Growing up in a town with little to no opportunities to thrive in the creative industry, the Aldridge Junior Signature Art Prize has opened new doors for me. It has helped me to believe in myself and to see the possibility of turning my passion into a career.

Taking inspiration from self-portrait artist Brooke Shaden and adding my own fantasy theme, I created a design for a fictitious coffee brand that enabled my unique art style and original ideas to shine through. I chose to enter this piece of work – ‘Thé Fantaisie’ – into the competition because it was my most successful photography work to date and had allowed me to utilise other skills too, from make-up and styling to searching for the perfect shoot location. But I didn’t expect that it would go on to win!

The impact of winning both the photography category and the overall prize of an internship with Degree Art cannot be overstated. I feel that society doesn’t value the creative industries and we’re often being told to focus on more “important” subjects such as English and Maths but the Aldridge Junior Signature Art Prize proved to me that I can and should pursue my artistic dreams.

I’m excited for my internship – to get out there, meet new people and make connections. Maybe because of my lack of industry connections I appreciate even more the value of this experience. It will help me grow my network, develop employability skills and gain an insight into the industry. It’ll enhance my CV and help me progress towards my future career.

The experience of entering the Aldridge Junior Signature Art Prize and then going on to win, and sell my artwork, has motivated me to work hard both in and outside of college. I now have the confidence to share my work online and would like to set up a small business selling my artwork to help cover the cost of university, where I’m hoping to study graphic design. Ultimately, I want to use my creativity to help brands tell their stories and communicate their messages in unique ways.