APRIL SLOCOMBE

My name is April Slocombe and I am currently in my final year at the London Metropolitan University studying BA (Hons) Animation. I am studying this course because I am interested in animation and I want to study an MA in the same course at the Royal College of Art after I graduate. After my MA I would consider persuing a career in animation.

 

I began animating when I was about 11 years old by making cartoons on a Art Attack CD-ROM I used to have. I also used 3D Movie Maker at this age although the character animations were pre-programmed. In 2002 I did work experience at Coleg Gwent City of Newport Campus (formerly Coleg Gwent Newport Nash Campus) in their Multimedia and Animation department. During this time I became accustomed to Adobe Photoshop, tried my hand at basic CGI animation in 3D Studio Max (now 3DS Max) and made a simple 2D computer animated sequence of some boats sailing on a lake and some ballons in the sky using Photoshop, Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere.

 

Two years after my work experience I became a formal student at Coleg Gwent City of Newport Campus and studied a BTEC First Diploma in Multimedia and Animation, which I completed successfully. I then preceeded onto the National Diploma in Multimedia but due to personal circumstances I discontinued after two months and attended a few part-time adult classes based on subjects such as fitness, personal development and pottery.

 

In 2006 I moved to London and restarted my Multimedia National Diploma at Barnet College Wood Street Campus (now Barnet Southgate College) but I only completed my first year again due to personal reasons. I then attended more part-time adult courses based on subjects such as radio drama, needlecraft, calligraphy, embroidery, art, bookbinding, children's literature and jewellery making for five years. In 2011 I decided it was time to move on and I enrolled at City and Islington College: Centre for Business, Art and Technology where I studied Level 3 Access to Digital Media, which I passed and it was also the course that got me onto my animation degree at the London Met. I have successfully completed my first two years and have got potential to successfully graduate.