South Shields school art project will help RSPB

Mortimer Community College students are selling postcards and framed drawings to raise funds for the RSPB.
From left, Ty Turnbull, Cerys Evans, Beth Millwater and Jonathan Russell — Mortimer Community College students are selling postcards and framed drawings to raise funds for the RSPB. From left, Ty Turnbull, Cerys Evans, Beth Millwater and Jonathan Russell

Pupils and staff at Mortimer Community College, in Reading Road, South Shields, have been getting crafty painting and drawing postcards to raise funds for the RSPB.

Art teacher Lucy Rule has been leading the project which has seen the whole school paint, draw and design postcards incorporating pictures of birds to sell for the charity.

She said: “We are working with AccessArt for the project who sent us a print from artist Anna Tosney to try and inspire students to draw.

“The painting was of a bird, so we launched the project to the school in assembly in October which saw students each get a postcard to design.

“All of the money raised from the sale goes to the RSPB.”

AccessArt is a charity which aims to inspire young people through an open exchange of ideas.

The project aimed to engage the pupils in art.

The cards will be on display in the school reception until the end of February where members people can purchase them.

A select few will also be able to purchase during a silent auction where individuals can write their bid down and the highest bids will be chosen for each artwork.

These postcards will be framed.

The RSPB is the UK charity working to secure a healthy environment for birds and all wildlife.

“Students, parents, staff and governors have all been involved,” Ms Rule said.

“All the cards in some way have a bird on them and they are a mixture of hand drawn and painted.”