Students’ artwork promotes Ilfracombe nationally

What is unique about Ilfracombe? Apart from its natural breathtaking beauty, its long and colourful heritage and its vibrant community spirit, Ilfracombe is also recognised to be a creative centre for arts.

 

With a thriving artist community, galleries, a college with specialist arts status and famous connections to one of the world’s most successful artists Damien Hirst, Ilfracombe’s appeal as a creative, arty town fits well with its brand of ‘curious, coastal charm’.

 

Therefore, what better than to promote Ilfracombe on the front cover of the 2011 Ilfracombe Guide than impressions of the town’s historic harbour by students of the arts college.

 

Featuring the works of year 7 students Tyler Draper, Jess Petrie and Toni Hicks, the front page of the 2011 Guide shows views which are unmistakably Ilfracombe harbour, whilst using licence and originality.

 

Head of art, Malcolm Wilkinson said, “We were delighted to be asked to contribute to the design for the front of the brochure and saw it as an opportunity to showcase the talents of students at Ilfracombe Arts College. The harbour was an obvious choice for inspiration and art teacher, Jeff Lawton's Year 7 group responded with the mixed media pieces featured in the guide."

Highlighting the town’s artistic offer is an intrinsic part of the Ilfracombe Tourism Marketing Group’s strategy. Peter Cooper, a member of the group and College Community Co-ordinator said, “There is so much talent in the Ilfracombe area, that we thought it was high time the town initiated its own arts festival.  As part of the North Devon Festival this summer (June 23rd – 26th) we are planning a community arts event featuring as many art forms as possible – and spread throughout the town.”

 

The guides are distributed all over the UK and even further afield by specific request through Tourist Information Centres, direct mail campaigns and through www.visitilfracombe.co.uk