SHY students who joined a social club to build their confidence and social skills have blossomed after producing 50 pieces of artwork for an exhibition.
The 16 to 20-year-olds met once a week in the student ‘chat room’, set up by tutor Marlene Taylor to give students the chance to meet in a supportive environment.
She realised many of them were keen painters, writers and photographers and decided to organise an exhibition of their work.
Offerings included fantasy-inspired drawings by 16-year-old Martina Svobodova. The ex-Broomfield School pupil, who is studying Animal Care, has been drawing since she was three years old but this is the first time her work has been shown.
Shane Finch,17, from Enfield, was thrilled with the reaction to his poem ‘Remembrance’.
He said: “It was fantastic to receive really positive comments and feedback about something I have done.”
Another poet, 19-year-old Srdjan Srdjenovic, had not written a poem before and was delighted to be selected.
Marlene Taylor said “The idea came to me when I met with these students and realised so many of them were talented but no one knew about it. The exhibition has given so many of them even more confidence in themselves and their abilites.”
