Immersing in Artistic St Ives

3rd Year (Year 9) pupils who have opted to study GCSE Art next year began an exciting and creative project this week with a trip to St Ives, a town renowned for its artistic heritage and vibrant cultural scene. The visit marked the start of a busy week focused on developing their sketching and photography skills, while also offering the chance to experience first-hand how artists respond to their environment.

The day began with a visit to the Tate St Ives, where pupils explored Liliane Lijn: Arise Alive, a special exhibition showcasing Lijn’s pioneering kinetic sculptures. Known for her six-decade career at the forefront of using technology to explore light, energy, and perception, Lijn’s work challenges traditional artistic boundaries and continues to inspire new ways of seeing the world. In the gallery, pupils were set the task of creating three analytical sketches and capturing ten high-resolution photographs of paintings and sculptures connected to Cornwall and the theme of ‘sense of place.’

The pupils then moved on to the Barbara Hepworth Museum for a sculpture sketching workshop, where they focused on developing shaded drawings that explored the relationship between sculpture and its surrounding environment.

The creative journey concluded at St Ives Harbour, where pupils took photographs of boats and water, focusing on light, shape, texture, and reflections. The photographs and sketches collected throughout the day will form part of their GCSE Art coursework portfolio.

Art Teacher, Mrs Daemi-Rashidi, commented, “This trip was not only a valuable opportunity for pupils to create inspiring artwork, but also a chance for those who will be studying GCSE Art from September to meet and work collaboratively for the first time. They showed fantastic teamwork and enthusiasm throughout the day and were a credit to the school.”

St Ives was chosen as the destination for the trip as it stands as a powerful example of how artists respond to their environment, demonstrating how one small coastal town can leave a lasting, global legacy on the world of art and design.