Pupils display art at prestigious exhibition

Dec 31 2008 by Ian Bunting, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

MONKLANDS school pupils have displayed some wonderful artwork at the opening of a prestigious exhibition.

Over 350 guests attended the reception to mark the beginning of the 5th Annual Kilbowie Art and Design Exhibition at the New Town Hall, Cumbernauld.

North Lanarkshire Council’s Executive Director of Learning and Leisure Services, Christine Pollock, welcomed all guests. They included the 41 school kids, who attended this year’s art and design residency.

Guests were addressed by Keith Miller, the internationally renowned architect and designer who attended school in North Lanarkshire, and the exhibition was opened by James Logue, Convenor of Learning and Leisure Committee.

This year, pupils attending the art and design residency at Kilbowie not only had the opportunity to work with Suilven Plazaiska, one of Scotland’s foremost silversmith designers, but also for the first time were introduced to the art of printmaking by master printmaker, Lesley Hepburn.

Those involved were subsequently enabled to refine this technique at a masterclass held at the Glasgow Print Studio, one of the major publishers of fine art prints in the United Kingdom.

Executive Director Christine Pollock said: “It is the intention of North Lanarkshire Council to continue to stretch our young people’s artistic horizons even further, both physically and creatively.

“This annual Kilbowie Art and Design Exhibition will travel to various venues throughout North Lanarkshire, including our state of the art heritage centre at Summerlee in Coatbridge in early January.”

For more information on dates and venues for the exhibition tour, please contact NLC’s Arts Link Officer Bob Saunders on 07733002469.

The printmaking masterclass and touring programme are supported by both the Cultural Coordinator Programme within North Lanarkshire Council and the Scottish Arts Council.