Long-time student and Hammersmith resident, Andrew Attwell, was crowned this year's winner at the Macbeth Centre's annual Arts and Crafts Exhibition.
His first-place illustration, Map, depicts a young girl standing on a fictional underground platform called 'Chiswick House'. It's part of his larger in-progress graphic novel, which reimagines west London life with a slight sci-fi twist, as seen through the artist's eyes.
"West London is home," said Andrew, explaining why he choose Hammersmith and the surrounding area as the backdrop.
But for a big, modern city like London, it can feel very leafy and village-like with beautiful old buildings and tree-lined roads. I thought there was something quite fun about setting what is essentially a science-fiction story in this area."
His piece captivated the judges with its storytelling and attention to detail, securing both the best illustration and overall prizes.
He received his award alongside the exhibitions' five other winners from Cllr Daryl Brown, Deputy Mayor of H&F. Check out all the photos from the exhibition's opening night.
Andrew's artistic success has grown thanks to the Macbeth Centre, home to H&F's adult learning service.
He started off in our woodwork class in 2021 before moving on to illustration, picture framing and French courses.
Supporting local talent
"I'm a total learning addict," he confessed. "The idea of going back to school was very exciting, and the Macbeth Centre has been the perfect place to hone my technical skills."
Andrew plans to sign up for Tricia Krauss' block printing course next: "The tutors are full of all those little tips that you just won't find in a textbook."
The confidence gained in our classes has led Andrew to move his career in a more artistic direction, pursuing illustration professionally. If you're interested in commissioning work, visit his website.
Follow in his footsteps
The Macbeth Centre is offering more than 250 courses from September, including 20 exciting new classes.
There's more than just arts courses; our 2024-25 programme features:
- cooking on a budget
- English and Maths courses
- computer classes
- creative writing
- and more!
You can save 10%* if you sign up before 31 August. Don't miss out, call 020 8753 3600 or enrol online now.
* Terms and conditions apply. Excludes accredited, Agewell and SEN courses.
