Pupils have designs on success

Nov 16 2012 by Lynn Jolly, Paisley Daily Express

Five creative pupils brushed up on their artwork and created ceramics and a calendar with a flavour of Paisley.

Castlehead High Schoolsixth-year pupils Lauren Richards, Samantha McIntosh, Connor Crawford, Greg Wilson and Martin Cunningham came together to run Young Enterprise company Heritage.

As well as ceramics and the calendar, printed canvas bags designed by West Primary P6 pupil Freya Hamilton will be among items on sale at Paisley Abbey tomorrow.

The Castlehead High pupils have been supported by Glasgow airport operations director Campbell MacKinnon, who acted as their business adviser, and art teacher Kristel McGeoch.

She said of the pupils: “They are very hard-working and conscientious and they work well together as a group.

“They have created products that celebrate their home town of Paisley.

“There are hand-painted ceramics which depict historic buildings in the town and also the famous Paisley pattern.

“Views Of Paisley is a calendar which shows photographs of Paisley taken by Lauren.

“And there are canvas bags printed with a winning design by Freya.

“The idea for the ceramics came when the group were admiring the Paisley skyline from their classroom in Castlehead.

“With so many beautiful buildings and with such ahistoric past, Paisley was the perfect inspiration. The team are very proud of the town they grew up in and hope to highlight the positive aspects of Paisley.”

Everyone involved has had a hand in creating and painting the designs on the ceramics, inspired by the Paisley pattern.

The range includes serving plates, decorative plates, cups and saucers, mugs and vases.

Lauren, who studies photography through the school at Paisley’s Reid Kerr College, has been acting as team photographer and has snapped images featured in the calendar and Christmas cards.

The calendar, created with help from the Print and Copy It shop, in Paisley High Street, has a different view of Paisley for each month, along with interesting facts about each image.

Some of the cash made from the sale of the goods will go back to the school to repay their support. A donation will go to the Paisley Abbey Appeal to revamp the abbey during its 850th anniversary year.

You can buy Heritage goods at Paisley Abbey tomorrowfrom 10am and at SNO!Zone in Xscape, Braehead, during a Young Enterprise Christmas Trade fair on December 5from 5pm.

To find out more about theAbbey Appeal, visit www.paisleyabbey.org.uk