A PROFESSIONAL artist has inspired pupils at a Tyneside school to paint two watercolour paintings of Quayside landmarks, the Malmaison Hotel and Baltic Square. Church High Junior School, in Jesmond, Newcastle, invited dad Alan Smith Page, 61, to teach watercolour techniques following a visit to the school with his daughter Emily, who is a pupil there. Alan has been a professional commercial artist since 1963 and a professional painter and illustrator for the last seven years. Alan, who is from Jesmond, taught two small groups of nine and 10-year-old pupils for four weeks, about colour and painting methods. The groups worked with guidance on their own paintings, which have been displayed throughout the school and, with Alan, have created two group paintings of the Malmaison and Baltic Square. The group paintings will be copied and sold to pupils’ families, helping to raise money for a specialist Art Fund for the school. Alan’s daughter, Emily Page, 11, is keen to follow in her dad’s footsteps. She said: “I think it’s great my dad teaches at my school. “I’m also really creative; I enjoy music as well as art. I’d love to be an artist like my dad.” Ten-year-old pupil Olivia Mackie said: “We have the paintbrushes taken off us when the sessions have finished otherwise we wouldn’t leave.” The parents have responded enthusiastically to the classes and are delighted at their impact. The school says Alan has become something of a celebrity due to his success at the school. He said: “I often get stopped in the street. The other day I was approached by a parent who told me her daughter loved the art sessions so much she is spending her pocket money on materials so she can continue painting at home. It’s really gratifying to hear that.” The girls were encouraged to use sponges and cardboard along with the conventional method of brushes. Alan also demonstrated different techniques of watercolour to produce the paintings to such a high standard, looking carefully at colour and shape. The pupils practised their skills by painting different scenery each week. Church High teacher Ros Fairless added: “Alan gives his time to the school for free and has engaged and inspired the pupils into experiencing the freedom of watercolour. “They found it challenging to begin with, but later created amazing paintings, so beautiful you could have put them on a birthday card. The school has been so impressed with the quality of work produced, particularly as watercolour is difficult to learn.” The project’s success has ensured future art workshops at the school, with plans for Alan to teach every year. | 
Northumberland
