ARTWORK created by three budding Solihull photographers has been chosen for a national online exhibition.
A level Photography learners at Solihull Sixth Form College Flora Astbury, Orla McGarry and Tess Dennis had their work selected to be part of the Sixth Form Colleges Association Art Exhibition 2026 (SFCA).
The theme for this year’s SFCA Art competition was Artistes sans Frontières, a reflection of the Médecins sans Frontières charity.
The theme was open to interpretation, allowing sixth form students from across the UK freedom to represent that theme without constraint.
Flora’s photographs portrayed the loss of creative freedom between childhood and adulthood.
She photographed models in settings and poses that might challenge typical expectations of their age and used of mixed media elements, such as drawings and collage to emphasise the theme of creativity and make the images more visually interesting and colourful.
Orla explored the relationship between humans and nature, emphasizing its dominance, untouched power, and the idea that humans must adapt to nature rather than try to control it.
She chose spaces such as caves, mountains and remote terrain because of the challenge they pose, forcing individuals to navigate the limits of the body and environment.
And Tess’s artwork portrayed the bias women still face, particularly in the world of work.
She communicated this visually by covering women with negative statements, expressing the ideas of how women are often negatively ‘rubber stamped’.
Creative Arts curriculum leader, Zoe Maksymiw, said: “Well done to all our young people for their entries for the SFCA Competition 2026.
“They worked really hard on their interpretation of the brief and produced some really interesting responses.
“Flora, Orla and Tess deserve special congratulations for being selected to the online exhibition.”
For more or to view the exhibition click here.
