From Falmouth students to small business owners: meet five alumni who brought their creations to Graduation
06 August 2026
Five Falmouth alumni brought their small businesses and creative pieces to this year’s Graduation celebrations, offering graduates and their families the opportunity to take home something special on the day.
From ceramics to jewellery, the creative alumni brought with them a selection of items uniquely inspired by Falmouth to sell to graduates across the three days.
Speaking of being part of the celebrations, Saskia McLean, one of the stall holders present, shared: “Returning to Falmouth as a stallholder during Graduation felt like a full-circle moment. It was incredibly rewarding to celebrate the achievements of this year’s graduates while sharing my own creative journey and connecting with people who appreciate handmade design.”
Meet the five Falmouth alumni who showcased their Cornwall-inspired small businesses to Graduation:
Emily Tapp – BA(Hons) Fine Art alumna
‘Made in Cornwall, inspired by the coast’ is the ethos behind Emily’s Falmouth-based business, EOT Ceramics. Using the Cornish landscape as the inspiration behind her pottery, each item is handcrafted with the ocean and Cornwall’s coastline in mind. Through colour, design and shape, Emily brings coastal charm to her mugs, bowls and homeware.
The BA(Hons) Fine Art alumna also runs wheel-throwing workshops in her ceramics studio, guiding those looking to learn new skills and embrace creativity with a unique and guided experience.
Ben Perkins – BSc(Hons) Business & Digital Marketing alumnus
For BSc(Hons) Business & Digital Marketing graduate Ben Perkins, running his business Ben Makes has coincided with studying at Falmouth in addition to running his podcast The Perky Pod, where he hosts conversations on growth, purpose and faith.
Ben brought Ben Makes, his custom blacksmith and jewellery business to the celebrations, alongside graduating himself. Using ancient techniques to create unique pieces made from steel, silver and gold, Ben’s handcrafted items include custom sand rings, silver necklaces and hand-forged bottle openers.
Speaking on being part of the Graduation stalls, Ben reflected: “I had a great time sharing my jewellery and blacksmith work at Falmouth's Graduation, it was such a lovely time meeting lots of happy graduates and their families, there was a really buzzing atmosphere!
“The pieces I focused on selling were custom sand rings, where I inlay sand from customers’ beaches into rings for them. This has been a pleasure to do and really fun to preserve graduates' memories of Falmouth into their custom sand rings. I also sold some of my silver jewellery and blacksmithing products too.”
Eli Birnie – BA(Hons) Graphic Design alumnus
BA(Hons) Graphic Design alumnus Eli creates prints, pins and stickers for their namesake brand Birniie. Inspired by the outdoors, Eli’s illustrations bring personality to nature with a distinctive style of smiley faces on bugs, fruit, plants and more.
Having spent the last few years selling the products at art markets across the Southwest, Eli’s illustrative designs are now available for commissions too.
Saskia McLean – BA(Hons) Textile Design alumna
Saskia’s brand draws inspiration from the breathtaking landscapes of Cornwall, with her work influenced by its wildlife and botanical and coastal scenes. As a BA(Hons) Textile Design alumna who specialised in print design, Saskia has combined her creativity with her deep connection with Cornwall’s natural beauty to create unique, handcrafted designs.
Last year, Saskia was selected to join the St Ives Society of Artists, a prestigious milestone that recognises her growing contribution to Cornwall’s creative community.
Niamh McGeiver – BA(Hons) Fine Art alumna
For BA(Hons) Fine Art graduate Niamh McGeiver, her growing business Redheads Art focuses on original prints and paintings. After being awarded £500 at this year’s Falmouth edition of Dragons’ Den, Niamh created a collection of postcard prints inspired by Cornwall’s landscapes and coastal walks for her stand.
With much of Niamh’s work inspired by the memories she made during her time in Cornwall, her postcards offered graduates a way to take home something reminding them of their three years at Falmouth.
Photo credit (from top to bottom): Emily Tapp, Ben Perkins, Eli Birnie, Saskia McLean, Niamh McGeiver.
You might also like
MA Writing for Script & Screen alumna on award-winning period romance and working at the BBC
Meet the stars of our 2027 postgraduate Prospectus
Creative alumna on building a career as a freelance editorial writer
