MidKent College is celebrating the success of two talented Art and Design students who have been selected to exhibit their work at Origins Creatives 2026, a national annual exhibition hosted by UAL Awarding Body at the Mall Galleries in London this July.
Becca Hicks and Omid Yousofi were chosen from more than 600 submissions from students across the UK, making their selection a significant achievement and a proud moment for the College.
The exhibition, taking place from 15 - 18 July, showcases some of the UK's most exciting emerging creative talent and offers students the opportunity to display their work in one of London's leading public galleries.
Becca's photography submission drew inspiration from practitioners including Szilveszter Màko, alongside Renaissance painting and traditional portraiture. Using cyanotype printing combined with hand-painted backdrops, she created a series of images rich in texture, depth and craftsmanship. Following her success at MidKent College, Becca will continue her creative journey by studying Photography at Nottingham Trent University this autumn.
Omid's powerful oil painting explores themes of dystopia, war and destruction, drawing on his own experiences after relocating from Afghanistan. Through his work, he communicates the devastating impact of conflict while demonstrating his growing technical ability and artistic voice. Omid's journey has been one of remarkable resilience, and after being nominated for the College's Creative Industry Student of the Year award earlier this year, he will continue developing his talent by progressing to Level 3 Fine Art at MidKent College.
Both students' work caught the attention of Origins Creatives curator Calum Hall from Creative Debuts, who selected their pieces for this year's exhibition.
The annual Origins Creatives exhibition celebrates the next generation of artists, designers and performers studying UAL Awarding Body qualifications. Alongside an impressive collection of artwork, visitors can enjoy fashion, film, music and live performances throughout the event.
MidKent College is incredibly proud of Becca and Omid for representing the College on a national stage and wishes them every success as they take the next steps in their creative careers.
^^The Effects of War by Omid Yousofi^^
^^Becca Hicks Photography^^
