NSCG Newcastle College Art student’s work exhibited in Young Artists Summer Show at the Royal Academy of Art

NSCG Newcastle College, A Level Art student Martha Tretheway currently has her work exhibited at the prestigious Young Artists Summer Show 2024 at the Royal Academy of Art.

This is the sixth year of the Young Artists’ Summer Show at the Royal Academy in London. Each year, A Level Art students are encouraged to enter their work, and each year they face some very tough competition from the thousands of entries from across the country.

Students aged 14–19 from across the UK are eligible to enter, and if selected, students are lucky enough to have their work exhibited at the Royal Academy in London. The exhibition becomes an amazing showcase and celebration of the skill and creativity of young artists across the country, and testament to the commitment of teachers, parents and guardians who are championing the role of art in education.

This year more than 21,000 students participated in the show, from which over 500 works were selected for exhibition, among them NSCG’s very own Martha Tretheway who completed her A Level in Art this year.

Martha’s selected work, titled “Delicate Rites”, is an attempt to create meaningful interpretations of the many ‘sacrifices’ and rituals involved in religion, and much of her inspiration came through visiting a Grayson Perry exhibition in Edinburgh.

Perry’s exhibition truly opened her eyes to the creative boundaries of identity in the form of ceramics. Her ideas soon developed from literal forms of sacrifice in Baptism’s and priesthood, to the unique actions of paganism and Midsommar traditions, and “Delicate Rites” is a monumental celebration of her research.

Martha says of her work; “It was gallery visits to Art Nouveau settings and Grayson Perry’s recent exhibition that truly turned my head to explore the new medium of ceramics and the possibilities that clay presented. Perry’s vases presented tales and beliefs, often without using any words, and it is through personal, embellished objects that a strong sense of nostalgia and awe is provoked. Taking this into my own work, I aimed to achieve a sense of charisma and presence by using woven lino prints and ceramic body parts, all taken into consideration and surrounded by intricate nouveau patterns upon the walls of my altar.”

Of her success, NSCG Newcastle College, A Level Art teacher Graeme Reed commented; “Martha is a highly skilful and highly creative artist who has worked incredibly hard for two years. Her insights and imagination have been inspirational this year and she is thoroughly deserving of this huge celebration of her talent. Everyone at NSCG is hugely proud of her success, and I have no doubt that it will continue as she pursues her Fine Art studies.”

Next year Martha is progressing to the Foundation Diploma course at NSCG Newcastle College.

For more information on studying art with NSCG Newcastle College visit here.