Students Prove It’s Never Too Late

That it is never too late to follow your dream has been proved by four students at RACC (Richmond Adult Community College).

Debra Singh, 46, Fiona Daly and Angela Yates, both 38, together with 26-year-old Lisa Marie Harris all left school wanting to continue developing their artistic talents, but the need to earn a living, marriage and children meant their ambitions had to take a back seat.

Today, however, after completing full and part-time courses at RACC all are going on to study for fine art degrees at the prestigious University of the Arts, London – Debra to Wimbledon, Lisa Marie and Angela to St Martin’s and Fiona to Chelsea.

“It was always my dream to go to art college when I was 18“ says Debra. “But it just wasn’t possible and instead I went into childcare. I didn’t want to go through life saying ‘if only, if only,’ so I enrolled on the BTEC Foundation Diploma course and, at last, I have a real chance to fulfil the ambitions I had all those years ago.”

Fiona, who specialises in installation sculpture and was previously a teaching assistant, tells a similar story. “I left school with just one O Level. I always wanted to be a professional artist but it remained a dream until I went to RACC. They made me believe I could go further – and now I am.”

Mother of three Angela gained a BTEC qualification and had a career in IT before signing up for a RACC course. “I have had tremendous fun at Richmond and the teaching has been superb, not only developing my skills but giving me confidence in my abilities. I’m really looking forward to going to university and would love to become a practising artist.”


Lisa Marie, who has two young children, completed a two-year course in floristry at the College. It was during this time that she started to draw again and enrolled on the BTEC Foundation Diploma and like Fiona, concentrates predominantly on installation sculpture.

“If anyone had told me a couple of years ago that I would one day be going to university to study for an honours degree in fine art I would not have believed them. It just proves that you can do it if you really want to. I get annoyed with people moaning that they have nothing to do – you just have to get out and do it.”