The Studio Glow: Tracing Our ‘Origins’ and ‘Found’ Discoveries
25th April 2026
The school art studio has been a hive of activity this week. The usual chatter has been replaced by the quiet scratch of pencils and the focused energy of students facing their final practical exams. As the Year 11 and 13 Pearson Edexcel Art Exams finish, we’ve seen the amazing progress our artists have made.
Take Naana, our Head Senator, for example. She was captured in the studio just a day before her exam, a picture of total concentration. But what the photo truly shows isn't just the painting, it’s the important planning that happens before the clock starts.
Naana spent those final hours carefully trying out ideas and picturing every part of her piece. In line with the A-level theme ‘Origins’, she didn't just dive in; she planned her textures, tested her colour palette, and improved her sketches to make sure her final idea was crystal clear. This stage of "thinking through the brush" is where the real work happens, letting her start the exam with the confidence of a professional.
The studio has been just as busy for others, too. Our Year 11 artists have been working hard on their final IGCSE pieces under the theme ‘Found’. While the senior students look back at where things begin, our Year 11s are looking at the world around them, turning found objects and moments into personal artworks.
The entire Art Department has been a safe space for these two different journeys. From the first pencil mark to the final layer of paint added this week, you could really feel the hard work in the room.
To all our Year 11 and 13 artists: your hard work is now part of your portfolios. We are incredibly proud of the effort and planning you’ve shown! And we wish you all the best.
James Njuguna
Art Technician / Artist in Residence
