A TALENTED design student has proved that bigger is not always better after moving back to the North East to start her own arts venture.

Newcastle conceptual art wear designer Rosie Frater returned to her roots to graduate from Cleveland College of Art & Design (CCAD) after two years in Manchester and is launching a contemporary jewellery business.

The 22-year-old said: “I enrolled to study jewellery design and applied arts in Manchester but it just wasn’t for me. The college was so big and the people seemed less welcoming I really missed the friendly atmosphere of the North East.

“I found out about CCAD and switched my studies to their applied arts for enterprise course at Hartlepool and it was just what I’d been looking for – and a lot closer to home.

“It was still a commute from Newcastle but it’s such a great college that it was all worth it.”

Rosie, who specialises in wearable art made from textiles, ceramics, plastic and metal, is already selling her designs online at rosiefraterjeweller. tumblr.com and at national trade fairs and is hoping to make inroads into retail premises in the region.

“It is really important for me to be North East-based,” said Rosie. “It’s such a great place to live which I really didn’t appreciate before.

“The area really inspires me and CCAD was the perfect place to help me develop my creative and business expertise.”

CCAD applied arts tutor Eyv Hardwick added: “Rosie came to us with a real passion and enthusiasm for creative making and the unique friendly environment that we create here at CCAD, in which our students can grow, has really helped to nurture her talent.

“It’s great to see young designers leave our course equipped to develop their own expertise in running a small business and even better when they are set to develop their enterprises in our own region.”