As part of our "Artists in Residence' learning programme, professional Artist, James Paterson has recently spent the morning with Sixth Form and Year 11 Art and Design students.

The Darlington born artist, who studied a Degree in Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University, is well known for his nostalgic-themed works of art, which are influenced by every day objects, adverts and popular icons.

During the session, students enjoyed practical tutorials designed to help inspire their own ideas and creative development, and a Q&A session in which James talked about his personal art education, subsequent career progression, his passion for painting and his ever-developing styles and influences. James' success is a source of inspiration for our aspiring artists and he will continue to support our students via email, which will give them the opportunity to include practitioner interviews to their portfolios.

The Art Department will be welcoming a number of artists and art educators to our Academy this year as part of the new Artists in Residence initiative. Students will benefit from opportunities to work alongside professional artists with a wide range of specialist skills and try out some of their personal techniques. They experience will also allow them to learn more about the diverse career opportunities in Art and the variety of routes into the industry.