We’re not entirely sure how to describe Nick Norcross’ creation

Something that looks like a real life Pokemon Go set through to recreating a quarry are just some of the vibrant exhibitions on show at Preston’s university.

The artistic talents of fine art students at the University of Central Lancashire are being showcased to the public.

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Electronic music fan Nick Norcross channelled his alter ego Tribal Nick to create 25 eye-catching masks which differ in size and shape.

The 33-year-old, from Penwortham, spent between 10 and 40 hours modelling each design from clay, covering it in paper mache and painting with a striking design.

Nick, who won a 2014 UCLan Creative Award when he was on the undergraduate illustration degree, said: “My work is all instinct based and portrays my emotions at that moment in time. I’m really interested in how people react when wearing and seeing the masks. Masks hide emotions and allow people to express themselves in a way which they might not do without the mask.”

For research purposes he spent time with renowned York street performer Purple Man. He also took a selection of the masks on to the streets in Preston city centre to gauge people’s reactions and he’s been commissioned by the Harris Museum.

American Martha Oatway used Threshfield Quarry, near Skipton, to challenges people’s perceptions of quarries on the beautiful landscape of the Yorkshire Dales.

Martha dug deep to find her inspiration

The mature student, who originates from Maine but is currently living in Preston with her husband, used forever mirrors, glass panels, laser cutting techniques, steelwork and stones to create her stunning contemporary structure.

She said: “Quarries were the lifeblood of communities but it’s interesting to see how they are hidden from landscapes. I wanted to show that they are still there and can be seen when you look at the landscape in a different way.”

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With permission from the President of the Threshfield Quarry Development Trust, she collected a car full of stones and spent endless hours arranging what she required for her final piece.

A printmaker by trade, Martha decided to study at UCLan on an access to art course before following that with an undergraduate degree. She said: “I could’ve stayed being a printmaker throughout my career but I decided I wanted to do something different and learn to think about being creative in a different way.

“When I came to UCLan I soon found it was a fabulous place to study. I’ve had a great time, my fellow students have been wonderful, everybody is so friendly and it’s a place where age is no barrier to education.”

A trip to a house clearance shop proved the inspiration for Lauren Carter-Bridges’ final work. She bought an old tin full of 120 matchbooks for £1 and discovered the matchbooks had been collected from across Europe and the United States of America. After further investigation she realised the 50 American books signalled a cross country journey in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Lauren went on the road for her inspiration

The 32-year-old, from Bolton, tracked down images of what the featured hotels and motels would look like at that time and then painstakingly oil painted the intricate scene on to the packet.

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She said: “I’m fascinated with other people’s history so in a way I think of myself as an identity thief. To think this man has made his way across America and I can track where he’s been by these matchbooks is just amazing to me. My next project is to track his route through Europe.”

MA Fine Art Course Leader Professor Charles Quick said: “All the students have worked extremely hard. Their work is very ambitious in terms of scale and endeavour and it’s had a great response so far.”

The free exhibition, entitled Inside Out, is taking place in Hanover Building off Fylde Road, from 12noon to 6.00pm every day until Friday 16 September.