Local Artists: Harry Rutherford

Key Stage 1 & 2

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What’s Involved

Let the art gallery come into your school. One of our professional and experienced artists will deliver this Local Artists workshop within your classrooms.

Timings: The sessions usually last 60 to 90 minutes but we can arrange flexible timings to fit around your school day; perfect if you are a multiple entry school or would like the workshop delivering to more than one class.

Costs: £183 for half a day (up to 3 hours)/ £366 for a full day (up to 6 hours)

Harry Rutherford was born in Denton in 1903, and based for much of his life in Hyde. He is often identified as one of the unsung heroes of the Lowry generation. What makes Harry particularly relevant to young people today is his contribution to television.

He was the first artist to appear on television when a BBC producer was so impressed with his work that he employed him to stand in the studio wings for his programme ‘Cabaret Cartoons’ drawing variety acts as they performed. Rutherford was also the first artist to host his own children’s television show, Sketchbook, in which he pioneered art live on television long before artists like Tony Hart had made their screen debuts.

In this workshop participants will be introduced to the work of Harry Rutherford. Discussion will include his life-long career, and how he was a master of different styles and techniques before working through a series of those styles and techniques themselves. Participants will leave having gone through a series of creative exercises that will develop their skill set for drawing either buildings or people (depending on the workshop focus specified by the school).

This workshop can focus on building or portraits – please let us know which you would like to focus on when you book.

Learning Opportunities

  • Pupils will learn about an artist who lived in their locality.
  • Pupils will learn to see and draw in detail.
  • Pupils will experiment with new materials and develop skills in proportion, shading, highlighting and blending.
  • Pupils will experience an art gallery setting with exhibitions that change throughout the year.

Extend Your Experience

  • We will send you some ideas for pre- and post- visit activities when you book this workshop.
  • Why not see if there is a Museum in a Box that links to your class topics.