AMAZING artwork produced by North Lanarkshire's most creative pupils is at the heart of an inspiring new exhibition.

Their colourful work is the outcome of this year's Creative Residency programme, which provides S4 and S5 pupils from across the area with a week-long learning programme at Kilbowie, near Oban, under the guidance of specialist tutors.

Original paintings, drawings, films, digital photography, textiles, jewellery, fashion, creative writing and music all feature in their Creative Residency exhibition, which is now in its eleventh year and are being shown at Summerlee Museum in Coatbridge.

Pupils Katie Sweeten, of St Ambrose High School, Coatbridge, and Jade Thomson, from Braidhurst High in Motherwell said they learned so much during the programme.

Katie said: "I learned various new painting techniques and how to use the brush in different ways. My favourite part was meeting lots of wonderful new people."

Jade added: "I am so glad that I had the privilege in going to Kilbowie to the Creative Residency.

"I widened my knowledge in photography Photoshop and learning different settings for the camera to make adjustments to photographs.

"I visited some beautiful landscapes, especially the waterfalls and took lots of different types of photos, such as shutter photos and pin-hole photos.

"I'll use the techniques I learned there when I take higher photography in 5th year."

Isabelle Boyd of the council's Learning and Leisure Services said she was very proud of the pupils' creative talents.

She went on: "The Creative Residency holds a unique position in Scotland, as North Lanarkshire is the only authority to provide pupils with such an experience.

"We are proud of the creative talents of our young people, and with the rich variety of art, music and design on display, it's easy to see why."

Councillor Jim Logue, Convener of Learning and Leisure Services, said the programme helps provide kids with new experiences.

He added: aid: "The Creative Residency programme is unique within Scotland and gives pupils the opportunity to work beyond the classroom setting and provide them with new experiences. It allows pupils to gain confidence in their own abilities and discover new exciting and innovative ways of learning in their chosen discipline."

The centre at Kilbowie overlooks the picturesque Sound of Kerrera and provides an inspiring location for pupils to hone their artistic skills.

The programme begins at the start of the calendar year with the opportunity to attend a series of taster sessions highlighting the various creative disciplines on offer.

Joe McAvoy, Quality Improvement Manager, Art and Design, added: "The high quality of work produced never fails to impress. The residency at Kilbowie is a demanding one with pupils working from dawn to dusk - and sometimes even beyond!

"Once again we are grateful to the support we receive from the Glasgow Print Studio, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Cardonald College, the Tron Theatre, Heriot Watt University, Scottish Opera, Culture NL, NL Leisure, Cumbernauld Theatre and Katherine Agnew jewellery designer."

Sixty-nine pupils took part in this year's Creative Residency programme.

Members of the public are encouraged to come along to the exhibition which runs at Summerlee Museum of Industrial Life until the end of February 2015. Admission is free.

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