Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to work with a number of different year groups at Pleckgate High School, returning regularly to deliver illustration workshops with the students. It is always a pleasure to be welcomed back and much of that comes down to the dedication of the staff in the art department. They work incredibly hard to create a supportive and inspiring environment for the students and it really shows in both the atmosphere of the classroom and the quality of work being produced.
Each visit offers the chance to see how creative confidence develops as students move through the school. There is a real sense that the students are encouraged to explore their ideas, experiment with techniques and take pride in their work. The result is a vibrant mix of creativity and individuality and it is clear that there are some seriously talented young people coming through the department.
Every year I deliver my Digital Portrait Illustration Workshop with the Year 11 students and they never fail to impress. The session focuses on building portraits using digital drawing techniques, combining observation with stylised illustration methods to create bold and expressive outcomes. It is always fascinating to watch how quickly the students take hold of the process and begin to push their ideas further.
What makes these sessions particularly rewarding is seeing how each student interprets the techniques in their own way. Even when working from the same starting point, the finished portraits develop into a wide range of styles and approaches, each reflecting the personality and creative instincts of the individual student.
They are consistently a pleasure to work with and I am always impressed by the work that emerges by the end of each session. It is a real testament to both the students’ enthusiasm and the strong support provided by the school’s art department.
Take a look at some of their images below… 🎨
EMELBI (“,)
