Artwork created by Northampton primary school pupils displayed on billboards across the country

Artwork produced by children from Headlands Primary school seen in the middle of a billboard at Westfield Shopping Centre, London. Photo: The National Gallery.

A collection of artwork created by pupils at a Northampton primary school is currently being displayed on billboards across the country.

As part of a project from The National Gallery, students from Headlands Primary School in Weston Favell made ceramics inspired by a New York, 1912 painting, called ‘Men of the Docks’ by George Bellows.

The ‘Take One Picture’ project aims to encourage children to create their own artworks by responding to various elements in the painting including themes, subject matter, historical context or composition.

The display of the pupil's artwork at the school.

As the exhibition for the project was unable to go ahead at The National Gallery last year, the work from the 60 Year Four pupils who took part, at Headlands, will be showcased across the United Kingdom on huge, digital billboards.

Headteacher at Headlands and lead on the project for the whole of Northampton Primary Academies Trust (NPAT), Darren Smith, said: “It has been great for the children as it is cross-curricular learning.

“There is an art outcome, a humanities outcome and an English outcome.

“It inspires the children and lifts aspirations too. They loved making the ceramics and learning about the paintings and they will get to go to the National Gallery and talk about paintings with confidence.

“It’s also great and unbelievable that ceramics that are literally outside my room will be on major billboards around the country.”

Alongside artwork from other schools across the country, the pictures of the work created by pupils at Headlands will be seen on billboards in London, Birmingham, Manchester and more.

Dr Gabriele Finaldi, director of the National Gallery, added: "Art can provide inspiration and solace in these difficult times.

“While the Gallery doors are closed, we are hugely grateful for this generous gesture from Ocean Outdoor that is allowing us to bring the artworks of schoolchildren from the Take One Picture exhibition in London to the streets of the nation."

Mr Smith and the school is also working with the University of Northampton on research projects looking at the impact of arts education in schools, which he says is ‘great for our town and our area as we are supporting and promoting the visual arts’.

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