Two talented students from the College of West Anglia have been celebrated in Norwich University of the Arts’ Beyond the Frame photography competition 2025. 

Toma Toricina who is studying A Level Art and Design, impressed the judges and was named the winner of the 16-19 category with their striking photographic work . While fellow CWA student Chloe Dawson who is studying a Level 3 UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Practice was also shortlisted, earning recognition for her creativity and technical skill.

The competition, which invited emerging photographers from across the UK to submit their best work, saw a record number of entries this year. Beyond the Frame is highly regarded for discovering and supporting new photographic talent, and making the shortlist is considered a significant achievement. 

This year’s theme challenged young photographers to push boundaries and tell powerful stories through their images, and both Toma and Chloe’s submissions clearly resonated with the panel of expert judges. 

Toma said ‘I believe the competition was an excellent way to get my work recognised and it was a great opportunity to express my enthusiasm for photography and the arts. I’m exceptionally grateful for the resources I’ve been provided at college and the expertise I’ve been taught by my tutor in order to be able to win.  

The piece I put forward was a photograph from one of my projects, where I explored fashion and identity. The image mainly explores lighting and shadows, but the underlying meaning focuses on the loss of identity; the face is completely blocked out by a shadow. This represents the absence of identity women may feel due to issues such as stereotypes, gender expectations, sexism and internal struggles. This piece is very meaningful to me personally, because I am passionate about gender equality and the issues women face, as well as being intrigued by fashion and portraiture.' 

Chloe reflected on the competition saying 'It was a brilliant opportunity to present my work at the competition. The work that I put forward means a lot to me. As I am incredibly passionate about the topic of microplastics and how they harm both us and the environment. The work I submitted, enabled me to raise awareness of this.'

Ewan Paton, Photography Course Director at College of West Anglia, added, ‘“We are incredibly proud of Toma and Chloe for their achievements in such a competitive national field. Their success reflects the dedication, creativity and technical excellence we foster at the College of West Anglia.”