"I am a Canadian software engineer in the pension industry, thinking about life after the office as I hit 50. I'm studying painting with the OCA." Read about Martin's learning journey in the post.

"Hi, I'm Sarah Jane, a mid 40's BA Hons Illustration student who works full time as a Chartered Surveyor in Suffolk." Read about Sarah Jane's learning journey in this post.

OCA Painting student Roger Sidney is aged 66 years working full time as a Project Engineer in Santiago, Chile. "Level 3 has given me the confidence and opportunity to work independently finding my way with intelligent support from my tutors and peers."

I am Sarah and artist and full time reader development librarian. I would describe myself as a curious artist using my art to connect with the world and a way to tell personal stories . I am dyslexic so drawing is a way for me to communicate. My practice is concerned with recording my life sometimes through memories and often with place and nature.

OCA Students Teresa and Paul have been collaborating and would love to hear what you think!

Hi, I'm Justin, mid 30's and I work part time as a TA in school. I'm from England and have been living in Spain with my wife and daughter for the last 7 years.

We are a group of 102 students, residing all over Europe and spanning different disciplines. Although united by a common passion for the arts, we see our cultural and artistic diversity as one of our key strengths. There is a core group that facilitates the group’s activities.

Eleanora Alis and John are both students at the Open College of Arts. Despite never having met in person, they are now collaborating on their fourth project together.

What OCA brought was an intellectual and imaginative framework to help me develop my thinking and push the boundaries of my (at the time) early emerging practice. As a full-time worker the flexibility and approach to study of OCA was an ideal way to structure this learning and to come into contact with like-minded students and great tutors.

We have been collaborating on a project entitled Everydays since 28 Feb 2024, when we decided to take a photo every day (of anything at all!), and use it as a way of sustaining and growing our practice as well as flexing our artistic muscle daily.

"Although I worked as an engineer and then psychologist, I have always done something creative." Read about OCA Fine Art student Jenny's learning journey.

"The paper, hopefully a BA, will be a reward but for me the most important aspect has been the journey, the people I have met on route and my learnings."

As a BA Creative Arts student currently working in assemblage and installation, the connection between 1980s childhood freedom and my current posthumanist practice reveals some fascinating insights about how we develop our relationship with the material world!

I'm Paul an OCA Alumnus- 69 - TV/film actor - dad - supply teacher retired - still acting - trained at Central School of Speech and Drama, London in the 1970s - BA Combined Studies 1988 from Leeds Beckett University - many different casual jobs over the years - Yorkshireman now living in Cambridge.

"Hello, I'm Hilary Lawler, a BA Illustration Stage 3 student. I'm a mixed media artist and love sequential art and I'm studying with OCA as a part-time student while I work full time."

It's Pride Month and OCA Textiles Stage 3 student Nicky is looking for collaborators for a transgender identities project.

"I live and work between Estonia and the Cayman Islands. I'm a mother, a wife, and a visual artist."

Hello, I'm Helen, semi-retired, I live in West Yorkshire, working part-time as a finance director and trustee in the Charity/Arts sector.

Hello! I'm Jade. I'm 29, from Chesterfield, and I work full time as an Educational Content Lead. I am on the OCA Illustration degree.

I am a musician based in North Yorkshire, with a career behind me of teaching, performing and composing. I am currently studying Music.