The challenge for the group of Year seven students identified as gifted and talented in humanities is to produce a project of their own design based on the life and history of Winston Churchill.

In order to achieve this, they visited Chartwell to see the recently opened National Trust property’s new permanent exhibition, ‘A History of Winston Churchill in 50 Objects.’

Focussing on his life, this exhibition gives an insight into the world of one of Britain’s greatest leaders. It includes Churchill’s own cherished possessions.

The 50 objects, taken from the stores at Chartwell, include personal mementoes such as photos and private letters, along with gifts that Churchill received from family, friends and political contacts.

Our students enjoyed exploring the new outdoor contemporary art trail, “Who Was Winston Churchill?”, with large scale installations in the garden, reflecting different stories and sides of the man as they walked through the beautiful Chartwell grounds to Churchill’s studio.

The studio is teeming with Churchill canvasses, most unframed and in various stages of completion.

Erected in the 1930s, the studio became a favourite refuge for Churchill. When he was not outdoors, he was in the studio.

The recognisable landscapes from Chartwell drew our students’ interest, as did landscapes Churchill worked on during his travels to Egypt, Paris and Marrakech.

Members of the group asked questions of the curator, ‘What motivated Churchill to paint?’, ‘What were his favourite subjects and why?

We now look forward to their own creations.

L Mcleod

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