Exeter Junior School artwork selected for National Gallery exhibition

Exeter Junior School pupils were thrilled to discover that their approach to a national art project would be included in The National Gallery and visited the London art gallery to see their work on display.

The budding Year 6 artists worked on the Take One Picture Project, creating artwork in response to a painting from The National Gallery during the autumn term.

Every year, The National Gallery invites primary schools to use one of its paintings as the stimulus for learning right across the curriculum. For 2016, Thomas Gainsborough's Mr and Mrs Andrews was chosen as the inspiration.

The Gallery chooses a small number of schools to exhibit their work within a specific 'Take One Picture' exhibition at the museum over the summer months.

Art Coordinator Claire Handley said she was delighted to be notified that our approach to the project was chosen by the National Gallery to be included in the exhibition.

"We submitted a selection of work ranging from the sketch books completed over the summer to the children's completed landscape pictures," she said.

"From these, the Gallery shortlisted some examples which they felt best illustrated our project."

It was therefore an excited party of 14 children, shortlisted by The National Gallery to represent the project, Mrs Handley, Mrs Randerson, Mrs Sherrell and Mrs Garnham who travelled to London on Monday 13 June to view the 'Take One Picture' exhibition.

Mrs Handley said: "It was very rewarding and exciting to see our children's hard work and wonderful artwork displayed in such a prominent exhibition. I am very proud of all of the Year 6 children for their achievements.

"There was an element of surprise for everyone involved, as the Gallery did not confirm which individual pieces would represent our project, and we did not find out until we arrived at the exhibition!"

Out of a large selection of wonderful pieces of work, they chose the final landscape pieces from the following children: Macy-Boo Parsons, Izzy Trelawny, Emily O'Connor, Grace Jury, Evie Murray, Sophie Abdilla, Grace Batchelor, Sophia Bosch, Hettie Bower, Riley-Blue Griffith, Millie Markham, Scarlett Timlett Sheehan, Matilda Venn, Annabel Burton and Kai Budiman.

Grace Batchelor said she loved every minute of the trip to London. "It was a brilliant experience seeing all of the amazing art work and I was really proud to see my art on the wall of The National Gallery," she said.

Sophia Bosch added: "I loved seeing my art work displayed alongside many world famous pictures."

The 'Take One Picture' exhibition runs until September and we would love to hear from you if you visit the Gallery over the summer months.