A former Wiltshire College & University Centre student is proudly showcasing his latest collection of art at an exhibition in Trowbridge.
Tom Miller, who comes from the town, joined the College’s Trowbridge campus in 2009, initially studying a BTEC in Art & Design before going onto join a Foundation course.
Tom, aged 28, has continued to expand his talents since leaving the College and hopes to dedicate his focus to art full-time by the end of the year.
In the meantime, his latest pieces can be viewed at an exhibition called ‘Up’ at Trowbridge Town Hall, with all of the art on display having been created during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tom looks back on his time at the College fondly and believes it was a moment of realisation during his studies that helped him truly harness his abilities.
He said: “I originally did a BTEC in Art & Design at the College’s Trowbridge campus. It was a great course and I still have friends who I studied with.
“People have ended up doing different things, like illustrators, people doing film, and even some designing cakes. It was quite a varied bunch but that is what is good about those sorts of courses – people come together and bounce ideas off each other.
“I didn’t get into university originally, so I was thinking: ‘What do I do now’ and my mum told me I had to get a job. Luckily, I ended up doing the Foundation course in Trowbridge as well. That was a really good year and I learned a lot in a short space of time. It was intense but great fun.
“After that, I went to university at Bristol and got a First, which was amazing. When I first joined the College, I only just passed as my attendance was terrible but it made me focus and taught me that I needed to do this properly.
“After I graduated from university, I managed to get in with a gallery so got a bit of work there. It has been a case of balancing odd jobs and painting since then but I am gradually doing less of the mundane stuff and more painting. I am getting there and hopefully I can take it full-time by the end of the year.”
Tom’s exhibition ‘Up’ is a collection of mixed media paintings and drawings exploring the dynamics of colour, texture and form, with each piece illustrating the constant upwards journey of life pursuing love. It can be viewed free of charge at Trowbridge Town Hall until Saturday, August 21.
Tom, who now lives in Bristol, said: “It is nice coming back to Trowbridge. The town has changed a lot since I was here. I did a mural at the train station not long ago and got loads of crazy feedback and loads of work from it too.
“I have had a really good response to the exhibition. Because of social media, a lot of people can see your work, but when you see something in the flesh you get to appreciate the things, like textures, that you don’t see in a flat image.”
For more information on Tom Miller's latest art collection, click here.
Wiltshire College & University Centre is launching a new Alumni Network this summer to celebrate the success of our former students as well as provide the opportunity for those who have left to reconnect with the College.
If you have a story you’d like us to celebrate, email marketing@wiltshire.ac.uk and help us share your success - and be sure to look out for the launch of our Alumni Network later this summer.
