Early February, Old Wellensian and leading contemporary figurative painter Antonia Showering (2010) visited the Art Department to have a tour of the Art studios in which she previously studied and to speak to some of our Sixth Form pupils about their work.

This was followed by an invitation to our Lower Sixth Art pupils and Year 7-9 Art Scholars for a rare opportunity to have an exclusive guided tour around the Present Tense exhibition at Hauser and Wirth, Bruton.

Antonia gave a personal and highly engaging explanation of her own paintings, which were on display at the heart of the exhibition, as well as discussing the wider works on show by other artists. Click here for full details of the exhibition which runs until 28th April.

She encouraged the pupils to ask her questions about her work as well as to share their own views and thoughts about other pieces in the exhibition. Pupils certainly made the most of this highly enriching and inspiring experience, enthusiastically talking to Antonia about her career path, and road to creative success, in addition to her shared experience as a pupil at Wells - which she remembers and spoke of with great fondness. Our thanks to both Antonia and Hauser and Wirth for such a memorable visit.