Youngsters put nature project in picture

July 25, 2007 Northern Echo

Young artists braved record downpours to get closer to nature, during a project run by a gallery and a green holiday company.

Youngsters aged eight and upwards from a Saturday art class at the Memento Gallery, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, were invited to the Natural Retreats eco-friendly lodges on the outskirts of the town. They studied and drew the environment.

Their work, which includes bark rubbing, collage, still life and landscape sketches, will be part of an exhibition at the gallery on Castle Hill from Saturday.

Sylvia Smith, who teaches the classes, said: "Although a lot preparatory work for the project took place in the studio, it was great to be able to take the children out into the field and get them observing nature at first-hand."

Ewan Kearney, operations director for Natural Retreats said: "We were delighted to have the children at Aislabeck and, judging from the work they have produced, the visit was obviously a great success."