The University of Derby is proud of its students and their achievements.
In this article, find out how Fine Art student Amy Vallance secured funding from Derby City Council to realise her dream, and how four Computer Games Modelling and Animation students founded their own company with the help of the University’s ‘Be The Boss’ scheme.
Amy Vallance
From winning a Banks Mill Studios residency award to being granted funding to help brighten up the streets of Derby, Amy Vallance has had a string of successes. Her most recent project has seen a street in Derby adorned with thousands of colourful canopy ribbons.
Amy, who is in the third year of a BA (Hons) Fine Art degree, handmade around 32,600 ribbons which are available to see on Iron Gate, in the city centre.
It was after securing funding from Derby City Council that her vision to “bring joy” to Derby’s streets – and further develop her creative ideas – was made a reality.
Photos of Amy: Beth Walsh Photography
“I received an email about a grant scheme by the council looking for projects that would help with the vibrancy of the city and thought I'd give it a go and apply and see what happens. The thought of bringing happiness to people’s lives just inspired me, so I sent my ideas in and a couple of months later I got a phone call saying that I’d been selected.
“I couldn’t believe it; I thought - is this real?"
Amy was awarded funding from Derby City Council’s Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) Vibrancy Fund, which was set up to encourage thinking around creating positive experiences when visiting the city centre, improve the city’s reputation and rebuild footfall above and beyond pre-pandemic levels.
Nine businesses, plus Amy – as the only individual – were selected to receive a total of £250,000 from the fund.
“It was the word ‘joy’ in my application that made them pick me. The council said they had always wanted a canopy, but no one had really brought up the right idea. Then I did and they loved it.”
It was the word ‘joy’ in my application that made them pick me. The council said they had always wanted a canopy, but no one had really brought up the right idea. Then I did and they loved it.
Amy Vallance
University of Derby BA (Hons) Fine Art student
“Back when I was younger, Derby used to be a place to go out, the streets were always full of people, and everyone was laughing. Because of Covid, a lot of shops have been closed and the streets are not as busy, so I wanted to bring a sense of joy back to them.
“I thought colours could bring happiness, so I came up with an idea of creating colourful ribbons to hang in Iron Gate.”
Amy was selected to receive the funding in September 2021, before getting the final go-ahead to install the ribbons in February 2022.
“I had just had an operation, was still in recovery, and it was difficult to find volunteers who could help, but I wanted to realise my idea so I didn’t let anything stop me,” she says.
“Derby Cathedral offered me its space and I also got help from Banks Mill Studios members and together we made it work.
“It took a good four weeks of 12-hour days creating the ribbons and then about two days to install them. It was very windy, so it was difficult. The ribbons were moving because of the wind, so we ended up using cable ties which doubled the workload.
“But when I saw the ribbons up there, I knew it was worth it.”
And this isn't Amy’s only success. In 2018, she received a Dean’s Award for her great academic performance, in June 2020 Amy was commissioned by Derby Live to create a public sculpture based on the Silk Mill, and in July 2021 Amy was one of five students to win a Banks Mill student residency award.
Banks Mill Studios is an innovation space for creative and digital industries, established by the University and its students and graduates, as well as supported by other creative entrepreneurs. The residency award winners were provided with access to shared studio space with free rent for a year in order to help the artists develop their creativity, knowledge and skills.
“Before I got the award, I wasn’t very confident in my work but the staff from Banks Mill Studios continuously helped me gain that confidence needed,” says Amy. “I cannot commend them enough. They encouraged me to apply for things, such as the council fund, and have been motivating me to work towards my goals.”
Amy has always known art is her passion: “I’ve always been arty. My mum’s an artist and my sister is very creative. It’s always been something I’ve loved; I had just chosen the wrong courses while at school. I did woodwork instead of art and I was awful at it,” she laughs.
Before getting into the arts, Amy says she had a stressful job which impacted on her mental health.
“I left the job, took a break to improve my mental health and now I’m at the University of Derby studying what I love and am passionate about.
“I get up in the morning full of inspiration, thinking that I want to do things; I’ve got so many ideas that I want to realise. Art helped me recover from my mental health issues and if I carry on doing the art in my way then I can find a way to a nice and positive life.”
From the left: Will Brown, Will Kitchen, David Phoenix, Martyna Tomaszewska
Not A Goose Games
Computer Games Modelling and Animation students Martyna Tomaszewska, David Phoenix, Will Brown and Will Kitchen have founded their own company with the help of the University’s ‘Be The Boss’ scheme.
After working together in their second year of studying BA (Hons) Computer Games Modelling and Animation on the Applied Game Art Production (AGAP) module, the students founded Not A Goose Games, a company specialising in video game development. Thanks to the University’s support, the team were able to fast track their goals and start their own business early in their career.
Will Kitchen said: “Although I had a dream goal of starting a company, I never thought I would get to this point while I was still a student but the University pushed us to achieve these goals.”
Will Brown added: “Studying Computer Games Modelling and Animation really helped us learn what we know about game development. Ant Gregory and Roisin Hunt are amazing lecturers, and we wouldn't change the course for the world!”
Not long after starting the company and during lockdowns resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, Not A Goose produced ‘Cheftastic!: Buffet Blast’, a high-quality game which their peers all enjoyed. Such was the response that the team decided to showcase it in the ‘Rezzed Zone’ at EGX in London, the UK’s largest games convention, where they received glowing reviews such as ‘Not A Goose Games have a bright future in the industry’.
Will Kitchen said: “Although I had a dream goal of starting a company, I never thought I would get to this point while I was still a student but the University pushed us to achieve these goals.”
Will Brown added: “Studying Computer Games Modelling and Animation really helped us learn what we know about game development. Ant Gregory and Roisin Hunt are amazing lecturers, and we wouldn't change the course for the world!”
Not long after starting the company and during lockdowns resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, Not A Goose produced ‘Cheftastic!: Buffet Blast’, a high-quality game which their peers all enjoyed. Such was the response that the team decided to showcase it in the ‘Rezzed Zone’ at EGX in London, the UK’s largest games convention, where they received glowing reviews such as ‘Not A Goose Games have a bright future in the industry’.
Commenting on the exhibition, Will B explained: “Exhibiting at EGX and having our game available to purchase on Steam, one of the world’s largest digital video game distributers, has been our proudest achievement since starting Not A Goose Games.”
Despite having successfully launched their own business and released a polished, high-quality game, all while studying for their degree, the team at Not A Goose Games aren’t stopping there. Brown outlined their plans moving forward beyond the launch and their time at Derby saying: “We’ve had a successful release, now we’re working on getting investment to increase our outreach to new players.”
Outreach to new fans will be across a number of platforms including Steam where, for £8.49, players can explore ‘three equally stunning and challenging locations, battling mutated food enemies such as onions billowing toxic gas’. The game is sure to keep fans entertained as it boasts over ‘70 unique playable levels’ and an exceptional original soundtrack.
As Not A Goose Games continue to grow, the group of entrepreneurs have the following advice for budding games developers who wish to follow the same trajectory, encouraging them by saying: “Always strive to improve yourself and your work and try not to compare yourself too much to others around you.”
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