Visual Arts student contributes to city-wide art trail

One of The Manchester College’s talented Visual Arts students is showcasing their creativity as part of Music for the Senses, a brand-new art trail taking over Manchester this summer.

Wild in Art, the team behind the award-winning Bee in the City, is the driving force behind the trail, which brings art to the streets with a series of vibrant displays inspired by sound, music and creativity.

During the planning phase, a cohort of Visual Arts students at the College were invited to take part in a competition to design artwork for a guitar – knowing the winning entry would be used as part of the project, a fantastic opportunity and reward for aspiring artists.

After some inspiring submissions, James Boughey, a Level 3 Visual Arts student, was declared the winner. James’ work, which is based on an album by The Haunted Candle Shop called Lemon Demon, is now on display in the reception area at City Campus Manchester and visible to people following the trail, as well as those who have downloaded the app. 

The College’s Great Ducie Street site was chosen because of the permanent Greater Mancunians exhibition located there; another great showcase of the talent produced by the further education provider.

Kate Heaton, Employability and Partnership Co-ordinator at the College, said: "We’re so proud to see our students involved in such a high-profile project. The team at Wild in Art have been brilliant to work with, and it’s fantastic to see James’ creativity recognised on such a big stage."

Rebecca Rogers, Head of Department for Visual Arts, added: “It’s amazing that the college and one of our talented students is going to form part of a summer of celebration across Manchester. To be on the same project as some iconic Manchester artists is a testament to the talent of James and the rest of the department.”

The trail runs until Sunday 31 August 2025 and features 48 guitar artworks, nine musician-donated guitars, four brand-new murals, two show-stopping installations and lots more. All of this aims to celebrate the people, places, moments and instruments of Manchester’s music scene.

With a Visual Arts course at The Manchester College, students can follow their passion and work towards a career in one of the fastest-growing employment sectors in the UK. Visit the course page for more information.