Open Art Awards

Our annual Open Art Awards inspired students, family and staff to explore their passions once again this year. Running since 2008, the competition allows entrants freedom to experiment in subjects and media.

This year, we received an impressive selection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, needlework, photography and textiles. All entries were displayed for a private viewing in the School’s Shaw Gallery in January.

Ms Stevens-Lewis, Teacher of Art and competition judge, says, “The quality of entries was remarkable. It is especially pleasing to see such a broad range of different creative skills within the School community.”

Family winner: Ayanda Ncube

Entries were judged by the Art Department, and the overall winner was Upper Sixth student Alice Bradshaw. Alice’s striking pink painting of a Sphynx cat caught the eye of the judges.

Staff winner: Mr Hutchings

Alice is not currently studying Art but says, “I wanted to enter the competition to challenge myself to complete a piece because I often get so busy with other things, I forget how much I enjoy painting. I love all cats, but I find Sphynx cats particularly appealing.

Overall winner: Alice Bradshaw

The Lower School runners up were First Years Delali Akpoblu, (for his selection of pen drawings), and a joint entry from Aras Ozler and Oliver Michael who created a Cosmic Catastrophe fanzine!

Lower School runner-up: Delali Akpoblu

Lower School runners-up: Aras Ozler and Oliver Michael

Staff winner: Mr Hatton

Lower School runner-up: Delali Akpoblu

The Upper School runners up were Fifth Year Ethan Thorne for his sculpture ‘Hope’ and Lower Sixth Former Tanay Sabharwal for his sculpture ‘Age of Man’.

The Family Winners were Ayanda Ncube and Rufaro Chamoko, sister and mother of student Thabo Ncube, for their beautiful watercolour paintings.

The staff award went to Head of History Mr Hutchings for his impressive series of woven tapestries and Maintenance Assistant Mr Hatton for his wonderfully dark 1980s film-inspired ink drawings. Congratulations to all: we hope this will inspire a new set of entries next year.

Upper School runner-up: Ethan Thorne

Openness

Art is a fantastic vehicle for encouraging inner openness. For those that express themselves through art, it can help unlock our thoughts and feelings: helping us share ourselves while playing creatively

A multitude of creative projects takes place in the Art Department, allowing students to express themselves through paint, sculpture, textiles, photography, animation and more. Here are a few highlights:

Life-drawing masterclass

We regularly host guest artists and recently welcomed the award-winning Jeanette Barnes, for a life-drawing masterclass. Students in the Fourth Year and above were challenged to approach the task in a variety of ways, and the standard of drawings completed was outstanding. Many thanks to Jeanette for leading the class.

Heat pressing Excel patterns

We enjoyed seeing patterns created by our First Year students being heat pressed onto fabrics. It is incredible to think these patterns were all created in Excel. We believe there is always a way to creatively hack software!

Animation masterclass

Animator and film-maker Jess Chowdhury gave a masterclass on stop-motion animation. She described her route from GCSE Art to currently studying with the Aardman Animation Academy. Jess shared her work, gave tips on course choices, practical advice on creating and entering festivals. Students will be undertaking their own stop-motion projects soon.

Photography field trip to Wales

A group of Fourth Year Art and Photography students spent a weekend at the Trinity Boetius Centre in the Brecon Beacons, capturing the beauty of the stunning snow-covered landscape. They visited Llyn y Fan Fach (a glacial lake steeped in folklore legend); Usk Reservoir; and the highest waterfall in Wales, Henrhyd Falls. They even got up early one morning for a bright and breezy sunrise shoot.

Drama

experiences that build character. The audition process can build resilience and humility, students will need to develop rapport with people from different backgrounds and experience. They are also thrown into situations that require significant courage.

Every student is unique and will take something different from the same or similar experiences. Below we hear from three students who have already had impressive professional careers. They describe what they have taken from and learned through some of their experiences.

George Nearn Stuart (Second Year)

I have been singing, dancing and acting since I was three: I love it! My mum was a professional dancer, and she got me into performing. I’ve done commercials – a chicken advert, been in a couple of operas [at the Royal Opera House and Garsington] and have toured the UK in a production of The Snowman when I was nine.

I spent last summer as one of three Christophers (the middle child) in the UK premiere of Mrs. Doubtfire The Musical in Manchester. It started the same as any other part: my agent put me forward for the role and, after watching the original film (which I found really funny), I did a self-tape and sent it in.

They liked my tape, brought me in for an audition and, after whittling it down, I was chosen. I think it was my high-pitched scream they liked!

We rehearsed for six weeks during the summer. First it was four-hour days, then eight-hour days. It was quite tiring: I barely had time to go on holiday! It was just me working and then going back home to sleep. Legally, children are not allowed to perform continuously in a show, so there were three children for each of the main roles.

We took turns rehearsing and watching the others, so that was brilliant. The shows were amazing, they were spectacular, and we could watch on screens backstage.

At Trinity, I’m involved in the Musical Theatre Club and all the shows. I am looking forward to the next whole school production (which will be a musical), though I’m not sure which role I’ll be able to go for.

Musical theatre is my favourite thing, it’s my profession and I’ve grown a lot through doing it. When I was younger, I was...let’s say, ‘bossy’, and used to try to lead the group. This sometimes caused friction and didn’t really help me. Now, my attitude to Drama and life is so much better.

Alexander Molony (Fifth Year)

I started off in TV commercials when I was about seven or eight, then did voicework for CBeebies and Disney Jnr which was a lot of fun. I’ve performed on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and then did two series of The Reluctant Landlord on Sky with Romesh Ranganathan. I really enjoyed that, and the cast became like a second family.

For my first audition for the role in Disney's new live-action retelling Peter Pan & Wendy, I had to prepare a small section of the script which I did with Miss Robinson. She lent me a stage dagger for the casting, and we worked out some choreography, although I must confess that I broke the dagger!

I was so excited to get the part, as I didn’t think anything would come of it. It was all delayed due to Covid, but in January 2021 we flew to Vancouver as a family and ended up living there for eight months. For the final month filming took place in Newfoundland, and the scenery was spectacular. That’s where the cast really bonded the most.

One of the biggest things I learnt from the experience was about professionalism; just from watching Jude Law, who was always so professional. We really connected as well and had a lot of scenes together, so would chat in-between takes.

I saw so many famous actors backstage like Jamie Lee Curtis and Jake Gyllenhaal, so it was quite intimidating. I was also worried that my stammer would play up, but walking out on stage, I spoke in front of everyone and even enjoyed it!

My castmates had become like family during filming, so being among them made me feel at ease. I’m a lifelong Disney fan and could feel the positivity from all the fans in the crowd - that helped too.

Apart from the great theatre trips, my favourite part of being a Drama Scholar, is being able to mentor younger students.

Barney Sayburn (Lower Sixth)

I’ve been acting since I was four and did my first professional play aged nine. My first interaction with Drama at Trinity was in my first term here when I played the Artful Dodger in Oliver. Since then, I’ve had a great relationship with the Drama Department.

I’m a Drama Scholar, am studying A Level Drama and do every production I am allowed to, (and some I’m not!) I love it, it’s my home at Trinity and I am fully invested.

Being Shrek in 2022’s whole school production allowed me to let rip. I tend to take myself quite seriously and the music and script were just so fun.

Being a Drama Scholar means being part of a group of like-minded people. We’re offered unique opportunities and experiences through the Drama Department. We participate in the Annual Drama Showcase, and regularly go to the theatre to enjoy the latest productions.

After working mostly in theatre, I was in the Fourth Year when Mr Chambers was contacted about a casting for an original TV series for BritBox called The Beast Must Die. A few Trinity students auditioned, and I got the part in September 2020.

I was on the Isle of Wight filming for a whole month, and then on- and off-again for another two months. It was challenging having to catch-up on schoolwork, but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. The school was very encouraging and supportive throughout the process.

Doing The Beast Must Die gave me a newfound appreciation for film and television. Having grown up on the stage, those theatre habits were engrained! I was lucky to have great advice from some of the wonderful actors I starred alongside. It was a unique learning experience; I made mistakes, but I also learned about being natural and being present and how to fit into the set.

The series received great reviews and off the back of that I got my agent and I’m now auditioning regularly, gaining feedback and experience. Nothing has come up that’s been right for me since and, in this industry, you have to love the trying.

The casting process is hard, sometimes productions have come out that I auditioned for and it’s interesting to see how other actors approached the role. It gives you a new perspective.

When I think about my favourite memories of Drama at Trinity, they’re usually during the rehearsal process. Mr Chambers is such a generous director and allows people to contribute so much to each production. Those special moments come so easily during those times.