Jioni Warner originally applied to study Sports Therapy but after having seconds thought she decided to follow her lifelong passion for art through Clearing.
She explained: “It was a last-minute decision to change but it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! Applying through Clearing was really easy and I got a quick response from Staffordshire Uni.”
After enrolling on the Art and Design foundation degree, Jioni progressed onto the BA (Hons) Fine Art course where she found her artistic voice.
She said: “This course has enabled me to find out who I am as an artist. When I started getting into political art, I got a lot of support from my tutors. They really helped me figure out what I wanted to do and push me.”
For her final year project, Jioni created a series of large-scale portraits to raise awareness of the exploitation of black women in society. Incorporating images from archives and social media, the mixed media artworks highlight colonisation, the Windrush and stereotypes encouraged by the media.
Jioni has received industry praise for her work and was selected as part of the Sunny Bank Mills gallery Ones to Watch exhibition where she won the judges prize, including a cash award and a residency at the gallery.
She said: “As a black woman, we have to deal with the double burden of both sexism and racism on a daily basis. I’ve grown up with a lot of strong women around me, so it was something close to my heart that I wanted to express in my favourite form which is art.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m kind of shocked and extremely happy that the judges chose my work! I think it will give me a boost in the direction that I want to go in and to get my art out there.”
Jioni now plans to complete a master’s course in London and hopes her experience will give others the confidence to follow their heart if they are having second thoughts.
“Clearing gives you options. I came through Clearing because I switched subjects, it’s not just something for people who didn’t get their grades. If there’s something you want to do but didn’t think you could, then I’d say research it more.
“Doing something that’s your passion means you’ll never really grow tired of it - I’ve been painting my whole life and I want to paint forever!”
Find out if you are eligible for an offer through Clearing by using our offer calculator, have a ‘live chat’ with Clearing experts at http://www.staffs.ac.uk/clearing/ or call our Clearing hotline on 0800 590 830