CYCES recently welcomed local watercolour artist Allie Pottinger, who paints a variety of topics including flowers, architecture, landscapes and illustrations for magazines, prints and cards. Allie kindly volunteered her time and expertise to join the school’s art department and ran a special workshop for a small group of pupils.
The school provides education for pupils who are some of the most disadvantaged of all and have behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. One of the most important roles the school has is to re-engage pupils in learning.
The theme for Allie’s workshop was ‘Springtime in bloom’ and proved very successful. Staff and pupils alike enjoyed the experience and learned a variety of techniques that Allie uses in her work. Pupils studied a selection of spring flowers and with instruction and guidance from Allie produced wonderful watercolour paintings of daffodils. Thanks also goes to Pam Hayden, a regular volunteer in the school’s Art Department who helped out on the day.
Speaking about the experience, Allie said; “I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and met some great students and staff. The children all perserved and produced some really creative pictures. I saw how art is truly a wonderful therapy. The children were engaged and I was so impressed at the way that they focused and worked hard to produce pictures. It was an honour to work with the Together Trust, I had a genuinely inspirational time.”
For more information about Allie’s work please visit www.alliepottinger.com
