Members of the public might have noticed that the bridge at Ebbsfleet International Train Station has had a real burst of colour recently as part of a project providing local art students with some valuable practical experience.
Three North Kent College art students, Cassie Smith, Naomi Ajie and Lilia Brookes, had their designs for a mural selected by a panel of experts and have been working with professional artists to transfer their ideas into a real-life project on the bridge.
The project is part of This Must Be the Place programme for young people by Cement Fields, a visual arts organisation, and the students worked with professional artist Chris Tipping on preparing and upscaling their designs and artists Joe & Charlotte on painting their designs on to the bridge.
North Kent College art students have also been producing artwork to go in the city as part of the project.
Above: The team responsible for painting the bridge at Ebbsfleet International Train Station!
Tom Legge, Head of Curriculum for Art, Fashion & Photography at North Kent College, said: “We are so please to have worked with This Must Be the Place and Cement Fields on this project. Michaela at Cement Fields and her team her worked so hard to get this up and running and the skills our students have gained is hugely valuable.
“Our students have had to turn their initial drawings into pieces of art that would work on the bridge, whilst negotiating with professional artists to figure out the logistics of working on a live project.
“On top of this they have then been working with a team of artists to transfer the art onto bridge. We can't wait to see the outcome and we are hugely proud of their achievements.”
Michaela Freeman, Curator at Cement Fields, was equally satisfied: "It’s been such a pleasure working with North Kent College Creative Studios students this year and seeing their unique artistic response to the Ebbsfleet Garden City.
“The designs submitted for the bridge commission were outstanding. It was very hard to choose one winner so we decided to select three designs, each reacting to Ebbsfleet in a different and original way, and they all ended up being realised.
“It's so great that all three students were able to take part in painting the designs on site too, taking their ideas from a sketch to a large-scale public artwork."
Chris Tipping who helped the students produce their artwork added: “What an opportunity for Naomi, Cassie and Lilia to exhibit their artwork, permanently and in such a visible public space! All three students must be applauded for their work and each can now add a site-specific live project to their CV's, and at such a young age too.
“They have jumped at the chance and responded brilliantly well. It has been heartening to see them painting on site alongside the professionals. This is also a great endorsement for Art & Design education and the nurturing of creativity and building professional skills at North Kent College.
“I was delighted to be asked by Cement Fields and Tom Legge to be involved in the project, and I am so looking forward to seeing the completed work on site".
North Kent College offers a number of art courses at its Tonbridge and Dartford campuses.
Students are taught by professionals in the field and benefit from industry standard facilities, including fully equipped workshops and studio spaces, a print room, a 3D room and much more.
To find out more about studying Art at North Kent College visit the course finder section of the website, or to get first-hand experience of what life is like at the College come along to an open event.