Wor Place: portraits from the North East

Inspired by Daisy de Villeneuve’s Run Colour Run portraits at the Laing Art Gallery, artist Paul Merrick has been working on a project with a group of young people from Children North East.Wor Place features a collection of vibrant portraits of characters from the region created by the young people.

To begin with the group developed their hand/eye coordination with a series of experimental drawing activities to broaden their observational drawing skills. They worked at a fast pace completing quick studies of family, friends and people in and around Newcastle city centre. Paul encouraged the group to ‘draw what you see’, enabling each young person to create a series of individual drawings. These drawings were then used as a starting point for the final artworks. The group experimented with layering of materials, cutting and sticking, collage and lots of bold colours to create this collection of unique artworks.

Children North East is North East England's very own children's charity. For over 120 years they have been transforming the lives of disadvantaged children so that they have a better chance in life. www.children-ne.org.uk

Wor Place: portraits from the North East was at City Library in Newcastle until 20 October 2013. Opening times Mon-Thurs 8.30am – 8pm, Fri/Sat 8.30am – 5.30pm, Sun 11am – 5pm.

Run Colour Run schools programme and half term family activities at the Laing Gallery

Almost 300 North East school children took part in sessions inspired by Daisy's colourful portraits at the Laing Art Gallery, drawing portraits of themselves and their classmates after seeing the exhibition. Another 170 children and young people took part in family activity sessions during October half term, creating their own portraits on tote bags to take home. 

We had some lovely feedback from participants, including:

'My favourite part of the trip was the felt tip art because it was funny and something different that I hadn't done before.'

'I enjoyed drawing our own faces with personalities. I liked colouring them in.'

 With thanks to Arts Council England, Bupa Great North Run and Northumbrian Water for their support.

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