JACEK WESOLOWSKI VIOLIN RESTORER, J&A BEARE, LONDON
STUDIED GRADUATE, POSTGRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DIPLOMAS, MAKING OF EARLY STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
I chose West Dean College because to my knowledge it was the only place I could study early stringed instrument making. The facilities in the workshop, the library, IT, exchange of ideas with students from other programmes, as well as a close working relationship with the tutor made studying a broad experience. Another advantage for me was at a personal level; my wife and I met at West Dean. A few months after graduating I was offered a permanent position in the prestigious J&A Beare fine violins restoration workshop.

KATHARINE SWAILES STUDIED POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA TAPESTRY WEAVING.
I came to West Dean having had a textiles-based career and wanted a change of direction but to stay with textiles as an arts medium. After an exploratory short course I discovered tapestry was what I was looking for. The postgraduate diploma at West Dean is quite unique as it is a dedicated course, enabling you to focus on the discipline and within a year attain a high level of skills to move forward. For me the journey was downstairs to West Dean's professional tapestry studio, where I spent another year in training. I am now a senior weaver in the professional tapestry studio, the only one in England, overseeing the production of a three and a half year commission.