Former student James Owen Thomas hosts art workshop

A former student at Bradford School of Art, James - who now has his own art gallery in his home town of Pateley Bridge - recently returned to see his former tutor Mike Tipping and lead a workshop for 35 students from the first and second year UAL Level 3 Art and Design groups.

James enjoyed his visit. Picture: Mike Tipping

He said he was thrilled to have taken part, “especially as Mike mentioned that sustainability is a focus of the course, so the recycling aspect is very relevant.”

Mike printed various examples of James’s nature photography for students to use in creating their own photo collages during the workshop.

Says James: “I took a selection of scratch cards and other recycled materials to tell the students about how I work to create a 3D look on photos and also talk about my other artwork.

It was good to explain how it all started and how I used to communicate through pictures when I was very young.”

James gave a talk and held a workshop for students

On his website jameowenthomas.com James wrote a blog which is reproduced here:

‘Three years have passed since I last attended Bradford School of Art as a level 3 Art and Design student and much has been happening since that time. I was pleased to return to college to give new art students a morning workshop on my form of environmental art.

The 35 students who attended the session were from the first and second year UAL Level 3 Art and Design groups and it was good to hear that the theme of sustainability is a focus of their studies; the recycling aspect is very relevant. I remember when I was studying how my sketch books were always full of ideas on how to use recycled materials to create form and texture.

I explained to the class that when I was a student at the college, I was given work experience with the manufacturers of the scratch cards in Leeds. I suggested an idea for a scratch card for the Dutch market, based on birdlife and nature:

At the workshop I explained how the tutor had encouraged my other main interest which was learning new techniques of photography in the dark room. My sketch books also show my keenness for trees and nature.

I would also combine photography with encaustic wax, a skill I gained working with Brian Nelson at Elsecar Heritage Centre near Barnsley. It became a therapeutic hobby for me to work with natural beeswax and it combined well with my interest in collage.

I played a short film clip to students about my recent work for Great British Racing. This came about as a result of my first commission, received when I was a student at the college. I was asked to create four pieces of artwork to support the 2019 marketing campaign of sustainability at Pontefract Racecourse.

For the workshop I brought along a large selection of materials, some of which I had already pre-cut into small strips or hole-punched ready for the students to use in their own artwork.

Students taking part in the workshop

A collage created at the workshop by student Kelsey Collinson. Picture: James Owen Thomas

The students were very focused and enjoyed the photo collage activity of adding texture to give a 3D look to nature photography. I explained to the group that I use thin strips of different fabrics placed next to each other for bark. Gold and silver threads are good for highlighting parts of the collage.

After showing the class examples of some of my original collages, I explained how I work with small pieces of paper from recycled scratch cards, packaging material and magazines etc…

I showed the class my collage of the David Hockney Building made from hundreds of small strips of colourful recycled papers, foil and string.

James showed students his picture of the David Hockney Building at Bradford College

It was great to see the thought that went into their work and I hope that the students felt they gained something from the session.

I would like to thank Bradford School of Art for this opportunity.’

James goes on to thank Mike Tipping, who writes:

‘James was a highly engaged and focussed student during his time with us on the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art & Design at Bradford School of Art.

His grades reflected this. He arrived with an innate fascination in art and art making. It was clear to see the influence other artists, such as Hockney, had had on his own inimitable style. Whilst collage was and still is very much James’ favoured approach, he would grasp the opportunity to develop his ideas using a wide range of different techniques and processes. Experimental darkroom and analogue print were areas where James excelled. It is no surprise that only a few years after completing his studies with us James has gone on to great things; an award-winning artist with his own gallery. It is an honour to have played a small part in the nurturing of his talent.’

*JOT’s Gallery, 2A High St, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate HG3 5A is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 3pm.