Art and Photography
Aims and philosophy
The Art department is committed to offering a stimulating environment for a wide range of art and design practices, in the belief that creativity is a vital part of a full education. There are facilities for painting, drawing, sculpture, print-making, pottery, stage design and photography. Observational and practical skills are taught in structured lessons to small groups, and there is ample opportunity to experiment with new ideas while learning from the study of old and modern masters. It is central to our philosophy that the studios remain open well beyond the timetabled day.
Curriculum by year-group
All Shell boys are introduced to both two and three-dimensional media via drawing, painting and pottery.
GCSE: in the Remove there is an integrated programme of practical and critical study, in which creative work in a variety of media is informed by the study of works of art, craft and design from different periods and different societies. Visits to museums and galleries are an important element of the course. Boys are required to keep notebooks and sketchbooks to record experiences and develop ideas in both two and three dimensions. In the Fifth Form candidates concentrate on two major projects.
In the Sixth Form we aim to encourage an adventurous and enquiring approach to Art. Boys are expected to produce artwork that embraces a range of ideas and to demonstrate an understanding of past and contemporary art practice. Both the AS and the A-level courses provide a strong foundation for further studying Art, Craft or Design or for related activities such as architecture, but they should not be thought of as purely vocational. In developing intellectual, imaginative, creative and intuitive powers, practical skills, critical understanding and aesthetic judgement these courses will benefit a wide range of pupils.
Outside the classroom
The Art Schools are open in the early evening and at weekends for pupils who wish to explore their interest. There are formal exhibitions of pupils' work several times each year. Art Scholars have their own exhibitions of work and the annual House Art Competition is hotly contested. Visits to galleries and exhibitions in London take place regularly and there is an annual trip to Florence for artists and art historians. The Pasmore Art Society and Summerson Art History Society invite visiting speakers to the School.
Art scholarship
Every year we award two scholarships to new pupils who show great potential in Art. Click here for details.
Photography
The camera was invented by William Fox Talbot, an old boy of Harrow. Photography is offered both as a hobby and as a subject which can be taken to A-level. Photography involves taking photographs, developing them and - in the case of digital images - manipulating them to produce worthwhile effects. Pupils also study the greatest photographers and their work.
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