On 29th September, GCSE Art learners from TLC The Learning Centre, a Special Educational Needs school in Bromley, travelled to London to visit the National Portrait Gallery as part of their studies on portraiture.
Portraits form a key theme within the GCSE Art curriculum at TLC, with learners exploring a wide range of artists and styles to inform their own original work. The visit gave learners the opportunity to experience portraiture in a national setting, seeing first-hand how artists interpret identity, character, and expression in diverse and creative ways.
The group visited the 2025 Portrait Awards exhibition, where learners were particularly intrigued by the breadth of approaches on display. From traditional representations to more abstract interpretations, the exhibition challenged assumptions about what portraiture can be.
Art teacher Angela said:
“It’s important for our learners to engage with portraiture in all its forms. The exhibition showed that portraits are not just head-and-shoulders images, but can take many different shapes and styles. The learners were fascinated by this and it has really supported their creative thinking for their own portfolios.”
Learners have been studying artists including Henri Matisse, David Hockney, and Pop Art portrait artists, alongside contemporary work such as that of 2025 Portrait Award winner Moira Cameron. The visit has helped deepen their understanding of portraiture and provided inspiration for their GCSE coursework.
