Telford College students exhibited a range of eye-catching artwork – inspired by two of Shropshire’s best known National Trust properties – at their end-of-year show.
It was held at the college’s Creative Hub in a gallery-style setting, with live piano music and a champagne reception.
Historical properties have been the inspiration this year, with students paying visits to National Trust sites including Dudmaston Hall and Sunnycroft.
At Sunnycroft, they worked on live art projects, and helped raise funds for the renovation of the property’s glasshouse.
Their artwork has already been exhibited at the Victorian villa in Wellington, and is also due to go on display at Dudmaston soon.
The Wrekin Art Society has been working closely with the college for over four years, supporting art students with live projects and cash prizes, providing guest visitors and speakers, curating events and funding an art master class with a freelance artist.
Delegates visited the show to judge the students’ efforts, based on a combination of their links to Sunnycroft, skills and techniques used, originality and attractiveness.
Ryan Spate won the first prize of £100 for his mixed media study of the glasshouse, Katie Heighway took the second prize of of £75 for her 3D relief of plant pots inspired by the potting shed, and Ruby Taylor picked up £50 for her third place mixed media painting of Sunnycroft house.
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Ethan Dodd’s digital photography montage was fourth, earning him ¬£25. All four of the students are on level two art and design courses at Telford College.
Other students focused on Dudmaston Hall, near Bridgnorth, for their end of year show exhibits, coming up with a range of ideas and concepts, and three judges from Dudmaston also visited the show to select six award winners.
Three ‘excellent’ awards went to Jenna Lovegrove-Chhima for her bird themed hand printed silk scarf, Jades Sparkes for her tiny trees inside vintage bell jars, and Sean Clancy for his black and white painting of the weather vane on the roof of the main hall.
A further three ‘highly commended’ awards went to Serena Owen for her hand painted dress, Toby Madison for his abstract paintings of the gardens, and Kimmy Arnold for her mixed media studies of the lake.
Bethaney Masefield, a level three art and design student, said she found her visit to Dudmaston ‘really inspiring’.
Jess Brassington, 17, crafted unique hand fans as part of her project. She said: “When we visited Dudmaston, the first thing I noticed were the cats and natural beauty of the landscape, which I incorporated into my art.
“They showed us some hand fans and I fell in love with them. I absolutely love photography and craft. I’m not sure what I want to do next, but I’m considering progressing with photography or interior design at university.”
The eye-catching work of Sharlean Gears, 17, featured two contrasting 3D pieces using photography, craft and paint. She said: “I wanted to capture where the present meets the past in my artwork, and demonstrate light and dark. I’ve tried to create a 3D live type feel to represent Dudmaston Hall.”
Anna Dowdall, art and design tutor at Telford College, said: “I am very proud of the students and their work, it was a lovely project and one which is very important to the local community.
“We are very grateful to Sunnycroft, Dudmaston Hall and The Arts Society for allowing this opportunity to take place and thank them for working with us, hoping we can continue this is the future.
“The students have done amazingly well this year and created beautiful work which has had excellent feedback from the public. We are very proud of the students and the work they have produced.”
