Art

WGS has an impressive track record when it comes to art and design. The subject is an extremely popular choice at both GCSE and A Level and our examination results display an enviable record. Over the past eight years, every WGS student who has taken A Level Art has achieved an A grade, a remarkable accomplishment by any standards.

The essence of Art at WGS is about providing opportunities to explore different approaches to, and develop skills in, a range of media from charcoal through to acrylic and oils. This hands on approach begins with students who join us at Big Six and continues all the way through school as a student’s skills and talents are developed.

Since 2007, the art department has been housed in a brand new complex incorporating four large studio spaces and two dedicated teaching rooms one of which is fitted with 20 computer suites giving students the opportunity to work on the latest graphic design programmes. The complex also houses the Viner gallery: named after a former head of art at the school who remained a keen supporter of the arts at WGS until his death last year at the age of 102, the Viner gallery provides a flexible teaching  area and a superb  exhibition space.

The scope that the Viner gallery provides has enabled the art department to stage a series of exhibitions featuring the work of students and professional artists alike. Indeed the Friends of the Viner Gallery, a group dedicated  to highlighting the wealth of artistic talent that is associated with the school via a programme of regular exhibitions, has enabled students to have their work exhibited in a commercial standard  gallery space alongside successful professional artists.

The art department organises a busy programme of events for students. Trips to the numerous art galleries throughout the West Midlands and annual excursions to London form a regular part of the schedule. The European tour at Easter visited Amsterdam, enabling students to experience first hand the works of celebrated artists such as Van Gogh and Rubens. With such experiences the students are able to develop their theoretical understanding of artistic styles and movements  beyond the confines of the classroom. 

Art at WGS goes from strength to strength. There are currently 95 students studying at GCSE and A Level and former students have gone on to forge successful careers in all aspects of art and associated fields including commercial art, graphic design and architecture. 


The Viner gallery  - recent exhibitions

Out of Darkness - the work of Art teacher, James Millichamp 
Lords Meade - an exhibition of work from our partner school in Uganda
Wildlife Watercolours  -  Michael Warren (OW)
A Century of Art - Charles Viner (former Head of Art)
Art(A)Live 2010 - the 38th annual A2 & AS student exhibition