A LOCAL artist and former student at Barnsley College is creating a stunning new mural celebrating the spirit of the college.
The cafe area of The Open Kitchen restaurant at the college is undergoing an exciting transformation as Adam Briscoe creates a mural recognising the vibrant community within the restaurant.
The project, which is part of The Open Kitchen’s recent revamp, was arranged through Kerry Bowden, a team member at the restaurant and a former schoolmate of Adam. His bespoke design will cover an entire wall, capturing the essence of the college’s diverse subject areas and lively atmosphere.
Adam, a former student of both bricklaying and childcare at the college, will continue to visit the College intermittently over the coming weeks to complete his creation. Guests are invited to enjoy the restaurant as usual during this time, with the added opportunity to see Adam’s artistic process live if their visits align.
Reflecting on his return to Barnsley College, Adam shared: “It’s great to be back at college.
“I came originally to study bricklaying, but there was a bit of a dip in the market at that time, so I started working in childcare. I came back to college during my time working at a nursery, to complete my NVQ Level 2 Children and Young People Apprenticeship.
“I then left childcare to go travelling, came back and have been doing this since. I haven’t been doing it for too long, but it’s going well. I hadn’t really had much of an art background before, but I had always been ‘arty’.”
Adam hopes his story inspires students to embrace change and explore their passions: “I hope the students look at what I’m doing and see that they don’t have to follow conventional career paths, or can change careers if they need to. You shouldn’t be afraid to follow your interests, move around and do different things. I think it’s good to be adaptable and not to be afraid of change.
“You don’t need to worry about getting a ‘real’ job if that isn’t for you, find where you are valued and do what you enjoy.”
