Bob the Builder designer's words of wisdom for students

A top designer had students enthralled when he talked to a new generation of artists.

Bob the Builder designer Curtis Jobling gave a talk to Cleveland College of Art & Design (CCAD), where he used to be a student himself.

The man who has also worked on Wallace and Gromit’s A Close Shave, and the Tim Burton movie Mars Attacks, was at the college’s Hartlepool campus just 22 years after studying at its Middlesbrough facility.

He spoke to more than 100 degree and foundation students about his work in film, television, animation and publishing.

He is also an author and illustrator of books for children.

His successes include adapting his picture book character, Frankenstein’s Cat, into an animated series for the BBC, the pre-school Raa Raa the Noisy Lion for CBeebies and his most recent work - the Wereworld series of fantasy novels.

He said CCAD made him realise that if he wanted to work in creative industries he needed to have desire and dedication, along with talent.

“My advice to the students is to keep learning your craft and take nothing for granted.

“Make the most of every opportunity that arises and ensure that your folio is only your very best work, as quality impresses ahead of quantity every day of the week.

“It’s harder than ever to get work experience, certainly in the animation industry, so students must keep knocking on doors and don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.

“It’s not the end of the world if you don’t get that experience, but it’s a great insight into how the industry works, and it was certainly an eye-opener for me.”

After the talk, students got advice, including Lauren Bailey, 19, who lives in Hartlepool and is passionate about comic art, character design and fantasy art.

She said: “Curtis had us all howling with laughter and I feel very inspired! Thank you for answering my question on writing and drawing.”

Jessie Butterfield, 23, from South Hylton, Sunderland, is in the second year of an illustration degree, and was visited by Curtis in the studio.

She said: “I hope to become an illustrator once I graduate, so it was great to meet a fellow CCAD student who has done so well, which is very inspiring.”