The Art & Design Department enjoys an excellent reputation for both its public examination results and the highly visible way in which it exhibits pupils' work around the School.

The Department is committed to offering a stimulating environment for a wide range of art and design practices, in the belief that creativity is a vital part of a full education. The accommodation afforded by the Art & Design Centre is currently organised in one open large open plan space roughly divided in to two teaching areas.

Jason Cordingley BA, MA: Head of Art & Design

Mr Cordingley has been teaching Art & Design since 1990. He was previously Head of Art at Carmel College, and has been Head of Art Merchiston since  1999. He is Housemaster of Chalmers East House.

Fiona Blakeman Dip Des

Ms Blakeman has been a Teacher of Art & Design since 1985. In addition to her teaching duties, she is responsible for Scenery & Set Design at Merchiston, and she also does the posters for School productions.

Barbara Hunter BEd

In addition to teaching Art & Design, Mrs Hunter is closely involved with the promotion and presentation of Merchiston. She meets with prospective parents when they first visit the School.

There are facilities for painting, drawing, sculpture, print-making, and photography. Observational and practical skills are taught in structured lessons to small groups, and there is ample opportunity to experiment with new ideas while learning from the study of old and modern masters. It is central to our philosophy that the studios remain open well beyond the timetabled day.

Pupils are given the opportunity to explore visual, tactile and other sensory experiences to communicate ideas and meanings. They work with traditional and new media, developing confidence, competence, imagination and creativity. They learn to appreciate and value images and artefacts across times and cultures, and to understand the contexts in which they were made. Pupils are encouraged to reflect critically on their own and other people's work, judging quality, value and meaning. They learn to think and act as artists, craftspeople and designers, working creatively and intelligently.

From I Form to IV Form they are given the opportunity to develop their Art & Design skills. Each year they are introduced to new activities, thus preparing them for the optional GCSE course in Shell and V Form.  For those who do not continue with GCSE Art & Design, the aim of the Department is to provide them with knowledge and skills that can be transferred into other subject areas, develop their visual literacy and give a feel for the rich artistic tradition that mankind has developed throughout the ages.

During Monday afternoon activities a senior Art & Design activity takes place. This provides an opportunity for those following examination Art & Design to use extra studio time.

The Department also operates a Junior Art activity for those boys lower down the school who wish to develop their skills and appreciation for the subject. We also operate a life drawing class on a Thursday evening when there is sufficient demand.

Exhibitions

Visits are made to the Galleries and Museum in Glasgow and Edinburgh to help educate Merchiston students out with the department. The department also puts work out on display both in the Department and around the School.  There is also a major exhibition of pupils' work that takes place on Commemoration Day.

Each term, we give a Painting of the Term Award. If selected, the student's work will be presented and displayed outside the Memorial Hall.