Teenagers take over historic museum with contemporary works

In June 2024, a group of first-year students taking the College’s Contemporary Fine Art module visited Jackfield Tile Museum. The museum, located in the Ironbridge Gorge UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the oldest surviving purpose-built decorative tile factory in Britain. It is the former home of Craven Dunnill tile manufacturers and in 2024 the museum celebrated the 150th anniversary of the factory’s opening. Tiles went from this factory in the small village of Jackfield to clients around the country and around the world, as far flung as India and South Africa. 

Following their visit, the students were given the brief to produce their own works inspired by the museum, the building, the objects inside it or Jackfield, which would go on display for the museum’s visitors as well as being marked for students’ second-year term two assessment. The students, now aged 17-18, have spent the months since hard at work on their projects and now 23 works are going on display. 

One student has taken inspiration from the gothic-revival architecture of the building, including the large and striking arched window in what is now the Trade Showroom. The creativity of other students was sparked by the museum’s recreations of tile-covered locations including a butchers, pub and church. Historic photographs of tile manufacturers in Jackfield have inspired others, as have, of course, the tiles themselves. 

Kyla Hislop, Interpretation Curator at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, said: “We were delighted to see how the historic craftsmanship and creativity that are evident in the displays at Jackfield Tile Museum have inspired these young creators. It’s wonderful to see how diverse aspects of the building and collections have been integrated into their artworks to create a very contemporary display that we know our visitors will enjoy.”

Andrea Nelson, DEI and Community Engagement Manager at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, said: “We really enjoyed working with the students from Shrewsbury College and seeing them let their imaginations run wild to create their pieces. As a heritage conservation and education charity it is important to us to welcome in local young people so that they can appreciate the wonderful things on their doorstep and become part of the history of the museum in their own special way.”

Jonathan Wilkes, Course leader Oxford and Cambridge Diploma in Art and Design, at Shrewsbury College, said: “The students have really enjoyed working on this collaboration with the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and Jackfield Tile Museum. Their tutors are delighted to see the quality of the works they have created and this is a wonderful opportunity for the students to have the experience of showing their work in public, many of them for the first time.”

Harry Griffiths, one of the Shrewsbury College students whose work is going on display, said: “The idea for my art piece first came to me during our visit to Jackfield Tile Museum, during which many things caught my attention including the ‘Cast of Belvedere Torso’, a set of stencilled tiles by surrealist artist Salvador Dali with tiles shown to be melting, and finally the reconstruction of the interior of a church in which the large stained glass window is placed, all coming together over the following months and inspiring my piece ‘Reflection’.”

The students’ works will be located throughout the building and access will be included in the standard entrance ticket. Students get discounted tickets to Jackfield Tile Museum when they show their student cards (£7 instead of £12.)

Jackfield remains a creative hub today, with the Footprint Gallery and Fusion next to the museum, Craven Dunnill still manufacturing tiles in adjacent buildings and offering tile-making workshops (also during February half term), and Maws Craft Centre nearby. 

For full details of events, tickets and annual pass prices, visit ironbridge.org.uk/events.