Didn’t we have a lovely time
Date Published
Day trip to London (didn’t we have a lovely time )
On Thursday 16th October, our art students spent an unforgettable day exploring some of London’s greatest art collections. We began at The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, visiting the breathtaking Radical Harmony exhibition. This collection celebrated the Neo-Impressionists and Pointillism, featuring artists such as Georges Seurat and Paul Signac, whose delicate dots of colour created glowing, shimmering scenes. Their techniques & approach to colour was revolutionary and was a stepping stone from traditional impressionist to modern art & abstraction.
A Journey Through 800 Years of Western Art – Our guided tour of the main collection took us on a journey through eight centuries of Western art — from Rubens’ dramatic story paintings to Constable’s peaceful landscapes and Turner’s expressive visions of light. We learned how artists across generations have inspired and borrowed from one another, shaping the development of artistic styles over time. Our guide was engaging and full of fascinating insights, reminding us that every artwork in the National Gallery has been bequeathed to the nation, meaning these masterpieces belong to us all — a wonderful message for young artists. Students were encouraged to re visit the main gallery’s as they are free to the public!
Lunch Break – After the morning’s tour, we took a well-earned break and enjoyed lunch together at McDonald’s — a lively chance to rest and refuel before heading to our next destination.
Along The Strand to the Courtauld Gallery – After lunch, we enjoyed a scenic walk along The Strand, past the famous Savoy Hotel, to Somerset House, where we explored the Courtauld Gallery. There, we discovered an outstanding collection of Impressionist art, featuring works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Cézanne.
Exploring Covent Garden To end the day, students had some free time to explore Covent Garden, wandering through the lively market stalls, street performances, and unique shops. Many took the opportunity to capture photos for their ongoing art projects, inspired by the vibrant colours, architecture, and energy of the area. It was a fun and creative way to finish the trip, giving everyone a chance to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a taste of London life before heading home.
‘The talk about the painting “a bar at the a bar at the Folies-Bergère” really was interesting not just the scale but the environment around the figure that told a story was beautiful and inspired me to try attempt a painting in the similar style. P.s the McDonald’s was nice and a huge thanks to Mr Terry and Miss Davison for taking us.’ Ben
‘I really enjoyed going around the national portrait gallery, I really liked “Sir Viv Richards” by William Bowyer and am excited to look further into the artist’ Sathvik
“It was great to explore all the galleries and see art and artists that I’ve studied, in person.” Hero
