 3 course “I'd tell students to do it, it's a bit of everything and you get to discover what you really want. I've really enjoyed the course and I'm hoping to do a gap year then onto art college.”

Presenting the awards, Richard Atkins, principal said “We are celebrating the inspiring student work from the outstanding faculty of art and design here tonight. I continue to be impressed with the diverse range of work on display here at the show and this represents such talent from Exeter and, increasingly, from the wider Devon area.”

And it wasn't just current students who were honoured at the show. Dana Culkin, 21 from Teignmouth, who studied Art and Design BTEC last year was invited back to the college as a special star of the evening to be awarded her Commendation in the National BTEC Awards 2013 for Outstanding BTEC Creative Art and Design Category. Dana who is soon to appear in the Eva studios in Exeter said “I'm really happy to gain this award – it's like a pat on the back and a reminder to me to keep on with the artwork and not to forget what I'm good at. I've looked around this year's show and I think the art displays are fantastic.”

Another student who demonstrated that the college's role in lifelong learning was Ruth Carpenter, one of two Access to HE award winners celebrated during the show. Ruth, who was previously a primary school teacher before leaving work to start a family said “I can't chose a favourite bit of the course since I loved every minute of it. It gave me the chance to explore different areas and all the staff I came in contact with at the college were all fantastic. I'm now going onto do the Foundation Degree in Fine Art”

“This exhibition rounds off our month long programme of shows that have included higher education and foundation diploma course artwork,” said Nigel Watts, head of art and design. “Presenting their artwork to the public is an essential part of the assessment process and we're very proud of the range and standard of the exhibition from our students. There is fierce competition for creative careers but the commitment and quality here will help these students as they start their art and design futures.”