Martin Morgan

Overview

I came to Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) (then South Glamorgan institute for Higher Education) in 1989 to complete a City and Guilds course in Decorating, I was twenty-eight then a mature student as it were, within six months of being on the course I was asked to join the Decorating team, as their technician and was allowed to continue my studies part time. I came away with a First in Theory and a Distinction in Practice and loved every minute of it. Prior to that I had been a Coachbuilders apprentice on and off over a six-year period working for a brilliant man who had learnt his trade as an Apprentice at the Bristol car company. The job entailed us stripping all manner of classic cars for refurbishment making hoods, seats, door panels, making and veneering dashboards, in fact renewing everything in it. This is where I believe I got my love of making, learning new techniques and generally loving process. In 1995 I was attached to the Foundation course in Art and Design. Here I was lucky enough to work alongside a brilliant academic who was a Designer Maker. He led the 3D side of foundation, where I was shown a whole host of new and fascinating techniques (some downright dangerous, Cast-Iron Pouring- But that’s another story!). Whilst at Llandaff our workshops started catering to the needs of Textiles (then Print and Pattern Design). In about 2003/4 Foundation moved to the Howard Gardens Campus and I remained to expand and support the new flourishing makers side, bringing onboard my already gained skills whilst still learning new ones. I have been lucky enough to work alongside some of the kindest and most knowledgeable people and teams who were willing to pass on their knowledge to me, and in turn now I’m passing it on to the students.