Learner’s spotlight: Hilary’s journey through printmaking to the Royal Academy

Exploring creativity after retirement 

Hilary discovered that retirement could be the start of a new creative chapter. Drawing had been part of her life since the 1970s, but her enrolment in printmaking courses for adults at WM College transformed a private hobby into a serious artistic practice. From experimenting with etching in a short course to exhibiting at the Royal Academy, Hilary’s journey shows how adult education can unlock hidden potential at any stage of life. 

Her creative journey didn’t begin with a bold career change. Hilary had been attending life drawing classes at the College since 1973, when it was based in Kentish Town. Drawing had been a constant through decades of professional responsibility, yet it had always lived quietly on the edges of her daily life. The two-day etching course shifted that balance, moving her art from the margins to the center of her retirement. 

“I didn’t see it as the beginning of anything,” she says. “I just wanted to try etching properly.” 

Learning printmaking 

The etching process captivated Hilary from the start. Preparing the plate, drawing into metal, allowing the acid to bite, and lifting the paper from the press revealed both the precision and unpredictability of printmaking. It demanded patience, rewarded experimentation, and required focus. 

Two days were not enough. What began as curiosity quickly became a commitment to learning and developing her practice. 

That initial course led to a year on the UAL Art Foundation programme at WM College. From there, Hilary progressed to a BA in Fine Art at Middlesex University and then completed her Masters in Printmaking from 2018 to 2020. Printmaking became not just an interest, but a practice that defined her life. 

Exhibiting prints at the Royal Academy 

Since completing her postgraduate studies, Hilary has exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Show four times. These achievements were not the result of sudden reinvention, but steady development supported by studio access, expert tuition, and sustained commitment. 

“Without WM College,” she reflects, “I would have remained a community worker who drew. Instead, I became a practising artist.” 

Her journey illustrates something important about adult education. It is not only about gaining qualifications or changing careers. It is about creating the conditions in which long-held interests can develop into expertise. It is about access to space, teaching, and a community of serious learners. 

Lifelong learning 

Hilary continues to study in the College print room, experimenting with new etching methods and expanding her practice.

“Printmaking is now my life,” she says. 

During her time at WM College, she was awarded the Lowes Dickinson Award in 2025 for her piece “Synchrony”, recognising her as the overall winner. 

In a climate where lifelong learning is often spoken about in abstract terms, Hilary’s experience shows what lifelong learning looks like in practice. It builds over time, grows through curiosity, and strengthens with opportunity. 

For anyone interested in exploring their creativity, courses like printmaking and etching at WM College offer the space, support, and community to take that first step.