Cleveland College of Art and Design created a new BA (Hons) Illustration for Commercial Application degree that is based on drawing skills, and focused on building industry ties.

Set in what must be the greatest building in the town if not the region, the Municipal Buildings built in 1886-89, by R. Knill Freeman (Manchester), with its smooth red brick ornamental terracotta dressings and plain clay tiled roofs, lends itself to the traditional British School of Art.

Inspirational studios have been designed to give students their own personal space for the duration of the course, they choose their own desk, light, and chair all sourced from old libraries, universities and even the M.O.D., and they create an environment of their own that encourages creative thinking.

This exhibition reflects their first year which gives the students six months of drawing only, primarily in sketch books, then introduces them to the unique world of Illustration.

There is no house style only encouragement to develop their own processes and skills which is supported by an array of visiting lectures including John McCrea, Sam Arthur, Sara Ogilvie and many, many others.