A University of Wolverhampton student has created a bespoke piece of art for Debenhams – the new retailer based at the Mander Centre in Wolverhampton.

Diane Silverton, 51, from Sutton Coldfield, is in the second year of her Fine Art degree at the Wolverhampton School of Art, and was contacted by Debenhams with an offer of a commission for a piece of artwork for the store.

Having already created one commission, Out of Darkness, for the Mander Centre in 2016, Diane took up the challenge and worked with the team at the store to create Wolf Pack, supported by staff at the University.

Diane said:  “This was a really interesting project to work on.  Alison and her team were great to work with – very friendly, positive and helpful.  We researched that the team was collectively calling themselves on Social Media and ‘Wolf Pack’ seemed to be quite prominent, this contributed to the inspiration and title for my artwork.”

“At the launch I invited staff and guests to add their own ‘wolf track’ print to the work using a combination of finger and thumb prints.

“As a mature student I’m seeing where the long awaited journey of discovery is taking me. The commissions have really helped me to understand on what it would be like working freelance, from the logistics of acquiring and moving large scale materials and equipment, to working with corporate organisations and good time management.”

Alison Young, Debenhams Store Manager, said:  “We were looking specifically for some artwork which could involve everyone – something which could build the team spirit as we worked towards opening the new store.

“We also wanted the piece to give a nod to Wolverhampton in some way. I’d seen Diane’s work hanging in the centre and it had inspired us so much that it’s now included in the store’s induction programme and has been key to creating part of the store’s culture. It seemed a natural fit to make contact with the University to commission another piece of work.”

Diane had been a primary school teaching assistant for fifteen years before deciding to study Fine Art at the University.  She is hoping to progress on to study a Master’s Degree in Fine Art and the new commission, Wolf Pack, is currently on display in the conference room at Debenhams.