A PAIR of artists have launched their own ceramics business immediately after graduating from college.

Stacey Clarkson and Rebecca Brown are some of the first graduates from the applied arts degree at Cleveland College of Arts and Design.

They will design and make bespoke items of earthenware and stoneware for commission and public sale at their base in Darlington.

Stacey, 23, of Fishburn, County Durham, said: “The applied arts course really opened my eyes to the possibilities of turning a craft skill into a full-time career.

“I never thought I’d be a self-employed designer making my own products. The course has really changed the direction of my life.”

Rebecca, 21, of Darlington, who also specialises in ceramics added: “Setting up your own business in such uncertain times can be quite daunting but this college course really has prepared us to be our own bosses.

“Ceramics is such a versatile and exciting medium of art; we will be making everything from vases to vessels and it’s always a surprise to see what comes out of the kiln.”

Eyv Hardwick, higher education programme leader for the BA Hons Applied Arts for Enterprise course at Cleveland College of Arts and Design, said: “Everything about this course is with a view to self-employment and making a living out of a craft.

“All our students leave not only with the skills they have learnt in ceramics, textiles and jewellery-making but also with a business plan and range of saleable products.

“The course has only been running for three years so these students are among our first set of graduates and it is wonderful to see some of them going on to open their own businesses straight after leaving college.”