Anya Whiteley: artist of the month at Over the Rainbow Café
For York St John University (YSJ) illustration student Anya Whiteley, exhibiting her work at Over the Rainbow Café wasn’t just an opportunity to showcase her art—it was a valuable learning experience that helped her grow as an artist and professional.
Anya first discovered the Artist of the Month initiative when she noticed the café had recently started an artist of the month board. Seeing this as a great opportunity, she took the initiative to approach the café and share some of her work. Her boldness paid off, and she was selected as the featured artist for January.
Refining her artistic style and skills
Anya’s work focuses on wildlife in a collaged style, a technique she also uses for her pet portrait commissions. Reflecting on her artistic journey, she shared, “During my art foundation year, I developed a tarot deck, which is still something I take inspiration from. I hope to produce an updated version as I am refining my art style.”.
Her time at YSJ has played a key role in shaping her approach to art. “During my time at YSJ, I have been able to refine and develop my collaging practice through the advice of my peers and tutors, using the facilities to explore new ways of working such as casting and encasing my collaged pieces in resin,” she explained.
Beyond developing her technical skills, Anya has also gained real-world experience. “Selling work at Thought Bubble and different craft fairs has taught me that there is an art to what sells at different venues,” she noted, emphasising the business aspect of being an artist.
A meaningful exhibition experience
Exhibiting at Over the Rainbow Café was a special opportunity for Anya. “Over the Rainbow Café is the only LGBTQ+ café in York, and as a queer illustrator, I was excited for the opportunity to display my work in a space that represents the community,” she shared. Wanting to create something unique for the exhibition, she designed Pride flag animal magnets specifically for the display.
The experience also provided an important lesson in the business side of art. “The showcasing of my work at Over the Rainbow Café was the first time I had to navigate commission percentages and factor this into the pricing of my work,” Anya explained. Learning how to price artwork while considering commissions is a key skill for emerging artists.
Advice for fellow students
Anya encourages other student artists to seek out opportunities like this. “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Reach out to venues you feel your work lends itself to, as the worst that can happen is they say no. Even if it is a no now, they may remember you for a future opportunity.”.
Taking that first step to approach the café led to a fantastic opportunity for Anya, and she hopes more students will take advantage of similar chances to showcase their work beyond university.
Looking to the future
Anya is currently expanding her portfolio and preparing for the Wakefield Art Walk. She is also working on finalising her updated tarot deck, with plans to get packs printed this summer.
In addition to her love for wildlife illustration, Anya has a strong passion for musical theatre, which also influences her work. “Last summer, I created a zine based on the musical group Starkid, which I handed out at their London show. I am going again this April to see them and hope to create some art prints for the fans.”
Follow Anya’s work
- Art account: @Alley_scout
- Commission email: alleyscoutart@gmail.com
A platform for emerging artists
The Artist of the Month initiative at Over the Rainbow Café offers YSJ students a platform to showcase their work, gain exposure, and connect with the local creative community, fostering professional growth and artistic development.
Interested in learning more? Follow Over the Rainbow Café on Instagram or visit them in person to enjoy great coffee and discover new local talent!
To find out more about our students’ stories and achievements, read our blog about Georgie, a mature student on the Physiotherapy degree, who shared with us her transformative research internship over the summer.