Artist Ian Berry inspires the next generation and puts artwork of Kirklees children on show in London

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Huddersfield-born international artist Ian Berry has been back to school to help inspire the next generation.

Ian, 40, worked with several schools across Kirklees to produce artwork, some of which has been included in his latest Secret Garden installation at a museum in London.

Ian, who grew up in Netherton and attended South Crosland Junior School, Newsome High and Greenhead College, has created denim secret gardens around the world from San Francisco to Sweden, and now he’s crafted a new installation at the Garden Museum in Lambeth.

Entry is free and Ian hopes Kirklees families will pay a visit this summer if they happen to be in London.

Walk through the denim garden path and visitors will find wisteria and vines dangling from pergolas, roses, alocasias, begonias and cacti in shades of indigo, and a peaceful fishpond at the heart of the garden, all made with hand cut and crafted layers of recycled denim jeans.

Working with creative arts and education consultancy Shape North, Ian held workshops at schools and some of the youngsters’ drawings have been turned into vines which feature in the museum. Later, the installation will be made stand alone to show closer to home in Kirklees.

Ian said: “I was asked by curator Emma House to make an installation and when I realised it would coincide with the school holidays, I really had in mind the kids who would see it, bringing back memories of the first one I did at the Children’s Museum of the Arts in New York.

“I recalled a project I did with Shape North, and I thought it may be inspiring for the children to find some of their work in a museum in London.”

Ian added: “Working with Shape North was brilliant as it’s been so good to find a group of people so passionate about pushing creativity in Kirklees.

“Kathy Coates-Mohammed and Stephanie Bartholet were not only good people to work with, they have become very good friends.

“I really hope the projects could inspire the children to believe that if they want to and put their mind to it, they can be an artist.

“Of course, I tell them it’s hard work and takes dedication but I hope that they can think if I did it, then why can’t they?

“I know the challenges of having those around not thinking art is a career but the risks are worth it. It’s great to have these amazing women with a special energy pushing creativity there.”

Kathy Coates-Mohammed said: “Ian’s ‘Secret Garden’ at Garden Museum is made even more special by the fact he has given so generously of his time and expertise to inspire our children’s artwork, and then so creatively interpreted and intertwined these into his installation.

“What an honour for the children to have their work recognised and celebrated in this way by an internationally-renowned artist; one from their hometown area Huddersfield!”

Garden Museum is at 5 Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7LB, and is open daily 10am-5pm.

The show has been named in many of the Top Rated shows in London currently on, like Fad magazine’s ‘Top 5 Museum shows to see this Summer’, Londonist’s ‘Top shows for July and August’ and named the ‘Must See’, World of Interiors pick ‘To See’, and Time Well Spent Magazine called it a ‘Unmissable’ show and ‘Must See.’

Ian Berry: The Secret Garden and accompanying events are made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England.