UCM is celebrating the achievements of alumna Bethany Williams, whose work in fashion and fine art has earned her major industry awards and features in Vogue.
Williams began her creative journey on UCM’s Art Foundation diploma, which she describes as a transformative year that helped shape her direction.
She went on to study Critical Fine Art Practice at university, worked across the fashion and art sectors, and later completed a master’s degree in menswear at the London College of Fashion.
Global Recognition
Her career has since gained global recognition. Williams has received the Vogue Fashion Fund Prize and the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, and has been acknowledged by both the LVMH Prize and the Woolmark Prize.
She also collaborated with Vogue sustainability editor Emily Chan on a personal piece exploring creativity, recovery and wellbeing.
Williams credits the breadth of UCM’s Art Foundation course, spanning fine art, fashion, textiles, 3D design, film, sound and photography, with giving her the space to experiment and refine her portfolio.
After a period of illness, she returned to the Isle of Man to recover, reconnecting with her creative practice. This experience has shaped recent work, including research‑driven projects with Bethlem Gallery at Bethlem Royal Hospital, focusing on mental health and recovery. This body of work will return to the island in 2027.
UCM says Williams’ success highlights the strength of the island’s creative education and the global pathways it can open. Applications for the Art Foundation course starting this September are now open.
