Budding artists’ work decorates Darby House reception
Pupils from three schools have provided paintings of well known local landmarks to help brighten the reception area of one of Telford & Wrekin Council’s main buildings.
The budding artists from Haughton Special School, Wrockwardine Wood Arts Academy and Sutherland Co-operative Academy attended a reception event at Darby House, where their work has been mounted.
Paintings include impressions of views from the Silkin Way, Wenlock Priory, the Lilleshall Monument, the Iron Bridge and the Thomas Telford statue with “Telford” lettering near the magistrates court.
The council felt that the reception area needed brightening up as there was plenty of vacant wall space so the Arts and Culture team worked with pupils and staff from the three schools to put the project together.
The schools visited Darby House so they were familiar with the colour scheme and atmosphere of the reception area and then went to different landmarks in the borough to take photographs.
The pupils, who are a range of ages from primary school age (Haughton) to teenagers, worked up their paintings based on the images – taking an average of about 15 hours over the space of two or three weeks to create their paintings using acrylic paint.
Wrockwardine Wood Arts Academy pupil Hannah Gregory, 15, who is studying a BTEC Diploma in Art, said: “We wanted something that celebrated Telford that reflected the colours of the room. We were really pleased to be asked to help and hopefully people visiting Darby House will like our work.”
Jane Pierce, assistant head of Haughton Special School, said the school’s pupils had taken lots of photographs of views from the Silkin Way to create their paintings.
“We selected a group of gifted and talented pupils to do the work. It’s been fantastic for them because they don’t normally get to create something of the size and scale of what was needed and they have really loved that,” she said.
“They also had to mix their own paint! It’s been a lot of fun for them and it’s very rewarding that their paintings will be on display in such a public place.”
Councillor Paul Watling, cabinet member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “I find this really inspiring and would like to thank all the pupils and staff that have so generously given their time to create some fantastic pieces of art.
“I love the fact that it really celebrates Telford and the surrounding area and it was wonderful to meet such talented young people. They can justifiably be extremely proud of what they have done.”
