Knowsley Borough of Culture Press Release

Award-winning artist ‘in residence’ at Stockbridge Village schools.

Stockbridge Village primary school pupils have been exploring their creativity thanks to a new ‘Artist in Residence’ project, as part of the legacy of Knowsley’s year as Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture.

Award-winning painter and photographer Cherie Grist - who herself hails from Stockbridge Village - visited St. Albert’s Primary, St. Brigid’s Primary, Stockbridge Village Primary and Hope Primary to lead the creative sessions.

The two-day workshops with pupils from years 4 and 5 encouraged the children to try different styles and techniques for creating artwork influenced by Cherie’s own creative process.

The children tried ‘expressive painting’, striving to depict their emotions through their art, and ‘automatic drawing’ which aims to tap into unconscious creativity and saw the classes listen to music and respond on paper. They also worked with collage, stencilling, and drawing and explored symmetry and geometric shapes, in keeping with Cherie’s signature style.

Cherie said: “This has been such a great experience and children have really embraced the challenge of learning something new about creating art and exploring their creativity in different ways. The automatic drawing was a total crowd pleaser, there were even some dance routines going on!

“Through the project, the children got to discover the many different processes that I use in creating my own artwork, layering up their pictures with different materials and creative techniques they have each created something completely unique and special. I hope they’ve been inspired to challenge themselves with the way that they create in the future.”

The finished artwork will be printed onto boards and displayed outside each school on the railings creating an art trail around Stockbridge Village later this year.

Cllr Shelley Powell Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Communities said: “Our Borough of Culture year was all about inspiring our communities to access and engage with culture, to try something new and find joy in celebrating therich history and heritage of our towns and villages.

“This project empowers our borough’s young people to explore and challenge their own creativity and perceptions of culture, and in having the sessions delivered by a successful artist who comes from their area, will inspire them and showthem that they can do it too.