BUDDING artists in Teignmouth were treated to a workshop with local artist Amy McCarthy.

Years 5 and 6 at Our Lady and St Patrick’s Primary School took part in a workshop with the renowned artist after receiving funding from much-loved Teignmouth charity, The Helen Foundation last month.

The Helen Foundation was launched in January 2006 as a living memorial to Helen Elizabeth Kirk, aged 24, who tragically died after a road accident in December 2005.

Children at the school were shown Amy’s artwork and she introduced them to some of the techniques she uses.

The children were then given the chance to research and develop ideas for a ‘stained glass’ hanging, based on the theme of life-cycles.

Children worked hard on their ideas and preparatory sketches before drawing their designs onto perspex sheets. The range of life-cycles represented included sharks, poppies and snakes.

A spokesman said: ‘We are very thankful to The Helen Foundation for providing the school with funding towards this workshop.

‘Each year, THF subsidises state-funded schools in Teignbridge to engage professional artists to work with their children in whatever art form the school decides, benefiting up to 3,000 young people a year. We as a school have used this funding for many years and it is always a great help.’

One of the children who took part, Lydia, said: ‘We thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. Amy was talented, kind and we couldn’t have done it without her.

‘I really loved making stained glass windows with Amy. We made life cycles in pictures. Thank you Helen Foundation for giving me this opportunity. I really enjoyed the experience.’

In March the charity whose honorary patrons are members of rock band Muse, embarked on its most ambitious fundraiser ever to raise £40,000 by late December of this year, but supported by over 250 generous donors, the initial target was reached within two months of its launch.