Winning student puts city in the picture

A University of Salford student’s personal pictorial view of Manchester has been recognised in a competition and exhibition celebrating the area’s best art and illustration.

Graphic Design undergraduate Matthew Nevitt won the student competition run as part of the Manchester and Salford Illustrated exhibition, showcasing local graphic art and illustration on the theme of ‘What does Manchester mean to you?’.

Matthew’s submission, depicting part of the Manchester Craft Centre building on Copperas Street in the Northern Quarter of the city, was chosen as the winner from a range of works from Manchester and Salford art and design students.

Judges described his piece as “really outstanding, being technically excellent, interesting and relevant. We all agreed that Matthew’s work was on a par with many of the professional entries we received.”

Matthew won a two-week placement at design and digital agency Creative Lynx and said: “I chose the Craft Centre building as I think it’s beautiful and I regularly skateboard past it on my way to Note Skate Shop on Tib Street, where I work. Even though I have no involvement in the Craft Centre or the people who work there it’s engraved in my memory and it somehow represents home to me.”

Manchester and Salford Illustrated is organised by Wood Street’s Creative Friends, a group of people from Manchester and Salford’s creative community dedicated to promoting the cities’ talent. The exhibition runs at 52 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6JX, until 10 November. Entry is free and all proceeds from sales of the artwork on display, including a limited edition run of 50 prints of Matthew’s piece, will go to Manchester children’s charity Wood Street Mission.