Year 12 Artists Explore Nature and Process with Jane Hindmarch

Year 12 artists took part in an inspiring morning workshop led by local artist Jane Hindmarch, gaining first-hand insight into how contemporary artists develop ideas from observation into finished work.

The session focused on Jane’s use of en plein air drawing as the starting point for her practice. Students explored how these direct, responsive sketches are transformed into vibrant mixed media paintings and sculptural pieces for her current exhibition, In Arcadia Ego: I Am In Paradise. Through discussion and practical exploration, Jane shared how working outdoors allows her to respond instinctively to colour, form and atmosphere, capturing moments that later inform more complex studio-based outcomes.

Much of the workshop centred on Jane’s recent work inspired by the Arcadia Garden in Sheffield. Students examined how her practice reflects the constant tension between growth and decay in the natural world, and how this theme is communicated through layered surfaces, bold colour and contrasting materials. Jane spoke candidly about her creative decision-making, including how she balances control with chance and embraces imperfection as part of the process.

Working directly from a selection of Jane’s artworks, students were challenged to analyse and interpret key visual concepts, including ‘Contrast and Balance’, ‘Growth and Decay’, and ‘Strength and Fragility’. These discussions encouraged students to think critically about how meaning is constructed in art, and how formal elements such as composition, texture and scale can be used to communicate complex ideas.

The workshop offered a valuable opportunity for students to engage with a practising artist, deepening their understanding of professional artistic practice while reinforcing key themes within their own coursework. Experiences such as this play an important role in helping our students develop confidence, curiosity and a more sophisticated visual language as they progress through their A Level studies.