This year’s D’Art Exhibition once again amazed and delighted visitors with its range of creative and original work – from paintings and drawings to stylish and practical 3D pieces which would not look out of place in a high street store.

The Longton Hall was once again transformed into the Longton Gallery for the show, which ran from 24-25 June.  It was opened at a special Private View by the Associate Dean of College at Camberwell College of Art, Amanda Jenkins.

Ms Jenkins, who is also an examiner of GCSE, A level and first year degree work and had just returned from an examination assessment, declared the standard of work on display as outstanding.

She was also delighted to see work from younger students and gain an insight into their creative journey through a display from talented Junior School artists as young as seven.  But her greatest praise was for the amount and quality of making in the work on show:

“Our creative industries are a very important part of the British economy and yet art education and 3D teaching is currently in crisis. International students want to come to study 3D here in large numbers but our own students shy away from it.  To see those studying both Art and Design Technology is fantastic but to see art work that’s clearly influenced by learnings from DT and vice versa is a wonderful thing.”

Ms Jenkins also told students opting for a one year Art Foundation course, whether or not they planned to take a full Art degree, they would not only have a great experience but acquire a set of very transferable skills in the process.