Winning by design

Jun 3 2009 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

ART students have designs on success after winning a competition to capture the spirit of a town’s iconic industrial estate.

Rebecca Noble and Shoyeb Rahman produced artwork based on the art deco Lingfield Point currently being brought back to life in Darlington.

The Darlington College students were among a group studying BTEC national diploma in art and design challenged to capture the essence of the site in a photograph or mixed medium by owners Marchday.

Rebecca, 18, photographed a central staircase then manipulated the image to produce her piece.

Shoyeb, also 18, took an outside view of the Student Loans Company’s Memphis Building which has just won two design awards.

College tutor Donna Slyfield said: “We tried to get students to interpret the site in their own way and I was really pleased with the variety of work.”

Director of the Marchday Group John Orchard said: “I went to art college myself and we have an art strategy for Lingfield Point which is very important to us.

“We have a longstanding link with the college which gives the students a chance to work to a professional standard. The standard of the competition this year has been incredibly high.”

Rebecca, who would like to be a graphic designer and photographer, said: “I have been researching art deco and the staircase was a real focal point of the building.”

Shoyeb added: “I was really surprised and delighted to win; very pleased indeed. I hope to study graphic design at university and this will really spur me on.”