Art

The Woodyer Art Studios are superbly resourced and provide opportunities to work in a wide range of media, techniques and approaches. Specialist teaching from active and experienced practitioners is offered in 4 broad areas – painting, printmaking, sculpture and photography.

The six large studios give us plenty of space for students to develop their own personal voice, with outcomes supported from the traditional to the most contemporary.

We start from the premise that the best art, craft and design comes from an imaginative and thoughtful interpretation of first hand visual experience, informed by an understanding of historical and contemporary practice. Developing skills in the basic visual language of art is increasingly important in a world dominated by the visual. We look for success in art through supporting student’s imagination, engagement, determination, organisation, creativity, and dedication.

Lower School

The Fourth Form course is made up of short units allowing students to experience the range of approaches and media the department offers. It is often a chance for students to rethink their abilities, grow in confidence and renew an enthusiasm for creative work. The course should prove enjoyable as well as provide an insight into the skills required for GCSE art and design.

Art at GCSE builds on the experience gained in the Fourth Form and earlier. The requirement for success is not technical talent but an enthusiastic and positive attitude. As in other subjects, basic skills are taught and learned, and with practice improved upon. The course allows work to be developed across a range of two and three dimensions, informed by the example of other artists, photographers, crafts-persons and designers. Skills of problem-solving and research, inventive playfulness and critical thinking are required and assessed. Ideas and studies, analysis and thoughtful reflection are all documented in workbooks and ambitious outcomes encouraged and produced. Regular study trips are made to galleries and exhibitions. Students are encouraged to spend extra time on their coursework projects, and to this end two activity slots per week are allocated to art.

The GCSE is an enjoyable, informative, highly creative, personal course where students achieve high standards and, most importantly, feel proud of their achievements.

Upper School

Art and Design at A level allows for a period of exploration and the building of skills before work for assessment is produced. A good GCSE is the best preparation for this course. The course at Cranleigh is broadly fine art based and provides a structured introduction. Students develop their own personal projects focusing on their preferred area of specialisation within Fine Art. Like GCSE there are two components, the first, including an illustrated essay, is developed over a sixth month period, the second a shorter project – exam – which requires a final outcome to be produced in 15 hours of supervised time.

Drawing is a fundamental skill in art and design, and in the autumn term we life classes and other experimental activities for both Upper and Lower Sixth Form, where different approaches can be explored as well as producing work that can support studio practice and entry to further education in art. We regularly run trips to galleries in London and aim for a trip to a foreign city once a year. Recent trips have been to Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam.

In the Sixth form the art department also supports work in the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) – whereby students initiate and develop their own A level standard art project.

View examples of Sixth Form work

GCSE Art Gallery

A-Level Art Gallery

Beyond School

Art A Level forms part of a good general education, which is accepted as any other A Level by universities as part of the UCAS process. Art and design at degree level is normally accessed via a one-year foundation course. Sixth Form artists at Cranleigh have gone on to courses in graphic design, product design, animation and fashion, as well fine art.

For those thinking of studying architecture, art is almost essential as a portfolio of visual work is normally required. The experience of art and design can be useful for those thinking of careers in advertising, marketing, publishing, museums or galleries and work in the media

Trips & Events

Regular visits are made for our exam groups to London Galleries and Museums. At Sixth form, we aim for an annual trip in the autumn half-term to a European city. Workshops to enable extended time,often with a visiting artist, are organised regularly.