The art room at Summerhill is a vibrant, light filled, inspirational space. There is a dedicated print room with specialist print presses, a fashion & textiles area, a range of specialist sewing machines, dye equipment and textiles print table. The art room is large enough to facilitate large scale paintings, sculpture and mixed media works. The expansive school grounds provide the opportunity for outdoor larger projects and group work.  Plans to reinstate the ceramics studio that once existed at Summerhill are also underway.

This unique space facilitates independent personal work during ‘open time’ sessions. The eclectic atmosphere in the room generates a nurturing environment where children are free to explore and experiment without any form of constraint. There are also more formal lessons, catering to the diverse interests and ages of the children. These lessons provide access to new skills, techniques, processes, and contextual studies. There are regular lessons for each age group, small groups with similar interests, and also individual lessons for more specialised study and focused qualification work.   

There is a programme of visiting professional artists who provide exciting workshops in a wide variety of disciplines. Children of all ages are encouraged to enter work for the annual Royal Academy Young Artists’ Summer show along with other national and international art and design competitions.

For older children there is the option to choose Art and Design as a qualification. We are currently awaiting confirmation to offer a range of exciting qualifications through the UAL (University of the Arts London) awarding body. Subjects that will be available include Fine Art (Painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, 3D) Fashion & Textiles (Fashion illustration, clothing construction, sculptural textiles, dying & printing fabric, surface pattern design)

The opportunity for children of all ages to have access to the art room enhances their personal growth and confidence. Freedom of artistic expression opens the door to a world of exciting possibilities, fires the imagination, and nurtures the creative spirit in all aspects of their lives.