Barlby Primary students visit sculpture studio of patron Paul Vanstone

A group of Year 5 AT The Bus pupils were recently invited into the studio of our patron, sculptor Paul Vanstone. Standing among his magnificent stone sculptures, Paul spoke to the pupils about his creative process and journey from a student who struggled with reading and writing at school to finding his craft in stonework and sculpture. 

Answering the children's questions, he discussed his sources of inspiration and the history of the stones - some of them millions and millions of years old. It was an interactive experience and the children were encouraged to engage with the art by feeling the stone and were even able to sit on one artwork - a grand stone chair with a face on the reverse. They also spent some time sketching, taking inspiration from their surroundings. 

On their return to the studio, the pupils were so enthusiastic about their visit, recounting all the details to staff at the school who hadn’t attended. The group will now go on to make an artwork in response to their visit using clay and a visit from Paul to the school is planned where the pupils can return the favour and share their own artwork with him. 

“The team at Paul's studio could not have been more welcoming! They provided open access to the whole area, which was brimming with artwork and sculptures, and were incredibly receptive and responsive to all the questions that the children had. The children came away with samples of the materials that Paul works with and brains buzzing with inspiration and ideas.”

 Teacher, Barlby Primary School

For AT The Bus pupils, community projects like these (Paul’s studio is just up the road from Barlby), offer them a window into the artist’s creative process, an introduction to a specific art form and an insight into creative careers. We are so grateful to Paul and his team for the opportunity and hope to be able to offer more enrichment opportunities in future.

“The delight for me was to see the children's reactions to the different stones I work with. The raw material and what you can make with it. The unfiltered directness that the students have. I love seeing the way your teachers and support staff gently showed them my studio. From that the interesting and inquisitive questions that came from this."

Paul Vanstone