The hunt is on to find the North East’s young, hidden artistic talent. 

Hundreds of secondary school pupils in Aberdeen city and shire are invited to enter a creative challenge to produce a self portrait which expresses their career hopes for the future. Entitled “My Future Aspirations”, it follows last year’s successful inaugural competition, promoted by Thorpe Molloy Recruitment.

Self portraits from pupils in S1 and S2 should be submitted with a short narrative of no more than 50 words, conveying ideas, thoughts and feelings relating to the artwork by 30 September. Entrants will then go through a selection process, with up to 50 pieces chosen for exhibition in Thorpe Molloy Recruitment’s city centre office. Judges for this year’s competition come from the worlds of art, business and education, Aberdeen artist Barry McGlashan, Annette Bruton (Director of Education, Culture and Sport, Aberdeen City Council), Sir Moir Lockhead (Chief Executive, FirstGroup plc), George Yule (Chief Executive, Dominion Gas), Kate Yuill (Policy & Communications Manager, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce) and Karen Molloy (Director, Thorpe Molloy Recruitment)

Launching this year’s hunt, Amanda McCulloch, Managing Director at Thorpe Molloy Recruitment says,

“Last year, 17 schools across the region participated in the competition, and we are keen to encourage even more to become involved this year. The quality of submissions was very high, with pupils responding to the design brief imaginatively, experimenting with a range of media and styles. Entries included career aspirations such as prime minister, musician, engineer, pathologist and soldier. As well as sitting well within the Curriculum for Excellence, our competition celebrates success and promotes individual young talent.”

Providing support and advice throughout the project, David Henderson of Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen, said he’d been very impressed with last year’s entries which resulted in two portraits being sold to the public.

‘This inventive and relevant competition provides a format which integrates Art, Design, English and Careers at a stage in pupil’s education and development when personal aspirations are uninhibited by the notion of any future role being beyond their capabilities. The quality and diversity of the work submitted confirmed that art and design has a central role to play in young adults aspirations for their future. I’m very much looking forward to seeing how the competition has evolved in the type of entries the pupils submit this year.’

Theresa Scott, who teaches at Hazlehead Academy, added that the competition had a very positive effect on her pupils.

‘It gave them an opportunity to respond to a real life brief and work in partnership outside school with Thorpe Molloy Recruitment. The subject of portraiture was very appealing, particularly in the context of future aspirations in terms of career, challenge, job and talents. The pupils were really motivated by the possibility of having their finished work exhibited in Thorpe Molloy Recruitment’s office. We will definitely be participating again this year.’‘

Schools interested in participating should contact Jacqueline Christie at Thorpe Molloy Recruitment for more information, Tel: 01224 658 865.

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