Spotlight on Talent : Melissa Browning

Studied Level 3 Art & Design, followed by HNC, HND and BA Hons Photography (TOP UP)

Studying art and design and then photography has provided Melissa Browning with a better understanding of how photography contributes to print publications and other visual communications, as well as how it stands out on its own.

“It has always been my plan to specialise in photography.  Having the art and design experience has meant I’m able to put my photography work much more into context,” said Melissa.  “It’s helped me be more creative with my photography too.

“I’ve learnt how to go further with a subject’s surrounding space, pushing it out of the box.”

Melissa enjoyed her Level 3 course so much, she decided to pursue her passion for photography at degree level in the environment she was inspired by and with the lecturers she knew.

“Most people go to university for the ‘experience’ of having been.  That didn’t interest me,” said Melissa,

“Having a higher course available locally that was easy to travel to was more appealing.  So I stayed here.

“And I felt my lecturers had the expertise to teach me all I needed to know.  I’d seen how successfully they’d supported other students.  I was confident they would help me go as far as I possibly could.”

Melissa is currently specialising in food photography.

You can discover more about Walsall College’s art, design and photography courses.