Hana Rajabally reports on Gay Kershaw’s alternative route into higher education

Middlesex University student Gay Kershaw with some of her artwork — Gay Kershaw with some of her artwork – (Credit – Middlesex University

Last Thursday, thousands of A-Level students decided on where they’d go for university after receiving their exam results.

But the route to university isn’t as straightforward for everyone. Despite seeing her three children progress through university, Mill Hill businesswoman Gay Kershaw never thought that she would do the same, until she completed an Arts and Creative Industries Foundation course at Middlesex University in June.

Kershaw has now enrolled onto a BA in Illustration starting in September 2024 alongside another mature student who she became very close friends with on the foundation course.

She said: “I worked all my life in roles that I have been good at but that have not necessarily made me happy. I have been passionate about art since childhood and starting my degree is something I should have done 30 years’ ago.”

Having left school at 16, Kershaw undertook various roles and worked in schools’ admissions and her late father’s Funeral Directors’ business, but throughout the years her passion for art remained.

After taking a local art class in Mill Hill, her tutor recommended that she enrol onto the foundation course at Middlesex.

Delighted with her experience, Kershaw said: “It has been one of the best decisions. The course was fantastic as an introduction to university life while providing an opportunity to learn a wide range of artistic techniques, and has enabled me to produce my own portfolio of work.

“The standard of teaching was incredibly high, the tutors were passionate about their subjects, and my fellow students have been supportive. I have a business background so I know I have received value for money.”

The foundation course introduced Kershaw to a wide range of artistic techniques from illustration and fine art to short animations, ceramics, printing and jewellery design, and prepared her for a degree course in a creative subject.

As well as enhancing her artistic skills and knowledge, the foundation course also brought Kershaw a life-long friend. Businesswoman Ann Peters enrolled onto the foundation course alongside Kershaw as a mature student, and will be studying for a BA in Fine Art from September at Middlesex.

“We realised we had a lot in common and it’s fantastic that we will be at Middlesex together from September,” Kershaw said.

Kershaw has now given up working for the family business to study and would like to focus on art full time. Looking ahead, she said she wants to help support older people getting into art.

“In the future, I would like to support and teach art to older people with an emphasis on older women from minority backgrounds, and I would like to set up workshops and retreats in the Caribbean,” she said.

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