GLOUCESTER RAIL STATION ART PROJECT AND VISIT BY LOCAL ARTIST P. J. CROOK

The Art Department was delighted to be asked by Richard Graham, Gloucester City's MP to be involved in an initiative to enhance the platforms of the city's railway station. Work began last term in designing murals inspired by Gloucester City's history with a focus on transport through the ages.

A group of Year 10 students have come up with some super ideas which are currently being refined and finalised ready to start the murals later this month. In planning their ideas the students looked at a number of artists for inspiration and were really inspired by the work of local artist P. J. Crook whose home and studio are in Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham. We were therefore very excited when P.J. accepted our invitation to visit the school and talk to the students about her work. It was fantastic for the students to meet her and talk to her about how she makes her living as an artist. She brought with her a number of original paintings so we were able to look closely at her use of colour and application of paint. P.J. then stayed to talk to the students about their work, giving excellent advice on strengthening their compositions and suggesting additional methods of research.

The murals need to be finished by July. Richard Graham has mentioned the possibility of a public unveiling of the murals and some treats for the students - a trip to London to visit a major gallery and a tour of the Houses of Parliament! And we very much hope that P. J. will return to see our work as murals get underway.

An exciting initiative and one that St Peter's artists are rising to the challenge of meeting.
Art Department