AFTER two decades of working as a tattoo artist Richard Smith decided it was time for a bold new chapter and swapped studios for teaching.

Richard joined the college’s Access to Higher Education (HE) creative arts course after deciding to formally gain some art qualifications and undertake a degree in fine art.

Richard had previously completed a BTEC in programming as a teenager, however he found returning to education as a mature student was a completely different experience.

“Being a mature student, you put way more in and take things way more seriously than I would have at 18,” he said.

“It’s nerve-wracking being my age and coming back to college, but I’ve fitted straight in.

“It’s been fun, really.

“The course really brings you up to a level where you can do well in higher education.

“I got an unconditional offer for university, so I didn’t need to do this course, but I wouldn’t know half the things that I do now, so it’s been well worth it just for knowledge and confidence in what it is I want to do.

“I’ve been a tattoo artist for 20 years and decided to formally get some art qualifications.

“I’m 42 years old now and started thinking I want to do something different.

“From that I decided that I probably had the skills to be able to teach.”