Windrush Portraits: Free Online Drawing Workshop for young artists

To mark the 75th anniversary of Windrush the Royal Drawing School is hosting a one-hour online drawing event, aimed at young artists aged 12 – 18. The workshop will explore the living history of the Windrush Generations through drawing and aural history. 

Introduced by children’s broadcaster Baroness Floella Benjamin OM, DBE, the session will be broadcast live from our studios in Shoreditch where students will draw and hear from former policeman, Ron Frater MBE, who will share his experience as part of the Windrush Generation.  

Born in the parish of St Thomas, Jamaica, Ron arrived in the UK in 1966 aged 10 with his two sisters aged 13 and 15 following his parents; his father arrived at Tilbury Docks in 1956 and his mother and eldest sister at Southampton in 1958. The family settled in Shepherds Bush, West London, where Ron attended secondary school nearby, later studying sciences at college. After years of working in the retail industry and teaching music, Ron joined Northamptonshire Police Service in late 1983 and was one of only two black officers serving at the time. He was awarded the MBE for services to the police in 2002.

Ron will be interviewed by Summer Benjamin Maclean, an alumni of the Royal Drawing School, who recently graduated from the London College of Fashion with a BA in Fashion Textiles: Embroidery. Summer’s grandparents are part of the Windrush Generation, moving from St Lucia and Antigua to London. Summer grew up in Ladbroke Grove, an area known for its rich Caribbean culture and history.

The workshop will explore how aural history can bring new meaning to portraiture, helping us to connect more deeply with the person that we are drawing. This workshop seeks to forge understanding between generations and we hope that students will leave with a newfound appreciation for the experiences of the Windrush Generation. 

The session will be taught by Dexter Orszagh, an alumni of the Royal Drawing School’s postgraduate-level programme, The Drawing Year. 

Materials

All that is required is paper, and a board or desk to draw at, alternatively sketchbooks can be used or if you have an art room some students might want to work at easels.

How to register

To join us for the special workshop, please register for your free place and you will be emailed a Zoom link in advance of the session.  We will be using Zoom Webinar so students will not be visible at any point during the live-streamed broadcast. You will need access to a good internet connection and a laptop, iPad or similar device.

Information for Teachers

This special live-streamed workshop will be broadcast on Zoom from 2.15 - 3.15pm on Thursday 29th June. Designed and scheduled so that students and teachers can participate together as a class during the school day, it is suggested that one large screen is setup in a classroom, and students can work collectively from one school login. Alternatively, students can work from individual screens. 

The workshop is open to any student who might be interested in taking part, whether they are currently studying Art and Design, or not - all are welcome. Working with aural history and drawing, this class would work particularly well with Art, English or History lessons or could support other schoolwide activity you may be planning to celebrate Windrush Day in your school.

Safeguarding

Fostering a safe and nurturing environment for our young learners is at the core of our mission. You can read our Child Safeguarding policy on our website.

John (Big John) Richards by Drawing Year alumnus, Deanio X. © DeanioX. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2023; photographer: Matthew Hollow.⁠

See the exhibition: Windrush: Portraits of a Generation

The Royal Drawing School is collaborating with the Royal Collection Trust, Baroness Floella Benjamin OM, DBE and Ms Paulette Simpson CBE, members of the Windrush Portraits Committee, to develop and deliver an education programme to accompany the exhibition, Windrush: Portraits of a Pioneering Generation, a series of portraits commissioned by King Charles III, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Windrush and honour the Windrush Elders. The programme aims to educate and inspire young people, promote conversation and dialogue, and bring together communities and generations to explore and celebrate the contribution of the Windrush Generation.    

Windrush: Portraits of a Pioneering Generation display is included as part of a visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse until mid-September. The portraits will then go on display at the National Portrait Gallery from October for approximately six months. The portraits can also be seen on 500 billboards and 600 shopping centre screens across the UK for two weeks.

In collaboration with The Royal Collection Trust, we are also developing a Teacher Pack, including source materials and inspiration for lesson ideas. These free resources will be available online from the Royal Drawing School and Royal Collection Trust websites to support school delivery from September in 2023-24 academic year. A National Windrush Portrait Competition for young people will also run during Black History Month – we will send details of how your students can get involved in due course.