“Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one” Stella Adler.

　　Where the line of normalcy is shaped differently in the eyes of artists, as everything is relative, there exists the freedom that only artists can create – the space, colour and texture on which that line of normalcy lies, in order to make it one at all.

　　To extent my egomania is an honest tool of my style, it is in need of elaboration and solidifying within the disciplines and professionalisms in studying art at college.

　　As an AS Psychology student, I learnt that the perception of stress is relative “ where I find the paranoia of my reality stressful, it is much of my escape that I share with many others to spend time doing Art & Design (currently at A2) in free-periods and after school to produce more research, drawings, developed experiments and final pieces, from my C at GCSE to an A for AS. I am also predicted an A for A2. This drive came from a particular experience, which I'd rather not speak of.

　　More relevantly, I am experienced in etching and print-press, collagraph, photography, life sketches, multi-media and Photoshop. I have used a range of materials in previous artworks: works on canvas, and acrylic, installations, multi-media works and film editing, of which I am able to use iMovie and Cyberlink Power Director and have competent use of, as I take a personal interest in film-making.

　　I have also voluntarily produced and edited advertisement films for 2 competing business studies classes where I was able to help creatively and equally, providing that it was their own equipment and concept.

　　In studying English (Lit./Lang.) the analytical aspects have helped aquired the appropriate information behind concept. As an aspiring poet, I have contributed poems of my own to the school’s English Literature Magazine (of students works) and have written for the 6th Form monthly Newsletter, ‘Rant N Rave, for which I have written poetry and articles. I have also dispersed these creative energies in Music Technology. At the Dubai 92.0 FM Radio Station, I was able to take a glimpse into the radio industry, as well as accompany the radio-jockey ‘Catboy’ on air. As there were 2 other students, we organized play lists; part of the job was to understand the business aspect of airtime. In May 07, I was given the opportunity to work-shadow a General Planning Manager, involving the planning of layouts and structures of building shopping malls for Majid Al Futtaim, Dubai. This helped me realize the importance of relation between physical demands of construction and planning.

　　I have obtained certificates and commendation letters, project certificates, best advertisement for Shakespeare’s 12 Night Play (playing one of the main characters roles as 'Maria'), intermediate snowboarding, skiing, and have achieved the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze.

　　As I have lived in and travelled countries from Malaysia to Switzerland, France to Saudi Arabia, I have more cause to find a universal message that not only makes us appreciate diversity, but unifies us as human beings. From a Marxist perspective, I deliberately refuse to accept the pyramid of our society. This is simply one constant idea and philosophy that even disturbs my sleep.

　　Fully aware of the competition that goes on in the media industry, with my competitive and somewhat cynical characteristic; I am able to critically self-evaluate which forces me to better myself constantly improving my skills and techniques, adhering to the business aspects as well. Taking first year studies or foundation art would help me explore more skill which I am capable in a more professional and disciplined manner as well as improve specified research work.

　　My aspirations are based on my persistency, enabling me to work adaptively in the art business. I may work towards the Visual Communication, Painting, Intermedia art or Illustration, not sufficed to say the least, and followed entry into Second Year Studies to define my Specialism.

　　Since starting my National Diploma in Graphic Design, I feel I have had the opportunity and freedom to experiment and explore my ideas fully. I have been able to expand and develop my visual communication skills and I am now able to create more effective and convincing imagery. I feel I am investing much more of myself in my work and am exploring ideas, media and techniques in addition to my main programme of study.

　　I have a broad range of influences that I am inspired by. Music has always been a passion for me since an early age, from almost every genre. I still listen to most of the same bands I listened to when I was 8 years old, and I find music to be a big source of inspiration for my illustration work. I am always listening to music and I regularly attend underground gigs, getting inspired by the raw sound of unsigned acts. I also love film; from Film Noir and Japanese Horror, to big blockbuster's and thrillers.

　　Reading is another major influence. My favourite genre is Transgressive Fiction, which includes the work of author Chuck Palahnuik. I love how he portrays the horror of 'ordinary' life and his suspicion of the 'modern'. I am also interested in creative writing myself and recently successfully completed an evening class. This helped me build my confidence to read my work aloud to the rest of the group, who were all older than myself. It also helped me to give constructive criticism as well as apply it to my own work.

　　Other interests include photography; I am a big fan of Lomography. I take images with a Holga camera, using 120mm and 35mm rolls of film. I feel that I have much more of a connection with the final images than I do when using a digital camera. I am experimenting with various lenses such as fisheye, eight image lenses and a ring-flash and am taking these images in to Photoshop to develop them even further.

　　I also feel that I am very much influenced by my environment. Those around me have always inspired me the most; being able to see how a person works and chooses to communicate their designs, motivates me to work creatively too. I think that this has been the biggest factor in my decision to study at university level. I am looking to study on an exciting and open course with other creative and motivated people. I am looking for course that will help me explore and combine my different creative interests and support me in creating a professional portfolio of work.

　　I am a self motivated and broad minded. I am looking forward to moving away from home and gaining more independence. I am eager to meet like-minded people and I feel that I have the attitude, skills and enthusiasm to be successful at university and in becoming a professional designer/illustrator.

　　Although I pursued an academic rather than creative path in school, I have always been fascinated by the patterns that occur in art, architecture and the natural world, and drawing and painting have heightened my appreciation of them. Creating art, whether it is realistic or abstract, has helped me to see the world more clearly.

　　In October 2007 I began studying Classics and Modern Languages at Oxford University, but I had to leave in my first term as the problems my dyspraxia caused me were more severe than anticipated and I struggled to cope with day-to-day living and developed mental health problems. Studying this course would give me an opportunity to get back into Higher Education and to learn more about something which has always interested me.

　　Although I have no formal qualifications in art, I have kept up my passion for it outside the curriculum. My favourite material to work with is charcoal, as I find it helps me to portray texture better than any other material, although I also enjoy working with paints, pencil, collage and I have recently begun to develop an interest in tapestry and relish the opportunity to explore new media which this course would offer me. I have recently been doing a life-drawing project on wood, which stems from my interest in the forms and textures in nature. I have also been inspired by the art I have seen as part of my study of other subjects. On a school trip to Spain, I visited various museums and was particularly moved by Picasso's Guernica at the Reina Sofia Museum and I was fascinated by Hieronymus Bosch's Garden of Earthly delights which I saw at the Prado. At the Prado, I was also privileged to see some of the works of El Greco, which I found deeply moving. As a practising Christian, the art of the spiritual matters particularly to me, and I want to learn more about both Christian art and the iconography and architecture of other major world religions. Another thing which left a deep impression upon me when I visited Spain was the Moorish architecture I saw in Toledo. I am also interested in the psychology behind art and how people are empowered by artistic self-expression. For this reason, I am a supporter of the work of The Autism Acceptance Project, an organisation which showcases the artwork of autistic adults.

　　In my spare time, I have undertaken a variety of voluntary work. I helped with my school's Youth SVP scheme, which organised clubs to help local primary school with reading. I also was a Youth Leader at Edmund Rice Camp, a week-long summer play scheme for children aged between seven and eleven. This year, I have worked at The Croft Nursery School in Newcastle-under-Lyme with children aged three to four. I have enjoyed this immensely and feel it has improved my ability to collaborate with others. Alongside this, my love of the countryside has led me to complete the Duke of Edinburgh's award (bronze) and have participated in Student Cross, a 125-mile hike from Oxford to Walsingham.

　　Learning about other cultures, both those of the past and of the present, is also a hobby of mine. For this reason I have always been engrossed by the study of languages and I am currently learning ancient Greek. I also enjoy reading a variety of literature and creative writing (both fiction and non-fiction) and have had several current events articles published online. My curiosity about language, literature and culture sets my enthusiasm for art in a broader context and is a source of inspiration.

　　Creative activities have always drawn my attention, from a young age I would draw, colour, cut and create! I’m still very much like this, I find myself losing track of time and working into the small hours. I enjoy the challenges which design presents and communicating my ideas as solutions.Being involved in extreme sports when I was younger helped to feed my creative cravings, it gave me a focus and allowed me to express myself freely. I wanted to represent these hobbies, that’s when I decided to design t-shirts that would display a connection with my friends and our common interests.

　　Prior to applying to study illustration, I have worked in job roles where I have learnt valuable skills. The majority of my experience being within the retail industry. I have learnt the values of team work, meeting deadlines, being pro active and working to ones own iniative. Working for high fashion retailers has also allowed me to keep my creative edge. I have personally made displays, dressed windows and mannequins, remerchandised walls, even down to placing fixtures requires industry knowledge and creativeness. It was at this point I realised I would really enjoy working within a more creative industry.

　　In my free time I enjoy playing guitar, writing music, discovering new bands, attending gigs, reading, photography, watching films and playing chess. A big desire of mine is to travel, I believe it is an important part of life. I know the places I have visited so far have left an impression on me, I am always keen to discover and explore. Without visiting new places and meeting different people, I would not have as much awareness of the world, I view this as an essential part of design. I also consider design to be a hobby which I am passionate about and enjoy thoroughly. It seems natural for me to take this to the next level as I see design being more than just a hobby.

　　Studying at degree level will give me the opportunity to respond to briefs, rather than self-initiating my work. Though more importantly I will also be given the opportunity to work with other designers, be it my tutors or fellow students. Working in a creative atmosphere amongst others who are able to give critique and advice, will be the most valuable area to me. I would also like to use university as a stepping-stone to gain work, through exhibitions, opportunities within the university and through industry links.

　　Some of my favourite artists would include David Shrigley for his bazaar humour, Banksy for his satire and directness and Frank Sheppard Fairey for his ‘phenomenology’ experiment.

　　Illustration has recently become a bit of an obsession to me and I can’t remember a day when I wasn’t drawing or doodling an idea. There’s something satisfying about spending hours rendering an idea, only to realise something is slightly out of place and deciding to spend a night in perfecting it.