Inspired by the graphic artist Morag Myerscough, Year 8 art students created a collaborative large scale installation during their art curriculum day on Thursday 19th October. Linked to the ‘Big Draw Festival 2023’, a worldwide celebration of drawing, the activity aimed to develop pupils’ understanding of the importance of graphic design, colour relationships and the use of simple geometric shapes to produce bold, iconic design.

Babies see the world in black and white, simplifying shapes and tones for the first six months. As sight develops, so does understanding. Using this concept as a starting point to investigate the Big Draw theme of Senses, Year 8 students considered the emotions of colour and the positive impact this has on our community.

As a graphic artist, Myerscough is fascinated with how colour, pattern and words can change people’s perceptions of spaces. Her distinctive work combines geometric patterns with bold shapes and hand-painted type. She transforms urban and indoor spaces with colourful graphics and installations, including a Temple of Love for the Southbank’s Festival of Love, a giant camera obscura in Mexico City, and a travelling bandstand inspired by her longstanding interest in the subject of belonging.

“The Big Draw day was very busy,” reports Mrs Fisher-Black, Head of Art. “The girls were great, really embracing the activities, and were amazed at how fabulous their installation looked at the end of the day. The overall artwork, put together by the Art department team, had such a wonderful impact on the school’s triple-height Atrium  space, uplifting our shared community space around the school.”

Other activities run that day for the Big Draw welcomed all senior pupils to the art department to get involved with drawing and colouring. A colourful display of their artwork was then created on the glass wall in the main hall.