The trust received funding from The Heritage Fund, Historic England, The Emley Foundation and Severn Arts to restore the Abbey gardens by working with the local schools. My role was to deliver art workshops exploring the history of the Abbey to twelve first and primary schools and one nursery in Evesham.

The first part of the commission involved delivering art workshops to thirteen schools across Evesham about the history of Evesham Abbey. The children produced artwork that explored the daily lives of the monks at the Abbey, illuminated manuscript letter design; the founding and dissolution of the Abbey and the Battle of Evesham. Art techniques used varied from polyblock printing, stencilling, drawing and collage. It was really exciting to see the beautiful work produced during each workshop.

The schools who took part:Harvington C of E First School, St Egwins Middle School, St Andrew’s CE School, Kitebrook House Preparatory School, Honeybourne Primary Academy, The Littletons C of E School, St Richards C of E First School, Evesham Nursery School, Sedgeberrow C of E First School, Bengeworth C of E First School, Ashton under Hill First School, Blackminster Middle School, and St Mary’s R C Primary School.

The art created by the children was photographed and digitally edited in preparation for printing on fabric. The editing involved removing plain paper backgrounds and replacing them with colour; some illustrations were combined into one picture. I used the prints to create two Monk’s Habits and a 2.5m textile wall hanging. The wall hanging comprised of an illustration of the Abbey Tower with the art that wasn’t used in the Habits incorporated in the design. The work is currently on exhibition for one term in each school that took part.