Creative kids hone art skills

Danielle Hookway, a Kerikeri High School student, at work during the ArtsXL Trust master class.

A group of Mid North students have been using the school holidays to hone their artistic skills.

The ArtsXL Trust, which aims to discover and nurture young talent, invited six schools in the Bay of Islands, Kaikohe and Whangaroa to send their best Year 12 and 13 art students to a two-day master class at NorthTec's Kerikeri campus.

Grayson Javins, a Kerikeri High student, works on the details of a "random girl from Google".

Seven students took up the offer, spending last Thursday creating a mural-size artwork under the guidance of artist Scott McFarlane. The painting was then cut up with each student refining their piece of art on Friday.

Ben Blakeborough, from Whangaroa College.

Mr McFarlane said the class gave them a chance to work collaboratively on a large-scale artwork and pick up ideas from each other.

ArtsXL trustee Joan Honeyfield said the aim was to give talented young Northlanders an experience and a chance to improve while rubbing shoulders with a master artist.