Art Exhibition staged in the Prep School

The Prep School has been turned into an art gallery with the staging of their Art Exhibition based on David Hockney’s masterpiece “Bigger Trees Near Warter.” VIPs and parents were cordially invited into the Prep School to view the exhibition which had been created by everyone in the Prep School, from Reception up to Year 6.

In preparation for the Exhibition, Year 5 took their art classes a step further in March by visiting the same Warter location. They spent the day taking photographs and making sketches of the trees and local landscape which they then took back to school to recreate their impressions using pastels, chalk and charcoal. Some pupils even made sketches using twigs as drawing materials. This project is a typical example of the school's teaching ethos of Learning by Doing.

“It wasn’t that easy to draw all the trees, but it was inspiring to see what David Hockney had done at the same place,” explained Simon Hall, who has created his own collection of pastels and charcoal drawings.

The Year 5 pupils were all impressed by the size of the woods and the different textures of the tree bark formed by nature.

“Some of the trees were amazing,” said Isabella Jackson. ”One split tree had two trunks joined at the bottom and another had a giant bit of fungi on it which looked very unusual.”

Tom Gibbs also enjoyed creating the artwork. “I think David Hockney's picture is brilliant and it was fun going to the same spot where he painted it,” said Tom. “I had heard of David Hockney before this project, but now I know much more about him as an artist.”

Tom chose a particular tree to photograph and then paint on canvas using acrylic paints and palette knives. “I chose this tree because it was interesting and hard to draw,” continued Tom. “I liked the challenge!”

The pupils’ own works of art are being displayed during May for friends, family, VIPs and invited guests.

“This whole school project has captured the imagination of every child from the age of 4 to 11,” says Mrs Karen Williams, Headteacher at Hull Collegiate Prep School. “The Year 5 trip to Warter was particularly inspirational and all our pupils have been able to take advantage of the many trees in the school grounds for further sketching. We are delighted to see everyone’s work displayed in school as the children are sharing their ideas and achievements with each other and their families.”