PEASEDOWN St John Primary School student’s artwork has been chosen for the National Gallery's Take One Picture exhibition. 

Their artwork, which has been created by pupils in Year 2, will be displayed at the gallery, having been selected from a large number of entries submitted by 51 schools.

For nearly thirty years, the Gallery’s annual 'Take One Picture' program has invited primary school children nationwide to creatively respond to a selected painting. This year, 300 schools participated, a 60% increase from last year.

Children from across the UK created works inspired by Henri Rousseau’s ‘Surprised!’ The program aims to integrate art into the curriculum, inspiring creativity and a lifelong connection with art. By exhibiting selected projects, it celebrates children's work, building pride.

The exhibition features children's creative responses to the painting, including crashing waves, voyaging ships, tea-stained diaries, and imaginative dance performances. The projects connect art with subjects like history, science, geography, and literacy.

The children of Peasedown St John Primary School created a large 3D collage entitled ‘Snake or Tail’ as part of a whole school art week for the Take One Picture project last summer.

Kat Tregale, the school's art leader, was sworn to secrecy about the piece being shortlisted until the gallery announced the exhibition details in June. She arranged for a courier to transport the large collage to London.

Two Peasedown students were excited to be interviewed and featured in the exhibition's promotional video. Only five schools were chosen for this, making it a special highlight for Peasedown.

Ruth Noall, headteacher, said “We are so proud to have had our artwork chosen for this prestigious exhibition. Thousands of people will visit this over the summer and be able to enjoy our children's creativity. Well done children and well done Mrs Tegale!”

Works will be displayed outside Trafalgar Square until September 1, running alongside the Gallery’s ‘Summer on the Square’ to create the Free Festival of Art.

Karen Eslea, Head of Learning and National Programmes at the National Gallery, said: “Both 'Take One Picture' and 'Summer on the Square' are brilliant ways for us to reach children and help them develop an early knowledge and curiosity around art and give them a sense of ownership of the Gallery. We’re delighted to be bringing this year’s exhibition out onto Trafalgar Square and it’s been amazing to see the different things that have inspired children this year, from the animals’ environments to the physical feel of the foliage.”