A former Priestley College student whose creative instincts were first nurtured in the classroom has built a nationally recognised career in design and photography.
Priestley alumnus Ben Whitehurst has carved out an impressive creative journey spanning graphic design, photography and major exhibition recognition, following a path defined by adaptability and a passion for visual storytelling.
Reflecting on life since leaving college in 2016, Ben describes the years that followed as ‘a bit of a whirlwind – in a good way’ – navigating higher education, the creative industries and personal development in equal measure.
While studying at Priestley, he was still refining his ambitions.
“I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do in a ‘professional’ sense, but I always knew I was drawn to the relationship between text and image,” he said.
That early fascination with visual communication would go on to shape his career.
After leaving Priestley with a Level 3 Diploma in Media Studies and an A* in A-Level Graphic Design, Ben initially enrolled at the University of Huddersfield before deciding to take a different direction.
A fresh start at the University of Chester proved pivotal. He graduated with a First Class degree in Graphic Design and gained national exposure in 2020 when his work featured in War Child’s prestigious Secret 7” exhibition.
Ben’s transition into industry came during the Covid pandemic, when he secured a role at THG Studios, contributing creative work for major brands including Lookfantastic, Glossybox and MyProtein.
More recently, he returned to academia to study for an MA in Creative Direction at Manchester School of Art, broadening his practice into photography.
His work was subsequently recognised as he was named among the UK’s emerging talents at London Camera Exchange’s Photographer of the Year exhibition in 2025.
Despite facing redundancy more than once, Ben remains firmly focused on growth and opportunity.
“Resilience is what’s carried me through, alongside trusting that each setback has pushed me towards something better,” he said.
He credits Priestley College as a crucial foundation for his success, praising “the creative freedom, the support from staff and the encouragement to explore ideas properly — all of which gave me confidence moving forward.”
Offering advice to aspiring creatives, he added: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions, don’t be afraid of getting things wrong, and most importantly, embrace change.”
