A Vision of the Isle of Wight National Landscape by Young Islanders
We asked young people on the island to submit their creative responses to the Isle of Wight National Landscape, a designation that covers 50% of the island (shown on the map below in light green).
Working in partnership with Brave Island, New Carnival Company, Medina School, IW College, Young Farmers Club, Dimbola Museum and Galleries, Cultural Education Partnership, Artswork, Youth Justice Service and local artists, over 170 pieces of artwork and photos were submitted.
The photos and artwork will sit proudly in the 2025-2030 Isle of Wight National Landscape Management Plan, an important policy document that guides and steers the conservation and enhancement of the designated landscape. This is the first time the document will contain images only by young people.
An exhibition to celebrate the project will run until Friday 28th March at Newport Minster. Open weekday mornings 10am -1pm.
Walks, workshops and creative sessions
Medina College
Artist Trudie Wilson led Medina College GCSE photography students along the Tennyson Heritage Coast from Compton Bay to Brook, stopping to look at the rich geology, palaeontology and heritage on display. The group were inspired by the vast seascapes, changing light and the freedom they felt making their own compositional choices.
Young Farmers
Seed heads, cover crops and llama fleece – just some of the items bought along by young farmers to the Creative Landscapes session led by artist Trudie Wilson. The group worked with ink for mark making, oil pastels for frottage (rubbings) and a miniature printing press to create intaglio style prints.
Dimbola
A fantastic combination of nature, heritage and photography came together on a Heritage walk around Freshwater Bay followed by a creative workshop at Dimbola Musuem and Galleries. Working with curator Kelly Wetherick and Photographer Artist in Residence, George Budden, the group layered photographs taken of inspirational textures, interesting nature and stunning views.
New Carnival Company
Artist Gemma Mallinson led three workshops with the New Carnival Company’s Youth Project, Isle of Creativity. Heritage and nature research inspired the creative responses. In three workshops exploring eco prints and gelli prints using natural materials, collages were created using textured / printed papers of Isle of Wight National Landscape.
Isle of Wight College
IW College Art lecturer Carly Clark incorporated the project into the course module, fully embracing the project as a live brief. Students chose areas of the landscape that most inspired them, documented the locations on their phones and bought the photos into the studio to interpret in different art forms.
Artswork and the Youth Justice Service
Arts and the Youth Justice Service were coming to the end of successful programme called Young Cultural Change Makers. The Creative Landscape project enabled a further photography workshop for participants focusing on the beauty of the Hamstead Heritage Coast. The young people – working with multidisciplinary artist Trudie Wilson – were encouraged to look at familiar places in different ways, to see beauty in unexpected places, and encourage other young people to do the same.
Brave Island
Creative Landscapes was open to all young people on the island. Brave Island managed the online submissions via their website and social media. Young artists and photographers sent in their creative responses to the landscape. A wonderful selection of photos and artwork were submitted, showcasing not just the beauty of the landscape but the talent and skill of young island artists and photographers.