Royal Academician and Old Twyfordian, Anthony Eyton RA, paid a very special visit to Twyford School to open the Summer Art and DT Exhibition last week.

Anthony Eyton celebrated his 100th birthday in May this year and has recently been nominated for an OBE in the King’s Honours list. He paid homage to the artwork of year 6,7 and 8.  Anthony had been particularly impressed by the Year 6 paintings, inspired by his own work ‘Chairs’, which had been collected together in a book and sent to him to celebrate his 100th birthday. He was delighted with the book and described it as ‘outstandingly good’ and created by the ‘Year 6 magicians with their genius paintings being full of light and joy’ inspiring him to see the world afresh.

Anthony also kindly donated a selection of ‘Juvenilia’ drawings which he had drawn 93 years ago whilst he was at Twyford.    They were very good even then!

Anthony Eyton, recently described as the greatest living Landscape artist, still paints every day. In his address to the pupils, he recalled how he always drew in a notebook, even in his school days and how his brush or chalk were always his weapon! Eyton also visited the School Chapel and Upper School and Library bringing back many memories.

The Art and DTE exhibition was held in the Mulberry Pavilion in the School grounds. It showcased work from Years 6, 7 and 8 and included fabulous papier maché Jelly fish hanging from the rafters, ceramic portraits of the Year 8 leavers, DT wooden automata toys, Perspex clocks, ceramic sweets, paintings, drawings showcasing a great array of talent. The Exhibition was open for a week to enable our whole community to visit and enjoy the work. Our thanks to Mrs Gayle Hadaway, Art teacher, and Mr Sam Russell Sealey, DT teacher, for all their hard work.