Art & Design

DEPARTMENT OF ART & DESIGN

Art & Design Results

The Department of Art & Design is delighted with the excellent results achieved again this year. Students within the Department achieved 100% A*- C at GCSE Level, 100% A grade at AS Level and 100% A*-A at A2 Level during the academic year 2023-2024.

“True Colours” Selection

Whilst visiting the Abbey, the moderators were highly impressed with the standard of work at each level. In particular, the work of Tom O’Sullivan at AS Level and Niall Martin at GCSE Level were initially selected by CCEA for inclusion in their “True Colours” Exhibition 2025 which showcases the best of GCSE, AS & A2 student artwork in Northern Ireland. The standard of their work was exemplary. Selection for the “True Colours” Exhibition is a fantastic achievement reflecting the students’ high level of skill and the quality of teaching and guidance provided in the Department. This attainment is of great importance to all Art & Design students as this success highlights the standard fellow pupils should aspire to and what they too can achieve.

Promoting Careers in Art & Design

To ensure students have access to a breadth of educational experiences and to highlight careers in Art & Design, the Department arranged several opportunities for GCSE, AS & A Level students to work with practicing artists. Printmaker Robert Peters was invited to the school on Wednesday 15th October 2024. AS & A2 Level students benefited from his expertise during a full day workshop. This experience allowed students the freedom to create a wide range of outcomes using dry point printing under Robert’s expert direction. This workshop helped students gain confidence learning new techniques, and greatly enhanced their portfolios. This print workshop received positive feedback from CCEA in the GCSE Tac6, in relation to working with practicing artists, were they commented that “this centre encouraged in-depth exploration of credible practitioners, which strongly supported the level of contextual knowledge and critical understanding.”

In addition, Ms Hughes arranged careers talks remotely for Year 10 classes. Conor Keenan – Past Pupil and Brian Coyle – Ulster University Senior lecturer in Games Design presented to Year 10 and Year 11 Art & Design classes. Via Teams, Brian spoke about the booming creative industries and the job opportunities available specifically focusing on interactive media. Conor reflected on how studying Art & Design was a superb foundation for his career as a Designer where he is part of a design team developing concepts through digital art for a law firm in Belfast. Our students found the talks engaging and inspirational.

It’s always a pleasure to welcome artist Seamas O’Labhradha to the Abbey Art & Design Department. On Tuesday, Seamas carried out a drawing workshop with our AS and A2 students. Seamas demonstrated reductive techniques using charcoal and pastel chalk to create sketches of 3 dimensional forms. The boys benefited from his expertise and produced excellent experimental pieces. Thank you Seamas and well done to all the pupils involved!

On the 17th November 2023, Year 11 & 12 students also benefitted from the expertise of Robert Peters by participating in a workshop organised by Ms Hughes. Both year groups had the opportunity to work with Robert, a practicing print maker, for a half day, highlighting careers in Art & Design. The dry point printing results achieved by both year groups was superb. These workshops gave students the opportunity to learn new techniques, advance their skills and enhance their submissions for Component 1 Part A & B. This print workshop received positive feedback from CCEA in the GCSE Tac6, in relation to working with practicing artists, were they commented that “candidates were given very engaging opportunities to demonstrate an understanding of real-life Art & Design contexts.”

Credit Union Poster Competition

The Department continues to work in partnership with local organisations and were delighted again to enter our Year 8 students in the Annual Newry Credit Union Poster Competition. The theme was “My Community & Me” and the Abbey boys did extremely well, submitting highly creative pieces reflecting what they appreciate in their local area.

Creatively Celebrating 100 Years of NI Water

Congratulations to 32 of our boys, whose ceramic work was unveiled on 10th October 2023 at the Silent Valley Reservoir forming a permanent exhibit. In Year 8 these boys participated in an exciting project with NI Water with each student creating an original tile based on the theme “Mourne Water Gives Life”. The tiles now form a permanent display at the Silent Valley to celebrate 100 years of NI Water. Two of our boys, Niall Murphy and Morgan Quinn, accompanied Ms Hughes and Mrs Woods for the ceremony. The Department is so proud of the superb standard of creativity and skill shown by the Abbey students!

Congratulations to all the boys involved on their creativity and enthusiasm!

Museum Visit:

The Abbey Art & Design students had a fantastic, creative day in Belfast yesterday. All GCSE & A Level pupils travelled to the Ulster Museum where they first benefitted from a tour of the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts Exhibition by Maggi Bowen. This was both enjoyable and inspiring for our young artists. While at the Museum we also had the pleasure of attending a “Sources & Influences” talk by artist Connor Maguire whose work can be seen exhibited again this year. It was fantastic to hear of Connor’s creative journey to achieving the success he now enjoys.

Well done to all the students, who were focused and engaged throughout the day. Their first hand sketches will enhance their portfolios of work.

Thank you also to Mrs Doey, Mrs Collins and Mr O’Hanlon for their assistance and great company.

Ms Hughes HOD

Through this Art & Design trip, students were introduced to a wide variety of artistic styles and exposed to a wealth of Art history. In addition, they actively developed their observational skills through a range of drawing workshops and enhanced their sketch books through a series of first-hand sketches.

Continued Professional Development

As an important part of Continued Professional Development within the Department, both teachers attended relevant Agreement Trials remotely last year. This helped staff gain further confidence, subject knowledge, and inspiration regarding ideas in using techniques and processes in the classroom so ensuring our students achieve the highest standards. Ms Hughes participated in a two-day Summer Workshop run by the AADE (Association for Art & Design Education). This was facilitated by Ceramic Artist Anne Butler on Monday and Tuesday the 12th & 13th August 2024. Ms Hughes attended this in her own time, and paid for it herself, to develop new skills and broaden the range of media and techniques used with our students. By taking advantage of training opportunities, we hope to ensure that our students experience expert instructions in a wide range of media and techniques to guarantee quality Art & Design education which strives for excellence. Ms Hughes & Mrs Doey also attended training in Adobe Premiere at the Nerve Centre, Belfast on 14th August 2024. Both teachers wanted to familiarize themselves with this program since we may begin using it for editing with our Moving Image Arts students this academic year.

Ms Hughes continues her work on the CCEA Senior Team as an Assistant Principal Moderator at AS & A2 Level Art & Design. This is the eleventh year involved with CCEA which is of huge benefit to her teaching in the Abbey. She is at the fore of changes occurring in the curriculum and through accessing work from different schools has a greater breadth of understanding of standards expected particularly at AS & A2 Level. Her experience has a positive impact on her teaching at all levels. Ms Hughes thanks the Principal and Board of Governors for continuing to support this important role.

Ms Hughes remains part of the committee of the AADE – The Association for Art & Design Education. As Past President she is engaged in promoting the importance of Art & Design education in NI. In this role she is involved in skills training for Art & Design Teachers throughout Northern Ireland. Ms Hughes exhibits her own work each year at the AADE Teachers’ Art & Design Exhibition.

Promoting the Department

The Art & Design Department continues to promote the Abbey through the creative work presented throughout the school and on social media. It was wonderful to see so many in attendance at our annual GCSE, AS & A2 Art & Design and Moving Image Arts Exhibitions which showcase the fantastic skills within the Department. Students, parents, staff, and Board of Governors were invited to share in this celebration of our students’ creative successes. This annual celebration is an opportunity for our school and wider community to acknowledge our students’ resilience, creativity, and determination.

In addition, the Art & Design Department have an important, colourful and energetic presence on Open Day encouraging Primary 6 & 7 students to get involved in printing activity on the day.

The Art & Design Department is also involved in the Year 8 Taster Day. This year we encouraged the students to create an expressive, abstract design piece which they were encouraged to complete for the front of their new Abbey Year 8 sketchbook. Students were fully engaged in the activity.

Departmental Staff

Ms O Hughes

Mrs L Doey

Departmental Photo Gallery

: Congratulations to 20 very creative Art & Design students who were awarded a Certificate of Achievement in the Newry, Mourne & Down Schools’ Environmental Calendar Poster Competition.

: A huge congratulations to Art and Design student Tiernan Caulfield who came first in the Fiddler’s Green Art Competition. Tiernan’s prize included a £30 pounds Easons voucher, his winning art piece professionally framed, the Jim Mc Sherry plaque and a framed certificate. The judge, Killian McEvoy was that impressed by Tiernan’s efforts he invited him to exhibit alongside him in Newry Library in June 2016. Pictured: Tiernan Caulfield

: Congratulations to Luke McAleenan whose creative design was selected in the Newry and Mourne Environmental Poster Competition. Luke’s design now features in the 2016 Newry & Mourne District Council calendar. Congratulations Luke! Pictured: Luke with the Council Chairperson.

: AS and A2 Art & Design students visited Mount Ida Pottery for two ceramic workshops. During their visits they worked with practicing artist Trevor Woods to develop their ceramic skills through their coursework projects. The workshops were extremely beneficial and the pupils gained skills and expert advice while there.

: Art & Design Careers Event On 22nd January the Department of Art & Design was delighted to welcome back past pupils Paul Mc Aleenan and Aidan Cunningham. They addressed the current Year 10, GCSE and A’Level Art & Design students and spoke about the important impact the skills they developed while studying Art & Design have had on their career path. Paul is currently a final year student at the University of Ulster studying Interactive Multimedia Design and Aidan is in fourth year studying Architecture at Queen’s University. This visit builds on the information provided for Art & Design students in September when three past pupils visited the Department. Conor Savage spoke as a Civil Engineer graduate from Queen’s University, Shane Finegan spoke extensively about his placement with Puma in Germany while a student at the University of Ulster studying Graphic Design & Illustration and Declan McCabe spoke of his experiences as a first year student studying Architecture at Queen’s University. The Art & Design Department would like to thank our valued past pupils for their time and effort.

: Congratulations to Devlin McManus and Ross Brady who were awarded prizes for their designs for the Credit Union Poster Competition. The theme this year was “Happiness is…” and both students produced creative solutions. Devlin was awarded 1st Prize and Ross won 2nd Prize in the 11-13yrs category. Well done boys!!

: Pictured are 9IV proudly wearing their mixed media gargoyle masks which they have just completed in class. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the project. Well done to all pupils for their creativity and imagination with this project.

: Conor Keenan pictured alongside his work at the True Colours Exhibition, Ulster Museum Belfast. Conor’s work was selected as one of the best AS projects in N.I. 2015