Surrey student Liz Johnson highly commended in Toyota Corolla Art Competition

The competition, run by the Epsom-based company in conjunction with the University for the Creative Arts in Farnham, celebrated the Toyota Corolla as a Great British icon and the world’s favourite passenger car. More than 40 BA (Hons) Illustration and BA Hons Fine Art students from UCA entered the competition, producing works celebrating the enduringly popular Corolla hybrid – a car that is made in Britain (at Toyota’s Burnaston factory) and loved by people from all walks of life. Worldwide, more than 50 million have been sold across seven decades. The initiative followed the latest Corolla ad campaign which took a humorous look at the diverse lives of Corolla owners.

Johnson was one of four BA (Hons) Illustration students whose competition entry was highly commended by the Toyota and UCA judges. She based her artwork on the most common item in our kitchens - a tea towel.

She said: “I wanted to reflect the consistency of the Toyota as well as the diverse range of users, office workers, healthcare workers, new drivers, mothers, and the older generation. This piece was created by photo-bashing illustrations of the Toyota Corolla, new and old. I then played around with colour and backgrounds, settling for the subtler version of primary colours, a simple and recognisable representation of the British Flag.”

Carla Henson, Toyota (GB) General Manager of Strategy and People, said: “Liz’s artwork accurately and creatively reflects our brief to create something that captures the essence of the ever-popular and enduring Corolla. We were also impressed that all the students researched what the Toyota brand stands for, in particular our mission to provide sustainable mobility for all.”

Tom Walker, Illustration and Fine Art Programme Director at UCA, said: “Giving our students a real brief from an external client like Toyota means they’re not just hearing their tutors’ voices, but genuinely engaging with external voices that shape the industry. It’s a brilliant reminder that a global partner but locally orientated brand can create opportunities right here in Surrey.”

ENDS