Sixth-form students use art to express life in lockdown

14 June 2020

An online exhibition by sixth-form students from 46 different colleges features artists expressing their experiences of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

News image — Dreaming of Going Out, by Georgia Birch from Wilberforce Sixth Form College in Hull.

Georgina Birch A photo montage of portraits of a young woman with sunsets in the background — Dreaming of Going Out, by Georgia Birch from Wilberforce Sixth Form College in Hull.

The exhibition, entitled At Home, has been co-ordinated by the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) and features the work of 140 students.

"This exhibition highlights the extraordinary artistic talent that exists in our sector," said Bill Watkin, chief executive of the SFCA.

"It is imperative that we keep the arts in education secure and flourishing.

"If young people are to make a valuable contribution to society - even if they are to be successful scientists, engineers, doctors and technicians - they need to develop their creative skills, their artistic sensitivities and their ability to interact with others.

"All of this will be more important than ever in the post-Covid world."

Here is a selection of work from the exhibition.

Emily Pritchett A girl looks bored next to a stacked pile of board games — Waiting Game, by Emily Pritchett from The Sixth Form College, Farnborough.

Charlotte Cater A painting of girl reading a book whilst surrounded by books — Escape, by Charlotte Cater from The Sixth Form College, Colchester.

Katie-Leigh Edwards A portrait of a toddler looking out of a window — The Streets Beyond, by Katie-Leigh Edwards from Bolton Sixth Form College.

Cora Slack A black-and-white photo of a person lying in bed surrounded by possessions — Patient, by Cora Slack from Leyton Sixth Form College in London.

Sorcha Mary Keeshan A man celebrates his birthday at home — Birthday in Lockdown, by Sorcha Mary Keeshan from Woodhouse College in London.

Leigh Cleverley A photo montage of a petri dish with words around it that discuss obsessive-compulsive disorder — Routines, by Leigh Cleverley from Priestley College in Warrington.

Victoria Pansu A man sits on the sofa with a mobile phone to his ear — Through the Dark, by Victoria Pansu from Christ the King Sixth Form College in London.

Isabel Birchall / Edward Colliston A photo and art montage showing a desk lamp next to a window — Fragmented, by Isabel Birchall and Edward Colliston from Holy Cross College in Bury.

Nell Hamilton A portrait of a girl looking sad and lost in thought — Lost in Thought, by Nell Hamilton of Loreto College in Manchester.

Lauren Sargeant A person stands in a field and holds a mirror showing the sky — Head in the Clouds, by Lauren Sargeant from One Sixth Form College in Ipswich.

Ellie-Mai Holmes-McClure A black-and-white photo of a woman at home with two children — A Hero in a Crisis, by Ellie-Mai Holmes-McClure from Cadbury Sixth Form College in Birmingham.

Lauren Borg / Abigail Leak A creative montage showing lots of different types of digital media — Homepage, by Lauren Borg and Abigail Leak from Holy Cross College, Bury.

Lily Goodey A painting of a young person — Nick via the Internet, by Lily Goodey from The Sixth Form College, Colchester.

Tina Shammas A black-and-white montage of a laptop, phone, television and woman walking past wearing a face mask — Monday Mornings in Lockdown… by Tina Shammas from Bolton Sixth Form College.

Matilda Millbank A montage of a young woman in different positions around her living room — Isolation by Matilda Millbank from Christ the King Sixth Form College in London.

Morgan Wright A photo montage showing a woman's face surrounded by flowers — Untitled - Dead & Alive Project, by Morgan Wright from New College, Doncaster.

Dorottya Szabo A woman paints a picture in her bedroom — APARTment, by Dorottya Szabo from Xaverian College in Manchester.

At Home runs until 19 June.