LAST THURSDAY saw the official opening of the biannual Doddiscombsleigh Art Show where five Upper Sixth artists from Exeter School were exhibiting for the first time, alongside a wide range of local professional artists.
Head of Art, Alison Dyer, said: “The Private View was incredibly busy with visitors and it was a fantastic opportunity for our A Level artists to experience so much public exposure.
“We are delighted that Miles Johal sold his dynamic acrylic painting of Exeter Cathedral for £220; this is a fantastic achievement for a pupil of his age.”
Every two years, the parents of children at Doddiscombsleigh Primary School, in the Teign Valley, organise an art show to raise funds for the school. Since 2001, the show has attracted visitors from near and far - the last art show, in 2013, sold another record-breaking £65,000 of art in just 22 hours.
This October, approximately 500 pieces of art were exhibited and offered for sale by 70 established artists, largely from the South West, as well as Exeter School pupils Toby de Mendonça, Megan King, Amanda Herring, Miles Johal and Millie Gibbins.
Works include oil paintings, watercolours, pencil drawings, lino prints, indoor and outdoor sculptures, ceramics, glassware and jewellery, with prices ranging from £40 to several thousand pounds.
The patron for the art show is Michael Morpurgo OBE, FRSL, FKC, DL, English book author, poet, playwright and librettist who is best known for children’s novels including War Horse and Private Peaceful.
Mr Morpurgo said the Doddiscombsleigh Art Show was a truly wonderful initiative that helps a small school hugely. “I am honoured to have been asked to be the Patron. These kinds of initiatives should be widely encouraged!”