James is sketching out an exciting design career
Talented teenager James Barrett has his sights set on a career in the design industry after returning from Spain to gain new qualifications at Telford College. James, 19, is now living in Stirchley, but spent most of his early years in Spain, having moved to the Valencia area at the age of eight with his British father, and Spanish mother.
Since coming back to the UK, he has completed two years of a three-year art and design course at Telford College’s Haybridge campus which will take him through to a level three qualification – and hopefully then onto university.
James, who admitted he struggled to come to terms with the Spanish education system, decided to enrol at Telford College when his family returned to the UK. They were originally from London, but had family connections in Shropshire.
He said: “The college’s strongest point is the way they offer opportunities to a wide range of students. Telford College helps people to get onto the courses they ultimately want to do, and therefore helps their career prospects.”
James said he wanted to become a cartoonist, freelance artist, or a concept artist in the video gaming industry. He is planning to move onto university at the end of his level three studies at Telford College next year.
Anna Dowdall, art and design lecturer at Telford College, said: “James has applied his skills well on the course. He came to us with no formal qualifications, but has progressed through levels one and two of art and design, and is and now moving to level three. He’s been resilient and hard-working, alongside studying for GCSE maths and English qualifications, and will succeed well in his chosen career as a specialist graphic designer.”
