Art & Design

About the Department

The Art Department aims to develop and maximise the creative potential of all pupils. The need for hard work and perseverance is emphasised.

General Information

We offer a broad fine art curriculum to pupils at GCSE and A level with pupils having the opportunities to explore painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and 3D design to a high level. Pupils undertake a rigorous grounding in the fundamentals of art with an emphasis on observational drawing and the contextualisation of their own practice. They are encouraged to take ownership over their ideas and to work independently outside lessons. We aim to offer the highest quality of teaching and experience to all pupils regardless of their ability level.

A number of specialist workshops take place each term on Wednesday evenings. Those currently on offer include Life Drawing, Photography, and textiles. We also open the department during the school day after academic lessons for activity sessions which are available to all pupils. Our three teaching staff are highly qualified and passionate about their subject. They each have a broad skills base which allows for innovative practice within their classrooms. The atmosphere during lessons is purposeful and conducive to the production of outstanding work.

We take full advantage of our location and make regular visits to the Edinburgh galleries where pupils can engage first hand with the work of artists. This interaction is crucial and allows pupils to develop their knowledge of the world of art beyond the classroom. We also undertake a number of international trips including a sixth form trip to Rome during the February half term.

Art scholarships are available to pupils exhibiting a high standard of attainment in art in the second, third and fourth forms and for those entering the sixth form. The selection process involves the presentation of a portfolio and an interview. I would encourage prospective pupils and their families to visit the department and to view the work being produced by our pupils. Details of the application procedure are available from the Admissions Department.

Facilities

The art department has six studios and a dark room. We have facilities for pottery and sculpture including a kiln and equipment for working with stone and wood. The Upper sixth have their own studio which allows them to work in an atmosphere which is close to what they would experience at Art College.

The disciplines which are formally taught include Drawing and Painting, printmaking, Textiles, Sculpture, pottery and the History of Art. Black and White photography and Life drawing are offered as extra curricular activities by specialist staff. There is currently one full time member of staff and two part time members of staff. The department follows the OCR GCSE, AS and A2 syllabuses concentrating on Fine Art.

Throughout the last five years, the department has achieved strong GCSE and A-Level results, and many pupils have gone on to pursue courses at leading art colleges and universities. Pupils have the opportunity to enter national and local art competitions.

Staff

Madeline Bonner - Head of Department

Madeline studied Fashion and Textile Design at the University of Ulster, Belfast. During her masters degree she spent six months at the China National Academy of Fine Art in Hang Zhou studying Watercolour woodblock printing. After graduating she worked in industry for a textile company before working at Bromsgrove School in the West Midlands. Madeline joined the Art Department at Loretto in 2005.

Ann Buchanan

Ann studied Fine Art at Edinburgh University. After graduating she taught History of Art and Art at St Leonards in St Andrewss. In 1997 she became a first year tutor at Edinburgh University and started her own business, Edinburgh Art Studies, which organises art history courses at home and abroad. She was Head of Art at Belhaven Hill before joining the Art Department at Loretto in 2001.

Charlotte Cadzow

Charlotte completed a foundation course at Leith School of Art, and then studied for a B.Des in Ceramics at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art. In 1995, with a grant from the Prince's Trust, she set up her own ceramic business, and has since been invited to study in Japan and New Zealand. She has exhibited throughout the UK, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Museum of Scotland and the R.S.A. She has taught in community-based projects with West Lothian Council, and with Artlink, an organisation that provides art workshops for those with special needs, and she has also taught ceramics at Leith School of Art. Charlotte joined the department in 2001.