Swansea College of Art Welcomes Students from Wuhan University for Creative Illustration Workshop
The BA Illustration course at the ÃÜÌÒ´«Ã½â€™s (UWTSD) Swansea College of Art, has welcomed 40 students from Wuhan University of Technology as part of the wider UWTSD Chinese Summer School, an initiative designed to offer international students a dynamic and immersive experience in UK higher education.
Led by Illustration lecturers Ian Simmons and Jon Williams, the workshop introduced the visiting students to the collaborative and experimental spirit of illustration education at UWTSD’s Swansea College of Art. The morning session began with a creative brief and an introduction to the day’s activities, before the students were split into two large groups to work on a live collaborative drawing project.
Each group worked on a large sheet of paper that spanned two rows of tables, encouraging free expression, teamwork, and improvisation. Midway through the session, the groups swapped places and continued developing each other’s artwork, an experience that challenged their creativity and adaptability.
The afternoon session shifted to character design, with a new brief encouraging students to explore anthropomorphism by creating original characters. This time, students worked individually, giving them the opportunity to showcase their personal styles and interpretation of the brief.
The visit was praised by Shi Dong, lecturer at Wuhan University of Technology, who said:
“The Summer School is a great opportunity for the students to broaden their horizons. The way they are taught in China is totally different from the way you teach at Swansea College of Art, and it was good to see how they coped with briefs that were out of their comfort zone. The students really enjoyed the different courses they participated in, and it has opened their eyes to a different way of doing things.â€
The day concluded with a short presentation on the BA Illustration programme, giving students insight into the structure, philosophy, and creative culture of the course at UWTSD.
Ian Simmons said: “The session was part of UWTSD’s ongoing commitment to international collaboration and creative exchange, allowing students from around the world to engage in new educational approaches, build global connections, and expand their artistic practice.â€
Further Information
Rebecca Davies
Executive Press and Media Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: rebecca.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467071