Posted: 27th June 2025
The art department regularly recognises the achievements of individual pupils in the senior school through the award of the title, ‘Artist of the Moment’. Entries cover a wide range of disciplines, including drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, installation and mixed media celebrating the diverse talents of pupils in our co-educational day school.
Cassidy has designed a skateboard in response to the Lower Fifth year-long theme of ‘Youth Culture’, inspired by the iconic 1964 Beatles album ‘A hard day’s night’. She has combined her own photography, spray paint, acrylic paint, Posca pens and hand cut lettering to create this visually impactful design. It is currently part of the Art Summer Show. Impressive work Cassidy, well done.
This week’s artist of the moment is Eve S in Middle Fifth who has created this beautiful cyanotype on muslin. Eve has created this piece in response to the theme of ‘Identity’ and in particular the peace she feels while spending time in her garden. She prepared a digital collage comprising of horticultural information from old books, her own poetry and pressed flowers from her garden. This is an excellent combination of collage, digital media and camera less photography. Eve will continue to embellish this piece with more elements which include crochet and more cyanotyped imagery on tea bags. Well done Eve.
This week’s artist of the moment is Austin in 4F. These are two photographs from a series that Austin took during a photo walk in response to the theme of ‘Journeys’. His choice to use macro photography and to use dynamic viewpoints has resulted in these striking images. This is the starting point of a craft based project which encompasses photography, weaving, clay , collage, cyanotype and gelli printing. It is a really enjoyable opportunity for pupils to experience the tactile nature of these techniques. Well done Austin.
This week’s artist of the moment is Ruaridh in the Third Form. It is a small scale watercolour painting of liquorice all sort sweets. Ruaridh has really captured the three dimensional forms of the sweets and their vibrant colour. This is part of a year long theme of Play for the Third Form, in which pupils are encouraged to think creatively, to work collaboratively and to develop their technical skills. The composition of painting will be developed into a sculpture using wire, wood, coloured card and clay. This is an impressive water colour study, well done Ruaridh.
This weeks’ artist of the moment is Alana from L5. This is a screen print using simple paper stencils and three colours. Alana has been exploring the theme of youth culture and how to create visual impact when combining photographic imagery, lettering and embellishment. She has been studying the work of the graphic designer David Carson and the illustrator Hattie Stewart. This screen print will inform her design for a skateboard which will be spray painted directly onto a skateboard. A striking screen print. Well done.
This weeks’ artist of the moment is Poppy from L5. She has made this zine based on her passionate interest in Greek Mythology. A zine is a self-published publication, typically a small booklet, often produced in limited quantities and with a DIY approach. Zines are known for their DIY ethos and are used to express personal opinions, share creative work, or document niche interests. They can be made by hand, collaged, or digitally, and are often photocopied or printed for distribution. Poppy has worked meticulously to collage all these images together to create a visually striking zine. Well done Poppy.
This weeks’ artist of the moment is Belle in Fourth Form. Belle’s mixed media weaving is part of the craft project that 4F explore which is based on the local environment. Pupils are asked to go on a photo walk out in nature and to record what they can see, hear and smell. A subsequent homework is to write a haiku based on this visceral experience. Belle has created this weaving using recycled wool and fabric and found sticks. She has woven her evocative haiku into the warp. This is a sensitively executed piece of craftwork. Well done.
This weeks’ artist of the moment is Benjamin in the Third Form. Benjamin worked on this collaborative sculpture using clay, coloured paper, wire and cardboard, considering balance, unity and abstract forms. He has then carefully considered the placement of his sculpture, inspired by public art installation, to mimic the fluid forms seen in the coastline.
This weeks’ artist of the moment is Sienna in Middle Fifth. Sienna recently produced with beautifully rendered etching of a soft toy bunny, as part of her ongoing visual investigation into identity as part of her coursework project. She has thoughtfully etched and printed this meaningful object, capturing its own unique character. Fantastic work, Sienna, well done!
This weeks’ artist of the moment is Ema in Fourth Form. Fourth Form pupils have been exploring a range of materials and processes this term, considering craftsmanship and making for purpose. Ema has produced this tactile clay vessel by pressing natural forms in to the clay to make subtle, textured impressions. Through using cyanotype on tissue paper she has further embellished the vessel to reveal a beautiful, contrasting print. Fantastic work, Ema.
This weeks’ artist of the moment is Aarav in Lower Fifth. Pupils have been working on a graphic design brief to develop their own skateboard, Aarav has worked with confidence and skill to develop a mixed media board that encompasses the vital elements of design. Great work, Aarav!
This weeks’ artist of the moment is Freda in the Third Form. Freda has carefully considered composition, form and structure for her ice sculptures, which have been inspired by the artist Irving Penn. Her attention to detail in lighting and overall composition of her photograph have made this a dynamic and exciting piece. Great work, Freda!
This weeks’ artist of the moment is Grace in Lower Sixth. Grace has explored the female anatomy through biomimicry and abstract sculpture works, in response to the theme of ‘structures’. The dramatic lighting casts light on the organic shapes and forms found within her three dimensional pieces. Grace’s work draws poignant conclusions about the power of the female body through her sustained investigations. Fantastic work Grace, we are excited to see how you develop your create practice further!
This weeks’ artist of the moment is Rory in Third Form. Rory has been exploring paper sculpting and manipulation techniques, using the process of simplification to abstraction to create a dynamic paper sculpture. He has then carefully photographed his work, considering lighting and composition to produce this exciting piece. Great work, Rory!
This weeks’ artist of the moment is Charlie in Fourth Form. Inspired by the intricate work of the Boyle Family, Charlie has sought out the often overlooked areas of our school environment. He has considered composition, texture and editing techniques to produce this refined photographic outcome. Great work, Charlie.
This weeks’ artist of the moment is Alex in the Upper Fifth. Alex has been investigating the theme of water through these abstract textile compositions. She has tirelessly explored materials and techniques to create a triptych that is tactile, unified and intricate. Alex’s work in textiles has been ambitious and thorough, we cannot wait to see what she does next.
This weeks’ artist of the moment is Matilda in the Lower Fifth. Responding to the theme of Youth Culture and exploring fluid, abstract shapes, Matilda produced this dynamic screen print inspired by the work of Hattie Stewart and Henri Matisse. She took some creative risks with her work, experimenting with clashing colours and introducing pen detailing, resolving the piece to an excellent standard.
Grace in Lower Sixth has developed the initial A Level art theme of ‘Structures’, into the topic of women’s health and wellbeing. She has been drawing and photographing biomorphic forms up close, such as pomegranates, raspberries and lemons. This has also entailed freezing, baking and drying food which will all inform her final piece for this project. Lower Sixth A Level art pupils will exhibit this work in February in the gallery in the art department.
This week we celebrate Alana in Lower Fifth as our artist of moment. She has created this stunning mixed media piece during illustration club on a Monday lunchtime which is run by our Art Technician Mrs Dawson (who is also a practicing artist!). Alana has worked with such fluidity of line and organic use of colour, the character of the cat really comes to life.
This week we celebrate the work of Angelica in Upper Sixth. She is working with the theme of ‘Tragedy’ and created these outstanding portraits in the style of Lucian Freud. She is developing her work digitally to mirror the style of Paula Rego, enlarge the heads and narrowing the shoulders to make the images have an awkward and disturbing narrative. We are very excited to see her project develop further.
Our artist of the moment this week was a difficult choice! Mrs Brewer was really impressed with the work of ALL the pupils in 4P and would like to celebrate the work of everyone.
However, it was Tom that went the extra mile. The work created by all showed much finesse and dexterity of line. All illustrated a clear understanding of the formal elements and have created such autonomous, graphic outcomes. But Tom even managed to get his own name celebrated, right in the centre of his work. Well done to all though. Fantastic work.
Rosa in Upper Fifth has been inspired by the work of Gwen Seemel and created these fantastic mixed media pieces from primary source. Working in this style so early in her project has been beneficial to aid the development of her ideas. Discussions about colour, shape and form have already taken place and her work will begin to transcend into three-dimensional textile work as her project ascends . Well done Rosa, great work!
The Lower Sixth A Level Art group have been responding to the theme of ‘Structure’ for their coursework. Rosie has created these gelli prints which are a form of printmaking where thin layers of acrylic paint are rolled onto the gelli and printed. Paper stencils can be used to mask off shapes, creating interesting positive and negative shapes. Rosie has been inspired by the contemporary artist Rachel Whiteread and her ‘House ‘ series, in which the artist cast the entirety of a disused house. Rosie has already cast blocks of plaster into stair shapes and small-scale built interiors. This series of gelli prints are a development of this 3D exploration. This is exciting work Rosie, well done.
This week we celebrate the work of Morgan in Lower Fifth. These stunning graphic compositions have been created as a research homework – demonstrating the contemporary style of David Carson. You can see that Morgan has clear ability in format and control of shape and form. They are outstanding pages that illustrate a clear understanding of the artists’ work. He also added some of his own work to the assignment, which were also extremely successful. Great work Morgan, well done!
