I am a mature student, I was 57 in July 2015 when I started my studies with OCA, I’m  now 62. I took early retirement, my choice, and embarked on a personal challenge to gain a degree in Art. I have had a keen interest in art throughout my life and could have sought a career in art but instead joined Lloyds bank where I worked for seven years before joining the Industrial Diamond company and worked in Zaire before returning to England to qualify as a Management Accountant (ACMA) and spend thirty plus years practicing within the chemical industry.

I mentioned that I have always had a keen interest in the arts, I have drawn and painted throughout the years when I had time to, not often enough. I am also an amateur musician and play guitar, bass, ukulele, mandolin and keyboards and have recorded over seven albums of original music and covers. I also play with two ukulele groups one of which I am the bandleader. Photography is also an interest and I try to document the changes of the seasons whilst walking our dog, Fred.

I have completed Level 1 (HE4) over the past three years gaining successful passes in “Creative Arts Today”, “Drawing 1” and “Painting 1”. In December I successfully completed the first of two Level 2 (HE5) courses, ‘Concepts in Practice’. This is takes me to the halfway point towards my Painting degree. During this next course ‘Studio Practice’ I hope to build upon my knowledge and technical skills. Towards the end of ‘Concepts in Practice’ I felt that I was on the cusp of a significant breakthrough. This was a view that was also felt by my tutor for that course. I trust that with hard work, dedication, guidance and challenge I will be able to achieve this breakthrough which will be an important step in my aim of achieving an Honours degree in Painting. Perhaps, more importantly, I will realise my artistic goals.

Mark, January 21st 2020, slightly revised 28th August 2020