GRAPHIC design proved to be an artform as a student dazzled the judges with his drawing skills.
Traditional imagery, hand-drawn with fine liner before being overlaid with water colours, captured perfectly all the fun of the fair, the theme of next year’s Darlington Mayor’s Charity Ball.
Darlington College first year graphics student James Peacock will now enjoy seeing his work splashed all over town as his designs become the official marketing material for an event that raises money for good causes.
The 18-year-old, of Leyburn, was one of dozens of Darlington College students to accept the challenge laid down by the Mayor of Darlington Councillor Jan Taylor, who set the theme ‘All the Fun of the Fair’ for the assignment to promote her ball on April 20.
Councillor Taylor set them the colourful design brief, which was inspired by childhood memories of living in Darlington when the fair came to town.
She said: “This is the 15th consecutive year that the mayor has asked Darlington College students for help and once again they have really risen to the challenge. The hardest task was choosing a winner from so many great designs.”
She was helped in the selection process by Lewis Stokes, of the ball’s lead sponsor The Banks Community Fund.
James, who will also be a special guest at the ball, said: “I’m really proud of myself and so thrilled to have been selected as the winner. I can’t wait to see my work being displayed.
“I went for a traditional design as it allowed me to draw, capturing the detail of the fair in pen and paint. I hope to become a graphic designer one day but would love to travel the world checking out which city I would like to work in.”
Sharing the limelight as runners up were Lewis Cresswell, 16, and Lewis Hardy, 17, both of Darlington.
Darlington College tutor Pippa Eeles said: “This was the students’ first live project and they produced some impressive work which showed they had listened carefully to the client brief and interpreted this into workable designs.”
Proceeds of the ball and other fund-raising efforts will be divided to help the much-loved St Teresa’s Hospice, Family Help women’s refuge and agencies which work with young people with mental health issues.
Tickets for the ball, which will be held on Friday April 20 in the marquee-lined Dolphin Centre Sports Hall, are £55 and are available from the Dolphin Centre or by contacting Sue Minto on (01325) 406971or email susan.minto@darlington.gov.uk.
For more information on opportunities at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk.