NEARLY 360 pupils from Petersfield Infant School have put on a display of art at the Winton House centre in the town.

The ‘Art at Winton House’ exhibition features butterflies in the garden, artificial table posies in the café, and wall displays featuring flowers.

They were all made in workshop sessions over the past four weeks, where every child worked with freelance art facilitator Vicki Ostersen, to create their own pieces.

Vicki said: “Most of the materials are unassuming, like egg boxes, buttons, drinking straws, clothes pegs and coffee filters.

“All have been given new significance by the children, who embraced the project with impressive concentration, imagination, and determination.

“It takes great dexterity to paint every surface of an egg box flower, and careful thought to keep colours bright by not mixing the paint. "Every button has been carefully chosen.

“There is method to gluing tissue paper effectively, and skill required to draw a picture of yourself fit for an exhibition in a public place.

“The butterflies are made with a combination of permanent and washable ink.

“After carefully designing the wings, the children used pipettes to apply water to them, and then watched with awe and wonder as the different inks reacted.”

The exhibition and materials were funded by a £1,000 community grant from Councillor Ben Bentley of East Hampshire District Council, who was a guest at the opening.

He said: “It is wonderful. The children really enjoyed making the art work, and the exhibition is accessible to everyone, and will help bring people into Winton House, so it’s a good for everyone.”

From its conception in September 2017, the project has been supported by school head teacher Allyson Crew, its head of art Gail Whittingham, and Winton House Centre Manager Rachel Harford.

Gail said: “It’s been fabulous, the children have really enjoyed the project.”

Rachel added: “All the children from the school are coming to see their art work on display, and of course it’s here for the parents and relatives and anyone else who would like to come and see it.”