Rising to the challenge of remote art classes was not something Mrs Maw, Head of Art, viewed with great joy, as it seemed to go against all the principles she holds dear. Yet rise to the challenge of this unusual term both she and the children did, and it has been more successful than we could have imagined, even bringing some hitherto less discovered potential artists out of the woodwork.

Some of the highlights of the term for Mrs Maw have been:

·         The Year 8s creating their own portraits inspired by ‘Julian Opie pop art meets minimalism’. The aim was to create a grid of their faces as a permanent memento of their year group, using ArtRage on their iPads.

·         The Year 6s, who on their return to school, battled against the disparate elements of wind, rain and a British heatwave, working en plein air to create mixed media African market scenes. Masking tape proved invaluable to tape paint palettes, water containers and even the pupils’ work down!

·         The Year 8 Art Scholars’ Exhibition, remotely, showcasing the incredible work produced by Claudia, Marina, Isabella and Amelia. Mrs Maw describes Claudia’s work as  irrepressible, lively and bold; “I love the humour and energy in her caricatures.” Marina produces sensitive, empathic, thoughtful work; “I love her portraits with minimal and very effective mark making and her peaceful sleeping cat sketches.” Isabella produces simple, delicate, beautiful images; “I love her cockerels using Chinese brushes and her illustrational watercolour kitchens.” Finally, during lockdown, Amelia, who had not been in the official art scholars’ group, produced such outstanding work that Mrs Maw has chosen to include her in the Year 8 Scholars’ Exhibition. Well done, girls.

As well as the pieces selected here - which includes a piece by pupils in Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 - see more artwork from pupils across the school on Instagram and Facebook

The Art Workshops on Zoom have stretched the children to relate differently to this subject, which usually belongs so firmly in a fit-for-purpose physical space that the children associate with ‘art’. Mrs Maw says, “Every child who took part in these has, without exception, been amazing. I am incredibly impressed with the way they have prepared their materials, listened, concentrated and persevered through difficulties to create some very beautiful pieces of art.”