Nairn Academy | Isabelle Thomson | Scotland, UK | Paintings of river birds, inspired by Indian miniatures, that could act as designs for whisky labels (the Whisky Trail Retro Birds series). Students learnt about the value of rivers for economy and wildlife, and how these two elements can work together. They researched different birds that live by the river and painted them onto acetate, echoing the Indian miniature paintings on glass.
Nelson Primary School | Sian Ward | London, UK | All 310 children at Nelson Primary School worked very hard to make a collaborative piece of artwork. Children brought 5 blue items from home that are not easy to recycle in order to raise awareness of plastic in rivers. Children in Year 5 were studying rivers, focusing on the Crane River and the River Thames. Their eco-monitors researched the conditions of the Crane River by asking locals about it, and they found out that there is a wonderful community working to keep the river clean and healthy!
Newhaven School | Shona Watt | Greenwich, UK | Students examined the history of the London sewers, the Tower of London and pollution from fast food and ensuing fatbergs. They made images using clay, papier mache, ink drawings and mixed media. The hero in the top right corner is their dinner lady Charlie, dressed as Britannia using kitchen utensils as props.
Ngororero School | Mary Ndinguri | Rwanda | A magical collage that illustrates the power of nature. Students used human-like features to suggest that nature can think, feel and grow… just like us!
Northfield School and Sports College | BloomInArt |Tees Valley, UK | Students used colour, mark making and free writing techniques to express their hopes for the future. Focusing on one word to convey their message, students used traditional Typography techniques to give voice to their bold and powerful design.
Nyaruguru School | Mary Ndinguri | Rwanda | This artwork is based around the theme ‘Polluted River’. After researching the horrific ways in which our rivers are becoming contaminated and void of life, students wanted to communicate a strong anti-pollution message.
Old Ningo School | Bright Ackwerh | Ghana | Choosing to focus on the more positive aspects of how people live with rivers in their local communities, students depicted a healthy river, buzzing with animals, vegetation and mindful human activities. They envisioned a river that is well cared for and thus sustains life across many different species.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Catholic Primary Academy | Sarah Fedyszyn | Nottinghamshire, UK | Students decided to dedicate the artwork to their local river – the River Leen, Bulwell. Each student drew the outline of a fish and filled it with their own river-related story.
Parish C of E Primary School | Rachel Coleman | London, UK | Students wanted to make a bold statement about their home city: London. They designed a large image of the Thames, including some of the major landmarks found along the banks, both old and new, in order to show how they city has changed over time. Each student produced a square, and then they were fitted together to make the final piece. They chose to incorporate a silhouette of David Bowie, as he grew up close to the school (Beckenham) and worked to support others’ rights. The students decided that this gave them hope for the future and encouraged them to do the same.
Penwortham Primary School | Claire Gilmour | London, UK | A message of hope! Students used tissue paper, felt, card, cellophane and paint to create a wonderful collage, full of different textures and colours.
Pershore High School | David Reid | Worcestershire, UK | Key Stage 3 Art Club students have been creating work that builds on our partnership with a school in Nairobi, Kenya. They decided to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee by researching the Queen’s visit to Kenya back in 1952. Students looked through vintage magazines, newspapers and historical archives to source images, and studied the work of different artists such as Peter Blake and Maria Rivans for inspiration.
Plumbland C of E Primary School | Sharon Stephenson | Cumbria, UK | For the project, students collected rubbish from recycling bins and cardboard from a local factory that donated unwanted cut-offs. The final piece was created by the whole school!
Plumstead Manor School | Shona Watt | Greenwich, UK | Investigating the wildlife and ecosystems of Ghana, particularly birds, students made line drawings and lino prints onto a mix of papers. The central image is the growth rings from a tree, representing the 70 years of the Queen’s reign. The students chose David Attenborough to be their hero (top right).
Prendergast School | Jessica Gaten | Lewisham, UK | All 120 students in Year 8 helped to create this piece. They enjoyed using new techniques such as wax resist and mono printing. The silhouette is of a heron that lives locally on the Waterlink Way in Lewisham!
Queen Katharine Academy | Sara Erwin | Peterborough, UK | A stunning selection of monochrome prints! Students decided to use black ink on white paper to make their designs stand out.
Rajshahi Court Academy | Suman Biswas & Metun Mondol | Bangladesh | Students wanted to show how people build their lives around the Padma River. They used paints, glitter, coloured paper and canvas to illustrate how city life merges with river life.
Rani Bazar High School | Suman Biswas & Metun Mondol | Bangladesh | Students enjoyed looking into old folk tales about the Padma River. They used discarded items found by the river, as well as paints, pens, paper, jute fibre and canvas, to recreate their favourite moments in these folk tales.
Regent House | Conor McGinley | Northern Ireland, UK | The centrepiece of this design resembles a little paper boat, which encapsulates the fun that can be had along clean, healthy rivers. The silhouette is of Colin Davidson, a Northern Irish visual artist, who lives and works near Belfast. His large portraits are exhibited worldwide and he is an inspiration to the students at Regent House.
Rimuka High School | Eugene Mapondera | Zimbabwe | Students used real stones in the artwork to bring their river scene to life. The scene depicts a man peacefully sitting on a rock and fishing.
River View Collectorate School | Suman Biswas & Metun Mondol | Bangladesh | Students wanted to create a piece of artwork that highlights issues of pollution in the Padma River. They used paints, pens, surgical masks, jute fibre and canvas to create images that reflect their concerns about pollution.
Riverside School | Conor McGinley | Northern Ireland, UK | Students used a range of different materials and techniques to celebrate healthy, vibrant river life. They included a silhouette of Joe Wicks – a British fitness coach – in the top corner, as they felt that he has helped children to stay healthy and active.
Roots Millennium School - Regents Park Campus | Sajeela Raza Awan | Pakistan | This artwork captures the magic and wonder of the universe. It was created digitally by a student to convey how special our planet is.
Roots Millennium Schools - Marble Arch Campus | Nadia Naz | Pakistan | Students were given an introductory workshop about the type of fish that can be found in nearby rivers, such as Kabul and Indus. They drew the outlines of these fish and got creative with grains and pulses, using them to create mosaic images. The silhouette of a famous mosaic artist was placed in the centre.
Rostulla School | Conor McGinley | Northern Ireland, UK | Students wanted to make a point about the rubbish that can be found in their local river, the River Lagan. They included sketches of some of the industries that may be responsible for polluting the river. The silhouette is of Lady Dufferin, a patron of the Forest Schools project, which is a project that students at Rostulla School have thoroughly enjoyed. She was an inspirational advocate for the environment, the arts and education, and was instrumental in getting the Woodland Trust to operate in Northern Ireland.
Royal Docks Academy | Jon O’Donnell | Newham, UK | A striking image created by students to celebrate the Sea of Life! They wanted to include the Queen in their design as a nod to her Platinum Jubilee.
Rusheshe School | Mary Ndinguri | Rwanda | Students worked together to make models of crocodiles and fish using cardboard, paper plates, tissue paper and paint. They photographed the models and incorporated abstract digital aspects to create their final design.
Rutsiro School | Mary Ndinguri | Rwanda | Students made initial sketches of riverside roads and buildings, then brought them to life in this wonderful installation using cardboard and wire.
Rye Hills Academy | BloomInArt | Tees Valley, UK | Focusing on marine life and cleaner oceans, students experimented with fused glass processes to recreate the seabed and its natural habitats. Colour, form and pattern were explored, taking inspiration from their GCSE work on marine life. Greta Thunberg was their collective hero, a young voice which speaks for and represents shared views of the students.
Nairn Academy | Isabelle Thomson | Scotland, UK | Paintings of river birds, inspired by Indian miniatures, that could act as designs for whisky labels (the Whisky Trail Retro Birds series). Students learnt about the value of rivers for economy and wildlife, and how these two elements can work together. They researched different birds that live by the river and painted them onto acetate, echoing the Indian miniature paintings on glass.
Nelson Primary School | Sian Ward | London, UK | All 310 children at Nelson Primary School worked very hard to make a collaborative piece of artwork. Children brought 5 blue items from home that are not easy to recycle in order to raise awareness of plastic in rivers. Children in Year 5 were studying rivers, focusing on the Crane River and the River Thames. Their eco-monitors researched the conditions of the Crane River by asking locals about it, and they found out that there is a wonderful community working to keep the river clean and healthy!
Newhaven School | Shona Watt | Greenwich, UK | Students examined the history of the London sewers, the Tower of London and pollution from fast food and ensuing fatbergs. They made images using clay, papier mache, ink drawings and mixed media. The hero in the top right corner is their dinner lady Charlie, dressed as Britannia using kitchen utensils as props.
Ngororero School | Mary Ndinguri | Rwanda | A magical collage that illustrates the power of nature. Students used human-like features to suggest that nature can think, feel and grow… just like us!
Northfield School and Sports College | BloomInArt |Tees Valley, UK | Students used colour, mark making and free writing techniques to express their hopes for the future. Focusing on one word to convey their message, students used traditional Typography techniques to give voice to their bold and powerful design.
Nyaruguru School | Mary Ndinguri | Rwanda | This artwork is based around the theme ‘Polluted River’. After researching the horrific ways in which our rivers are becoming contaminated and void of life, students wanted to communicate a strong anti-pollution message.
Old Ningo School | Bright Ackwerh | Ghana | Choosing to focus on the more positive aspects of how people live with rivers in their local communities, students depicted a healthy river, buzzing with animals, vegetation and mindful human activities. They envisioned a river that is well cared for and thus sustains life across many different species.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Catholic Primary Academy | Sarah Fedyszyn | Nottinghamshire, UK | Students decided to dedicate the artwork to their local river – the River Leen, Bulwell. Each student drew the outline of a fish and filled it with their own river-related story.
Parish C of E Primary School | Rachel Coleman | London, UK | Students wanted to make a bold statement about their home city: London. They designed a large image of the Thames, including some of the major landmarks found along the banks, both old and new, in order to show how they city has changed over time. Each student produced a square, and then they were fitted together to make the final piece. They chose to incorporate a silhouette of David Bowie, as he grew up close to the school (Beckenham) and worked to support others’ rights. The students decided that this gave them hope for the future and encouraged them to do the same.
Penwortham Primary School | Claire Gilmour | London, UK | A message of hope! Students used tissue paper, felt, card, cellophane and paint to create a wonderful collage, full of different textures and colours.
Pershore High School | David Reid | Worcestershire, UK | Key Stage 3 Art Club students have been creating work that builds on our partnership with a school in Nairobi, Kenya. They decided to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee by researching the Queen’s visit to Kenya back in 1952. Students looked through vintage magazines, newspapers and historical archives to source images, and studied the work of different artists such as Peter Blake and Maria Rivans for inspiration.
Plumbland C of E Primary School | Sharon Stephenson | Cumbria, UK | For the project, students collected rubbish from recycling bins and cardboard from a local factory that donated unwanted cut-offs. The final piece was created by the whole school!
Plumstead Manor School | Shona Watt | Greenwich, UK | Investigating the wildlife and ecosystems of Ghana, particularly birds, students made line drawings and lino prints onto a mix of papers. The central image is the growth rings from a tree, representing the 70 years of the Queen’s reign. The students chose David Attenborough to be their hero (top right).
Prendergast School | Jessica Gaten | Lewisham, UK | All 120 students in Year 8 helped to create this piece. They enjoyed using new techniques such as wax resist and mono printing. The silhouette is of a heron that lives locally on the Waterlink Way in Lewisham!
Queen Katharine Academy | Sara Erwin | Peterborough, UK | A stunning selection of monochrome prints! Students decided to use black ink on white paper to make their designs stand out.
Rajshahi Court Academy | Suman Biswas & Metun Mondol | Bangladesh | Students wanted to show how people build their lives around the Padma River. They used paints, glitter, coloured paper and canvas to illustrate how city life merges with river life.
Rani Bazar High School | Suman Biswas & Metun Mondol | Bangladesh | Students enjoyed looking into old folk tales about the Padma River. They used discarded items found by the river, as well as paints, pens, paper, jute fibre and canvas, to recreate their favourite moments in these folk tales.
Regent House | Conor McGinley | Northern Ireland, UK | The centrepiece of this design resembles a little paper boat, which encapsulates the fun that can be had along clean, healthy rivers. The silhouette is of Colin Davidson, a Northern Irish visual artist, who lives and works near Belfast. His large portraits are exhibited worldwide and he is an inspiration to the students at Regent House.
Rimuka High School | Eugene Mapondera | Zimbabwe | Students used real stones in the artwork to bring their river scene to life. The scene depicts a man peacefully sitting on a rock and fishing.
River View Collectorate School | Suman Biswas & Metun Mondol | Bangladesh | Students wanted to create a piece of artwork that highlights issues of pollution in the Padma River. They used paints, pens, surgical masks, jute fibre and canvas to create images that reflect their concerns about pollution.
Riverside School | Conor McGinley | Northern Ireland, UK | Students used a range of different materials and techniques to celebrate healthy, vibrant river life. They included a silhouette of Joe Wicks – a British fitness coach – in the top corner, as they felt that he has helped children to stay healthy and active.
Roots Millennium School - Regents Park Campus | Sajeela Raza Awan | Pakistan | This artwork captures the magic and wonder of the universe. It was created digitally by a student to convey how special our planet is.
Roots Millennium Schools - Marble Arch Campus | Nadia Naz | Pakistan | Students were given an introductory workshop about the type of fish that can be found in nearby rivers, such as Kabul and Indus. They drew the outlines of these fish and got creative with grains and pulses, using them to create mosaic images. The silhouette of a famous mosaic artist was placed in the centre.
Rostulla School | Conor McGinley | Northern Ireland, UK | Students wanted to make a point about the rubbish that can be found in their local river, the River Lagan. They included sketches of some of the industries that may be responsible for polluting the river. The silhouette is of Lady Dufferin, a patron of the Forest Schools project, which is a project that students at Rostulla School have thoroughly enjoyed. She was an inspirational advocate for the environment, the arts and education, and was instrumental in getting the Woodland Trust to operate in Northern Ireland.
Royal Docks Academy | Jon O’Donnell | Newham, UK | A striking image created by students to celebrate the Sea of Life! They wanted to include the Queen in their design as a nod to her Platinum Jubilee.
Rusheshe School | Mary Ndinguri | Rwanda | Students worked together to make models of crocodiles and fish using cardboard, paper plates, tissue paper and paint. They photographed the models and incorporated abstract digital aspects to create their final design.
Rutsiro School | Mary Ndinguri | Rwanda | Students made initial sketches of riverside roads and buildings, then brought them to life in this wonderful installation using cardboard and wire.
Rye Hills Academy | BloomInArt | Tees Valley, UK | Focusing on marine life and cleaner oceans, students experimented with fused glass processes to recreate the seabed and its natural habitats. Colour, form and pattern were explored, taking inspiration from their GCSE work on marine life. Greta Thunberg was their collective hero, a young voice which speaks for and represents shared views of the students.

River of Hope is supported by:

River of Hope is a Thames Festival Trust programme delivered in partnership with the British Council