ASPIRING artists are showing off their talents as part of an exhibition in the town centre.

Six final year BA drawing for fine art students from Swindon College are displaying their work at the Post Modern Gallery, in Theatre Square, ahead of their final exhibition, which is due to take place in May.

The display, which is called Render, will be open to the public from 10am until 4pm today.

Will Rounce, the programme leader for drawing for fine art, said: “This gives them an opportunity to test out their work in a new environment out of the studio.

“They have organised it, done the marketing, hung the exhibition and looked after the exhibition as well.

“They are almost being independent artists. It is their first step to not being students and being out in the real world as practising artists.”

The exhibition includes sculpture, drawing, print, installation and stitched pieces of work.

Jake Stark, 25, of North Star, is displaying a piece of work called Plexus Field, which he created using cotton thread.

“It’s based loosely on my colour-blindness,” he said.

“I can’t see green and I always get the question ‘so what do you see then?’ I wanted to create something that changes as you look at it. If you are taller or shorter you will see it differently.

“The work has had to be built here from thread so it is completely different to one I did at college.

“It took quite a few days to make.”

Also among the students exhibiting their work is Kerry Gault, 20, of North Star, who was inspired by the way that social networking site Facebook and online messaging has become more and more popular.

Her work includes three pieces called A Conversation Piece, Stills and Pixels.

Jemma Gunning, 24, of Royal Wootton Bassett, used mud, coffee and ink to create her work called Recall And Record.

“It is about the landscape. It is not done with any reference material, it is all done from memory,” she said. “I thought about Westminster Bridge and it is about the atmosphere and what took hold of me there.

“My work is more an illusion of landscape.

“When you look at them you can see odd shapes. It is interesting to hear what people can see in there.”

Lee Carter, 47, of Haydon Wick, was inspired by a picture of her great-grandmother, Mary Carter, of Ferndale Road, who was born in 1890.

Lee used a sewing needle to create her work, which is called Echoes Of The Past.

The exhibition also includes pieces by students Janice Botterill and Jeff Pigott.Admission is free.

For budding artists, the college will be launching a foundation degree in creative arts and design practice in partnership with Oxford Brookes University in September.

For more information about art courses at Swindon College email willrounce@swindon-college.ac.uk or visit micros.swindon- college.ac.uk/soa/welcome.