I HAVE to look away as Yasmin Metcalf smears flesh-coloured jelly into her face and then stuffs it into her mouth. Next she pours honey all over her head followed by a box of cornflakes.

The 19-year-old student is the star of her own video installation - entitled How To Pull Yourself Together - just one of the pieces that will be shown to visitors to the annual Creative Show by art students at York College.

Yasmin, from York, has completed her art foundation course and has secured a place at the prestigious Goldsmiths in London to study fine art, where she plans to carry on with more experimental work with a view to becoming a professional artist.

One thing she learned from her intensive course at York College is that you don't need to be brilliant at drawing to do well at art. "There are so many outlets in art - you don't have to pick up a pencil."

That could be the motto for the three end of year shows highlighting work by college students taking A Levels, the BA degree course or, like Yasmin, the art and design foundation course.

Everything from 3-D sculpture to animation, graffiti art to jewellery making, costume and fashion to wallpaper and textile design is on display at the various exhibitions being held over the next few weeks.

York Press:

Reece Gilroy with his art installation for the Creative Show

There are more traditional art forms featured too, including drawing, painting, print-making, glass, ceramics and photography.

Luke Booth, 18, from York, is putting the finishing touches to his 3-D construction. It looks like a rusty fence, with books curled up and stuffed into the holes. "I had this idea about expressing knowledge you don't know or understand; having it all wrapped up. That was the idea I had to play with." In September he has a place at Middlesex to study fine art.

Angela Newdick, course leader, says art course students do well and go on to further study at some of the best places in the country.

Scarlett Barclay's exhibits show 3-D models of eco-homes built to withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes, and easy-to-erect shelters to cope with the aftermath. She is heading to Cambridge University next to study architecture. Intricate historic dresses by Henry Wilkinson have won him a place at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama to study costume design. His tutor Ali Ravenhall said there was demand in the UK and abroad for people with Henry's skills as the UK was one of the biggest producers of costume. "You could be employed anywhere in the world as a costume designer," she said.

Katie Yang has specialised in animation and has made a beautiful short film, Guardian of the Night, featuring a Samurai-sword wielding teddy bear who is looking after his owner as she sleeps. Katie has secured a place to study animation at the University at Hertfordshire and tutors say they would not be surprised if a career with the likes of Aardman (makers of Wallace and Gromit) beckons.

York Press:

Mengqing He, 22, with her work in Fashion & Textiles on display at the York College Creative Show. Picture: Richard Doughty Photography

Fellow tutor Steven Hemingway said art and design were great gateways to successful careers. "Art and design in the UK is one of the leading industries in the UK - worth £70 billion in terms of the gross amount of money it makes."

He said there was a myriad of jobs available to students. "If you look at everything around you, from suit trousers to light bulbs, to the cars we drive and where we go to bed, all have been designed. There are jobs out there and we are here to show students what sorts of jobs they could get. There are lots of opportunities and it is a very exciting career - and great if you don't want to work nine to five in an office."

Rob Baxter, head of division for art design at York College said: “The Creative Show reflects the many talents of all our students and their achievements over the past year. It is an opportunity for them to share their astounding creativity before embarking on the next stage of their careers.

"The inspiration for the students’ work comes from live projects, working with employers, educational visits, competitions and preparation for the real world of work and further study. They are the artists and designers of the future who will now progress to employment or go on to study higher level courses at universities across the UK as well as the college’s own degree courses.”

The Creative Show exhibitions are open to the public and free of charge:

Until Thursday June 16: BA Degree Show at York St John University (Private View: Monday June 13 from 5.30pm-8.00pm)

Thursday June 16 - Wednesday June 22: (excluding Sunday 19): Vocational & Adult courses exhibition including Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Private View: Wednesday June 15 from 5.30pm-8.00pm). At York College

Saturday June 25 - Wednesday June 29 (excluding Sunday 26): A Level show (Private View: Monday June 27 from 5.30pm-8.00pm). At York College Opening times are Monday-Friday (9am-5pm) and Saturday (10am-1pm).