Inspired by the manuscript

Large scale screen-printed wall hanging inspired from the 18th century manuscript created by the gifted and talented pupils at St Clement Danes Primary.


Helen Knowles ran two projects side by side over the course of January 2011 in St Clement Danes Primary school.

She worked with a group of children from the Gifted and Talented scheme to explore and create a piece of work from the 18th century manuscript the school had discovered in a safe. The manuscript was to be handed over to an archive and the projects aim was to document through illustration, the manuscript.




Initially Helen worked with the pupils to explore ways to make observational drawings of the manuscript.


Using charcoal, ink and pencil the pupils explored mark making and worked on both large and small scales.



Below is an experimental illustration inspired by the calligraphy of the manuscript.

Below shows the pupils working on a joint calligraphic drawing in charcoal.



The pupils then went through a considerable editing process whereby they managed to select their most interesting and appropriate imagery which we then had made into screens to be used to create large scale screen-printed wall hangings.




Pupil in front of the large scale screen printed wall hangings.