University for the Creative Arts (UCA)

Tracey graduated with a BA in from Maidstone College of Art in 1988, which has since become UCA Maidstone. She has become one of the most influential artists of our time – as one of the artists in the Young British Artists (YBAs) who emerged in the Nineties, along with other famous faces such as Damien Hirst, Tracey has exhibited at well-known galleries including White Cube and the Saatchi Gallery.

In 1999 Tracey was nominated for the Turner prize for her piece titled My Bed. In 2007, she entered The Royal Academy and then, in the same year, represented Britain in the Venice Biennale.

Stephen is the Founder and Creative Director of the internationally renowned luxury jewellery brand, Stephen Webster.

Stephen studied Jewellery and Silversmithing at one of our founding colleges – the Medway College of Design – at the age of 16.

He established his company in 1989 and, with one of the largest jewellery manufacturing and design studios in London’s West End, Stephen is widely considered to be one of the international scene’s most accomplished and exciting designers. The company has expanded globally with close to 200 points of sale worldwide as well as boasting flagship stores on London’s Mount Street and Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills.

A number of famous faces have worn one-of-a-kind pieces created by Stephen Webster, including Madonna, Sharon Stone, Kate Moss, Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Carrie Fisher, Pink and Christina Aguilera. He has also created jewellery for Elton John, Jay Z, Ozzy Osborne, Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke and Russell Brand, to name but a few.

In a career spanning some 38 years, Webster has received numerous accolades including a three-time win of the British Luxury Jeweller of the Year Award, Diamond Jeweller of the Year, Jewellery Designer of the Year and UK Jewellery Brand of the Year.

At UCA in 2007 we awarded Stephen an honorary Master of Arts degree for his outstanding contribution to the arts, and he also holds the honour of being a Liveryman of the City of London.

In January 2013, Stephen was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list for his services to training and skills in the British jewellery industry.

Dame Zandra Rhodes RDI became UCA’s Chancellor in 2010.

In 1969, she established her own retail outlet in the fashionable Fulham Road in West London.

Zandra designed clothes for the late Diana, Princess of Wales and continues to design for royalty and the rich and famous around the world. She has a loyal cult following in the USA too.

Zandra was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) by the Queen in 1997. In 2014 Zandra received the title of Dame in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. The Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) status has been awarded to Zandra in recognition of her services to the UK’s fashion and textiles industries.

Zandra is the founder of the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, which opened in May 2003.

As a writer and director, Gareth set up his own visual effects company called The Monkey Experiment Ltd in 2003. He’s produced special effects and directed for a number of BAFTA award-winning and Emmy nominated television shows.

His debut feature Monsters for Vertigo films premiered at the 2010 South by Southwest film festival and was picked up by Magnet Releasing for US distribution. Monsters received a terrific response on the festival circuit and was released in the UK in December 2010. It also received an impressive six British Independent Film Award nominations and picked up the awards for Best Director, Best Technical Achievement and Best Achievement in Production. At the BAFTA Awards in 2011, Gareth was nominated for the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for Monsters.

On the back of this outstanding success, Gareth took the box office by storm in 2014 as the director of Godzilla – a big budget reboot of the cult classic. He was subsequently named as the director of the next film in the iconic Star Wars franchise.

William directed scenes for the BBC One’s latest adaptation of the Cornish period drama Poldark. He landed this role following his successful work on E4’s BAFTA-winning series Misfits, as well as his commercial work which includes directiing Pepsi’s striking 2014 Super Bowl advert.

During his career to date, William has received a Cannes Lions and Royal Television Society Award.