“Amazing Eight” Talented Young Artists from Hewett Academy Selected for Royal Academy of Arts Exhibition

Hewett Academy is thrilled to announce that a staggering eight of their students have had their artworks selected for the Young Artists’ Summer Show 2024! 

The annual exhibition takes place at the prestigious Royal Academy of Arts in London and is open to submission from young artists aged 4 to 19 studying in the UK. Artworks are judged by artists and arts professionals with selected artworks displayed online and on-site at the Royal Academy of Arts from Tuesday 16th July to Sunday 11th August 2024. 

This year, the artworks were chosen from an incredible 21,500 applications. This isn’t the first time that artwork by Hewett Academy students has been selected for the esteemed exhibition. Last year, four students were chosen to take part in the exhibition, with one artist being selected for a prize for the ‘most inspiring’ works.  

The students involved span the Year groups and comprise of Xavier Leggett (Year 7), Mojola Babajamu (Year 8), Riley Taylor (Year 8) Skylar Crosbie-Chambers (Year 9), Paige Kirchoff (Year 9), Izabelle Waters (Year 9), Digby Ives O’ Brien (Year 11), and Morgan Lewis (Year 11).  

The selected experimental works explored traditional and mixed media such as drawing and painting, applique collage and photography and included the use of mirror drawing and birds eye views of important places.  

Principal of Hewett Academy, Antony Little said: 

"The Royal Academy is one of the most prestigious galleries in the country and getting your artwork exhibited there is both a testament to your creative talents but also an honour.  Hewett Academy students have broken all records with eight pieces being exhibited – the most, we believe, from any school in the country. This is a real triumph for the students, and the fantastic creative team here at Hewett.” 

Head of Creative Arts at Hewett Academy, Amy Lee said: 

“It is testament to our creative and ambitious students that so many have been selected this year. Hewett students continue to demonstrate their curiosity with a willingness to experiment, explore and develop ideas, techniques and processes. We are overjoyed that their efforts have been recognised and celebrated beyond our school, our community and our city boundaries.” 

Hewett Academy is well-known for its strong creative offer and passion for visual art education. Students are actively encouraged to experiment and pursue the arts with subjects in graphic design, textiles, photography and food technology to name a few, with teachers who are experts in their field. The secondary school has also recently launched visual arts aptitude places, allocating up to 10% of places available within PAN for Year 7 entry (15 places) to young adults who demonstrate an aptitude for visual arts.