AN ENTHUSIASTIC group of 36 art and photography students from the fifth and sixth forms at Kelly College enjoyed a fascinating and educational trip to London, visiting Tate Britain, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery and Tate Modern.

The students also managed to take in many of the London sights, such as Whitehall, the Houses of Parliament and Horse Guards' Parade. 

At the Tate Britain they enjoyed the diversity of contemporary art by Barry Flannigan to works by artists such as Turner, Picasso and Chris Ofilli and the more obscure Coral reef installation by Mike Nelson.

In the National Gallery students were able to see work by Holbein, Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Monet and Van Gogh. 

In the Portrait Gallery, apart from riding one of the longest escalators in London, students could see work by such artists as Richard Hamilton, Julian Opie, Frank Auerbach and some of the sketches from the new exhibition by Lucian Freud.

The Tate Modern currently hosts an installation by artist Tacita Dean and the photographers took full advantage of the 'New documentary forms' exhibition, showing work by photographers such as Luc Delahaye, Mitch Epstein, Guy Tillim and Akram Zaatari, as well as two important earlier works by Boris Mikhailov.

Students have gathered sketches, photographs, memorabilia and memories which will undoubtedly enhance this year's GCSE, AS and A level Photography and Art examination coursework.

Art teacher Mrs Holwill said: 'Four galleries in one day is a huge achievement but one which was greatly appreciated. It is our hope that this will be repeated for exam students again next year.'