Former St Mary’s Art student, Sarah Yates, recently submitted a winning design for the Nottingham Capital of Culture Bid.

The competition was run through ‘Nonsuch Studios’, a studio in Nottingham which works with freelancers to promote Nottingham as Capital of Culture 2023. Her entry had to visually communicate why Nottingham should be the Capital of Culture. Sarah’s design will be used across the city and sections of the design used online on various platforms.
Sarah is no stranger to winning competitions as back in 2016 she submitted a winning entry in a competition open to graduates of the University of Lincoln art and design courses to interpret the exterior or interior of Lincoln Cathedral. Sarah was one of 5 winners who saw their designs printed and sold in the cathedral.
Sarah graduated in 2015 from the University of Lincoln, with a First class honours in BA Hons Illustration having previously studied A Levels in Fine Art (A), Sociology (A*) and English Language (B) here at St Mary’s. Sarah is now working in a Neurological Unit in Nottingham, leading Art Therapy sessions.

About the design…
As the viewer can see, the outline for this illustration is a lace circle, corresponding to Nottingham lace market history. The circle is divided into six sections hence six years until 2023 and six reasons why Nottingham should be Capital of Culture. The top section illustrates Nottingham’s famous Adams building in the lace market, connecting history with modern aspects of the current day. Then the Nottingham Contemporary art gallery / Castle Galleries, then an impression of Nottingham’s food scene, which then leads into the University of Nottingham, followed by Nottingham’s literature and theatrical scene, and finally to sum up the idea of connecting the world with Nottingham and the Midlands, I have illustrated the world map with arrows pointing in both directions to depict new ways of thinking about and engaging culture and diversity, both in the city and for those travelling, visiting or moving to Nottingham. And whether you believe in him or not, Robin Hood’s bow and arrow is proudly situated within the design, complete with the iconic pink black blue and green arrow logo for the Bid. If you look closely, the University clock is set at 8:23 (2023)!

More portfolio work and work experience can be found on Sarah’s website www.sarahyatesillustration.co.uk