Art student aims to graduate at the age of 90

84-year-old art college student Heather Monaghan now hopes to graduate with a degree aged 90

A woman said she hoped to graduate from university at the age of 90 after she discovered a talent for art.

Retired teacher Heather Monaghan enrolled on an art course at York College and the 84-year-old now wants to progress to higher education as well.

The first-year student, from Wass, was inspired to go back to school by her grandson Jake.

Ms Monaghan said: “I didn’t know whether I’d be any good at it. In my head there was a voice saying 'you're no good at art'."

Ms Monaghan takes a notepad to bed to sketch out ideas for her artwork when she wakes up

Jake also attends the college and told his grandmother about the art department before she attended an open day and signed up for an access course.

Her two-year programme has given her a new lease of life and she has met fellow students of all ages.

She said: “It’s so stimulating to do something as creative as this, it’s brilliant."

Studying keeps the retired teacher physically and mentally active

Inspiration for the work she has produced on the course has come from the geese and chickens she keeps in her village garden in the North York Moors National Park.

The octogenarian was even staying up at night to "creep around the chicken shed" to view the subjects of her art up close.

Ms Monaghan's crowing cockerels became her inspiration

Ms Monaghan has another year of studying left and said she has been considering enrolling for a part-time degree course, meaning she would still be in education by her 90th birthday.

"When you retire, do something like this because it gives you so much energy and a new way of looking at the world.” she added.

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