Hipsburn Wow the Crowds!
23rd June 2026
Our Young Artists Take Flight: Celebrating Local Coastal Birds through Art, Music and Community at Alnmouth Arts Festival
Creativity Takes Flight: Our Local Coastal Bird Exhibition
A huge congratulations to every child in Hipsburn Primary school, from our Preschool 2year olds right through to our most senior Year 6 pupils, who each created their own unique 3D piece for our Local Coastal Bird Exhibition, proudly displayed at this year's Alnmouth Arts Festival.
The exhibition was an incredible success and received a phenomenal response, not only from our families and friends but also from visitors from across the country who attended the festival. We have been overwhelmed by the wonderful feedback and praise received from professional artists, members of the National Trust, local bird experts, educators from across the UK and even a world-renowned writer, all of whom celebrated the creativity and talent shown by our children and our local artist, Helen Ellis.
Visitors described the exhibition as "the best children's art I have ever seen! You are all artists! Be proud," while others commented that it was a "fantastic highlight of the Arts Festival" and simply "inspirational!"
This remarkable project was brought to life through Helen's vision, care and dedication. She generously gave her time, energy and expertise to work with each child, helping to create a stunning collection of coastal birds using natural and recycled materials. Inspired by the beauty of our local shoreline, the project highlights the importance of caring for our beaches, wildlife and natural environment.
The children created an extraordinary range of birds, from delicate little terns to a magnificent life-sized cormorant. Each year group brought a different species to life, including puffins, eider ducks, oystercatchers, curlews, kittiwakes and herons, resulting in a truly spectacular exhibition. The development and progression of the children's artistic skills and techniques were carefully nurtured and are clearly evident in their work. One visitor summed it up perfectly, describing the exhibition as "Amazing work. So beautiful and child-friendly. Love it!"
We were also delighted to welcome representatives from Space for Shorebirds Northumberland and the Stronger Shores Engagement Officer, whose inspiring talks and workshops helped inform and enrich the project further.
The exhibition was a wonderful celebration of creativity, community and our precious coastal environment. Alongside the 3D artwork, the children worked incredibly hard recording songs, which were played throughout the exhibition, creating a truly immersive experience for visitors. It was a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to become part of the local community and experience what it feels like to be professional artists while developing their knowledge and appreciation of the world around them.
The children also beautifully designed and created cards featuring their artwork and the coastal theme, which are still available to purchase through the school.
An enormous well done to every child for their creativity, enthusiasm and hard work. Our sincere thanks go to the Arts Festival Committee for supporting this project. Our children are creative and talented in so many different ways and the opportunity to be part of the Arts Festival has been fantastic, giving them a platform to showcase their talents to the wider community.
Most importantly, our heartfelt thanks go to Helen, whose passion, kindness and dedication made this unforgettable experience possible for our children.