November 2011 - University of Worcester

NEWSTalented illustrator making waves inthe world of children’s booksA talented student at the University of Worcester is making a name forherself in the world of illustration.work illustrating Robert Arley’s book BigBig Secret, for Worcester-based publisher,SevernPix.Just a year after being commissioned toillustrate her first book, Marisa Lewis hasnow had her work published in a secondbook and also in promotional material foran operatic show.The 21-year-old, who studied for a BA inIllustration at the University of Worcesterand is now studying for her Masters inCreative Digital Media, was commissionedto illustrate The Leopard Boy, writtenby Julia Johnson, and published byFrances Lincoln Publishers. She is alsothe illustrator of advertising posters andleaflets for Worcester Gilbert & SullivanOperatic Society’s show, Princess Ida.The commissions came following Marisa’sNairobi visitThe University’s ongoing relationshipwith nurses in Nairobi is going fromstrength to strength.Until starting at the University ofWorcester, Marisa, of Warndon Villages,Worcester, did not realise that her love ofdrawing and illustration could turn into acareer.“I dabbled in illustration at home, but didn’tever think I could do it professionally,” shesays. “However, I managed to use my creditsgained from doing web design courses withthe Open University to secure an interviewat the University of Worcester, and the restis history.”Thanks to her tutor Piet Grobler, SeniorLecturer and Course Leader in Illustrationat the University of Worcester, who put herin touch with his publishers, Marisa wasable to undertake the work as part of herfinal-year Independent Study, and hasn’tlooked back since.“It was great,” she said. “It took severalmonths to complete the work, starting withthe cover and working my way through theother illustrations. I tended to have morethan one illustration ‘on the go’ at the sametime. It was an excellent opportunity.”In 2010 two members of staff fromthe University’s Institute of Health& Society, Judith Davies and RuthPearce, visited Nairobi Hospital. Thepurpose of the visit was to sign a‘Memorandum of Understanding’ toexplore the development of Continuing Professional Development for qualified nurses inNairobi Hospital.Volunteers headto the hillslecturer at the University of Worcester isA helping to create an emotive survey ofMalvern, finding out how local people react toand think about the town centre and its facilities.Using award-winning new research methods,Andy Stevenson is helping Malvern Hills DistrictCouncil (MHDC) to map its new Route to the Hills.The Emotisurvey | Malvern project builds onprevious research projects undertaken by theUniversity of Worcester in central Worcesterwith the City Council’s Landscape Architectand Town Planning teams. As part of themethods used it kits volunteers out with thelatest digital video camera, sound recordingequipment and geographical positioningsystem (GPS) and then asks them to walk a setroute at the same time voicing their thoughtsabout the areas they are walking through.The research phase is being carried out overthe next few weeks with volunteers from arange of different groups including peoplewith disabilities, young people and walkers.Andy Stevenson, Senior Lecturer in Design at theUniversity of Worcester, will then help to analysethe findings and present an online interactiveresource to the Route to the Hills Board. Thefindings will be used to help the project to addresslocal issues and improve the public realm.He said: “It’s been great meeting all the differentpeople involved and there’s already been somefascinating comments made about Malvern, itshistory, architecture, public realm and accessibilityfor visitors and residents with disabilities.”MHDC is one of six partner organisations onthe Route to the Hills. The others are MalvernCivic Society, Malvern Town Council, HighStreet Malvern, Great Malvern Priory ParochialChurch Council and Malvern Hills Conservators.To find out more about the Emotisurvey visit theRoute to the Hills page on the council’s web pagewww.malvernhills.gov.uk/routetothehillsIn June this year, 8 qualified nurses visited University of Worcester, Worcestershire AcuteNHS Trust and Herefordshire Acute NHS Trust to explore nursing practice.Following the report from that visit Rose Omutanyi, Principal of the Cicely McDonnellSchool of Nursing at Nairobi Hospital, and Janet Mathiu, Director of Nursing NairobiHospital, visited the University of Worcester in October to identify educational andresearch opportunities and to develop an action plan for future development, includingboth staff and student exchanges.Speaking about the partnership, Valerie Gorton from the Institute of Health & Societysaid: “We see a bright future ahead for developments with Kenya at this time and in thefuture.”14 / NOVEMBER 2011 / newsandviews@worc.ac.uk