SCHOOL pupils wowed judges of an art competition at West Middlesex Hospital with their inspired use of colours and techniques.

An exhibition and prize ceremony for the Art of Pathology competition organised by Dr Anna Babb, Consultant in Haematology, was held at the hospital on 10 December 2012.

Pupils from schools and institutes across Hounslow, Richmond Upon Thames and Ealing were invited to create artwork based on the study of the human body and its ability to fight and prevent diseases, to mark National Pathology Year.

63 pieces of artwork were entered for the competition, judged by Dr Babb with the help of artist and designer Lucy Algar, and painter and printmaker Sue Ribbans.

Shortlisted entrants, their representatives, teachers and parents attended the event in the hospital’s Education Centre, joined by chief executive Dame Jacqueline Docherty and medical director Dr Stella Barnass, where the artwork was mounted on display.

Rose Stephens, from St Mark’s School in Hounslow, won the Year 7–9 category, for artwork inspired by the brain scans of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She had carved images into a tile and used it to create a striking print.

Lucie Iredale, 14, from Teddington School won the Year 10–11 category for her interpretation of red and white blood cells, using contrasting colours and techniques to depict four different samples. It was inspired by her friend who had been recently diagnosed with a high white blood cell count and Crohn’s disease.

Year 7-9 runners up were Rina Rai and Khloe Kulasingham from Drayton Manor High School with their joint piece ‘Cancer’ and Kate Duncan from Teddington School with ‘Alzheimer’s Disease’.

Year 10-11 runners up were Sohaila Inglebright from Teddington School with ‘Silent Death’ and Feltham Young Offenders Institute for “Cell to Cell”, a group entry of 15 pieces of art.

Shortlisted entrants received certificates, and runners up and winners received book tokens and certificates from Dr Babb, presented by Lucy Algar. The overall winning entry by Lucie Iredale will be published in the Royal College of Pathology
Bulletin.

Lucie said: “I am quite shocked but really happy about it. I am studying for a GSCE in art but this is my first art competition. I will use it to inspire my final piece.”

Award winning photographer Steve Gschmeissner gave a guest lecture at the ceremony, presenting a series of unnervingly detailed images he had taken of the human body.

He was especially impressed by artwork called ‘Brittle Bones’ created by Ruby Ardizzone from Drayton Manor High School, and presented her with a book, The Human Body Close-up.

Dr Babb said: “The competition entries have exceeded my expectations. We wanted students to challenge the idea that art and science are rigidly separate disciplines and instead think about how one could inspire the other. I am really impressed with how the entrants have taken the idea and run with it.

"This is the first time we have held the competition and the standard of work has been superb, with an impressive degree of thought and maturity. It is really exciting to see how 'Art of Pathology' has been interpreted in so many varied ways.”