This year, Year 7 environmental artists have听showcased听an impressive blend of creativity and technical skill as they took part in the David Shepherd Global Canvas competition. Responding to the 2026 theme,听鈥淭he Book of Life,鈥�听all 85 pupils embarked on an artistic journey centred around the intricate technique of dry point etching.听
For many听pupils, this was their first time working with specialist printing tools, metal plates, and a traditional press. The process quickly became an extension of the theme itself,听each stage a discovery, each print a new page in their collective 鈥淏ook of Life.鈥�听
Before moving to printmaking,听pupils听strengthened their drawing foundations, experimenting with line, texture, and mark making. They explored how simple strokes could be layered and varied to create depth, movement, and energy. This hands-on learning laid the groundwork for dry point etching, a method where every scratch in the plate captures ink in a unique way.听
The technique required patience and听precision yet听also invited creative risk听taking. As prints听emerged听from the press, many听pupils听were surprised by the unexpected results: a soft blur where ink had pooled, a sharply defined line etched deeper than imagined, or a subtle tonal shift created by chance. These small revelations made each print feel like turning a new page in a story,听unpredictable, expressive, and full of character.听
The finished collection,听representing听the Year 7 鈥淏ook of Life,鈥� is a vibrant display of colour, texture, and imaginative interpretation. Though each print is听small in size, together they form a powerful gallery of creativity, proudly celebrating the听pupils鈥櫶齝ollaborative effort and their growing confidence as young artists.听
