A CHARFIELD school are helping a renowned artist to draw inspiration for artwork that will become a part of a new housing development.

Kerry Lemon, who has worked with brands such as Ted Baker, Harvey Nichols and Fortnum and Mason, has been tasked with designing a piece which will become part of the new St James Mews neighbourhood, being built on land off Wotton Road by developer Bellway.

As part of the process, Ms Lemon has been visiting Charfield Primary School to host a series of creative workshops to inspire the design, which will be based on the life of birds.

Workshops include observational drawing sessions with live birds of prey, nest building, language workshops focusing on bird song, dance and movement sessions to look at the different ways in which birds move and bird identification studies as well.

Saying that she was was looking forward to working with the children, Ms Lemon described the task as “really exciting project which is all about involving the local community in the designs for something which will become part of Charfield for years to come.”

She said: “We’ve organised two events with Charfield Primary School which will be great fun and will also help get the pupil’s creative juices flowing so they can provide some inspiration for the artwork.

“The workshops will all be bird-themed, and we will be working alongside the British Trust for Ornithology, the RSPB and language and movement experts to make the workshops as interactive as possible. 

“We can’t wait to start these workshops and start to see the first stages of the designs come to life.”

The second of the two sessions takes place today, with the first having taken place on July 7.

Bellway sales manager, Carly Maidment, said it was a great way of getting the community involved in the development.

“We’ve worked on several public art projects at our developments in the past, and when we can involve the community in the creation of them, it makes them extra special,” she said.

“This is a brilliant way of engaging with the local community, and we’re looking forward to seeing how the children can help Kerry come up with some fantastic designs for St James Mews.”

For more information about Bellway’s St James Mews development, go to www.bellway.co.uk