Two Mercury Bay Area School students will be exhibiting their art works during the 2017 Mercury Bay Art Escape.

Year 13 students Joseph Morcom and Renèe Royal were the recipients of the Mercury Bay Art Escape Trust 2016 Scholarship programme which came to a conclusion this week.

Mercury Bay Area School Year 13 students and recipients of the Mercury Bay Art Escape Trust 2016 Scholarship Reneè Royal and Joseph Morcom with MBAET chairman Stuart Christie. Supplied Photo.

Now in its third year, the scholarship programme gives support and encouragement to young emerging artists to allow them to progress to the next level of their professional development.

Since being announced as the recipients in November 2015, both students have been given numerous opportunities to learn different techniques and skills from artists who are members of the trust.

'We are pleased to provide these students with the opportunity to gain valuable skills and experience to take them to the next step of their artistic journey and give them an understanding of the life of a working artist,” says MBAET chairman Stuart Christie.

Both Renèe and Joseph attended workshops by Whitianga artist Ian Calloway where they gained an understanding of colour, space and depth. They also attended drawing classes by Whitianga artist Charlotte Giblin who encouraged them to notice all details before drawing.

They both also attended a professional practise workshop for artists facilitated byThe New Zealand Defence Forces' official artist Matt Gauldie.

Joseph took the opportunity to learn the importance of expressing ‘what comes from within' in his art from Tairua artist Paula McNeill, as well as gaining an understanding of Adobe In-Design software from Whitianga artist Raewyn Helms-Davis.

While Renèe attended classes by Kuaotunu artist Carolyn Milbank learning the basics of using resin and clay and Ginney Deavoll from Hahei where she practised different methods of painting skies and landscapes.

Also as part of their prize, Joseph and Renèe observed and assisted with the curation of the annual ‘Taste of the Tour' Showcase Exhibition at Hot Waves Café as part of the March 2016 Open Studio Tour.

During a presentation to mark the conclusion of their scholarship, Joseph and Renèe were presented with an art voucher and a scholarship information booklet complied by the MBAET to help with their future endeavours.

For more information visit the Mercury Bay Art Escape Trust's website at: www.mercurybayartescape.com