PICTURE IT: Inspiration through Illustration is our inaugural illustration programme that has now reached the teachers and pupils of six London schools. Launched in 2009, the programme has placed professional illustrators in two secondary and four primary schools, and will benefit three more schools in the autumn term 2010.
Click here to see the film that was made during the workshops.
The House of Illustration believes that illustration is a powerful learning tool that:
- Fires children’s imaginations
- Sparks an interest in learning
- Inspires learning across the curriculum
- Illuminates complex information in an accessible way
- Increases children’s visual literacy and confidence
- Includes all learners regardless of background, ability and language
Working closely with teachers, the illustrators have introduced classes from Year 2 – 9 to a wide range of approaches, techniques and processes to create illustrated learning outcomes that spanned the curriculum, enhancing teaching and learning.
Pupil at Torriano Junior School during workshops led by Emma Dunn, Autumn 2009
“You can express your feelings with drawings” Pupil
“If people can’t understand the words they can look at the pictures to try to understand what is going on” Pupil
Pupils at Christopher Hatton School show their work during workshops with illustrator Ray Smith, autumn 2009.
Pupils at Eleanor Palmer Primary School during workshops with illustrator Ray Smith, autumn 2009.
Pupils at Paddington Academy during workshops with illustrator Emma Dunn, July 2010.
“It makes the story come to life so if you can’t imagine what the pictures are like it helps you a little bit” Pupil
“It is different because art you just look at and think about it with illustration you don’t have to think about it because quite often the words are in the story” Pupil
“Illustration can definitely tell you a story, like with a comic strip, there are more pictures than writing” Pupil
Illustrator Toya Walker with a pupil during her workshops at Westminster City School, assisted by James Cottell, July 2010.
Pupils showing their work during workshops with illustrator Toya Walker at Westminster City School, assisted by James Cottell, July 2010.
“The workshops were a fantastic opportunity for students and they developed some lovely work.” Teacher
Illustrator Paul Jackson with pupils at Holy Trinity & St Silas CE Primary School, assisted by Anja Fee, July 2010.
Pupil from Holy Trinity and St Silas CE Primary School, drawing people on location at Camden Lock Market. Workshops led by Paul Jackson, assisted by Anja Fee, July 2010.
“Year 3 went to Camden Stables to draw and were very excited about the fact that they could go anywhere and draw.” Teacher
Pupils from Holy Trinity and St Silas CE Primary School, showing their illustrated map during workshops with illustrator Paul Jackson, assisted by Anja Fee, July 2010.
In April 2010, The Guardian hosted an exhibition of the autumn term PICTURE IT: Inspiration through Illustration projects, at Kings Place in Kings Cross. Look out for the exhibition of summer term’s PICTURE IT projects to be held at the German Gymnasium, King’s Cross in December.
Illustrator Emma Dunn at the exhibition of work at Kings Place, April 2010.
Quentin Blake speaking about the power of illustration in the classroom at the exhibition at Kings Place, April 2010.
Guests at the exhibition, Kings Place, April 2010.
Quentin Blake with House of Illustration Trustee Lady Ghislaine Kenyon, and illustrator Ray Smith at the exhibition, Kings Place, April 2010.
