Member Article

Major Success for Artistic Abbey College Manchester Duo

Abbey College Manchester is celebrating the exceptional achievements of two talented students, who secured first and second-place awards at the prestigious Independent Schools Association (ISA) National Art Competition Finals.

GCSE students Saba S and Emily P, who are studying the first year of A level, used a variety of different mediums and worked hard to produce their masterpieces, achieving significant success in their respective categories.

Saba S, a gifted artist from KS4, took first place as she captured the attention of the judges in the Drawing category with her thought-provoking self-portrait. She explained: “I wanted to make a self-portrait but I wasn’t sure how to make a start. When I look at my face in the mirror, I see some parts I like and some parts that make me feel insecure, so an idea came to my mind. I was inspired by the work of Chuck Close which shows the face broken down into coloured squares. When you see a person you see their appearance, but when you come closer to a person you can see their insecurities, and how they feel about themselves. I wanted to make a work that you could experience from far away to see the whole person, and close up to see the small things that make them. The combination of all these small parts makes the bigger picture something beautiful to see.”

KS5 student Emily P triumphed in the Fashion and Accessories category, earning herself second place. Emily drew inspiration from the late Vivienne Westwood and her commitment to challenging traditional fashion norms, with Emily’s design embodying the evolving definition of gender in today’s society.

Emily shared an insight to her work and said: “We are all unique and fashion should enable the wearer to express this and not be defined by tradition, or the expectations of others. I was inspired by the late Vivienne Westwood. She often referred to fashion history to create her designs. I have researched traditional textile techniques such as patchwork and rug making which are evident in the details at the back of the top and the sleeves. Westwood was also a pioneer of challenging fashion stereotypes and the traditional silhouette of the figure.”

Following the success Chris Randell, Principal at Abbey College Manchester, commented, “We are immensely proud of Saba and Emily for their outstanding achievements in the ISA National Art Competition Final; their commitment, creativity and artistic abilities are truly commendable. I would also like to express my gratitude to our dedicated staff members who have nurtured their talents and encouraged our students to participate in this well-regarded challenge, putting their learning into practice beyond the classroom.”

Abbey College Manchester, part of the Abbey DLD Group of Colleges, is a thriving independent college in the heart of Manchester city centre, with a fast-growing and vibrant community of students aged 15-19.

With a teaching philosophy based on small classes and highly personalised learning in an academically rigorous but informal setting, the college focuses on the transition from school to university, working with students individually to achieve the academic standards and social skills required by their target and world-class universities. Abbey College Manchester also expertly prepares students for challenging courses such as medicine. The flexible programmes and personalised learning, combined with a strong academic ethos, offer a unique alternative to traditional schools.

There are 220 students at the college, comprising a mix of students from the local area and other countries. The college offers A-Level, GCSE, Combined Studies and International Foundation Programmes.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Melissa Chawner .