Finderne Development Trust funds creative session at Logie Primary School with artist Andrea Turner

AN artist inspired pupils at a village school thanks to funding from a rural regeneration group.

Logie Primary was awarded £1000 from the Findrerne Development Trust (FDT) Micro Project Fund to host Forres-based painter Andrea Turner’s sessions at the school.

The workshops involving all year groups focused on the River Findhorn, inviting the pupils to work in different mediums.

Andrea said: “Following previous art projects at the school, I had a good relationship with many of the children. They were all engaged and creative - it’s always a pleasure to work with them.

“We talked about the river, its source and progression, and thought about what we might find naturally occurring in and around it. We then looked at trees, fish, birds and rocks. We used clay to sculpt them and made drawings of the sculptures. Clay has physical, tactile properties and flexibility, and is found naturally occurring on river banks.”

Andrea who has a BA (hons) in Fine Art from Goldsmiths College added: “Each child has a sketchbook to keep their drawings in and to use as a reference for finished pieces. We went outside to draw trees and I brought a selection of stones to sculpt and draw. One of my main aims was to encourage close and detailed looking so that we notice the diversity and uniqueness of objects. With natural forms there is no right or wrong way to interpret as each form, while sharing some characteristics, is however distinctive and unique.”

FDT development manager, Ian Chorlton, said: “I was delighted to see the joy, skill, and variety of interpretations the children were creating. This is exactly the kind of initiative the fund was set up for.”

Logie head teacher Helen Douglas, added: “The sessions have been a great opportunity. Some children find it easier to be expressive through art. Lots now use vocabulary specific to the subject.”