Former University College Isle of Man (UCM) students Ellie Byrne and Alice Dudley competed against 45,000 students from across the UK to exhibit and perform at the annual Origins Creative Arts Festival, OXO Tower, London.

Ellie and Alice, who both recently completed their University of the Arts London (UAL) diploma in art and design foundation at UCM, were selected to represent the UAL awarding body and UCM at the Origins Festival.

Origins, which is now in its eighth year, showcases a selection of the finest art, design, fashion, creative media, music and music-based performing arts compositions produced by students who studied their further education at UAL approved institutions.

Ellie exhibited a dress that she created using environmentally friendly textiles. She said that she made her own dyes using local resources such as flowers, vegetables and minerals.

vibrant

She added: ’I had a great deal of fun with the vibrant colours I was able to create from these natural resources and was very excited with the outcome, especially the deep yellow tones from gorse shrubs, which are widely available on the island.’

Artist and singer-songwriter Alice Dudley, ’explored the parallels between visual art and music and their power when combined’.

She produced a diverse range of work from songwriting, music/sound, printmaking and photography.

Alice, who had previously supported KT Tunstall and Suzanne Vega at the Villa Marina, performed for a live audience at Origins Festival.

experience

She said: ’The music that I write is based on my own experience over the past few years, and offers a very raw and honest glimpse into the things I have felt, with particular focus on growing up, relationships and self-image.’

Helen Fox, head of art, design and media at UCM, said: ’We are so proud of both, Ellie and Alice for what they have accomplished. The quality of work they produced demonstrates not only their talent and creativity, but also their professionalism. Being able to exhibit and perform to a wider audience is great exposure and a stepping stone for their future. Well done to both of them.’

The duo will be continuing their studies in their areas of interests; Ellie will be studying textiles at Central St Martins, while Alice will be studying fine arts at Falmouth University.