Sir Grayson Perry inspired pupils with his advice while on a day out to a Tufnell Park secondary school.
The 62-year-old contemporary artist, writer and broadcaster, who was knighted in this year’s New Year Honours list, was a guest of honour at Acland Burghley School on Monday (January 9).
He was invited through the organisation Speakers for Schools and “jumped at the chance,” said head of sixth form Tessa Osborne.
She said he spoke to a hall full of sixth form students and staff “lucky enough to not be teaching” about his own journey as an artist.
She said: “He was inspiring and funny and the hall roared with laughter throughout the talk.”
Sir Grayson then spoke with A-level art students, one of whom gifted him a hand-drawn postcard-sized artwork that he said he would happily take home on his bike.
A tour of the art classrooms followed, where he met Year 11 pupil Alice and told her that her piece had “good vibes”, she said.
Another pupil said: “He let me know it’s ok to make a lot of mistakes.”
And another added: “I thought it was good that he said your work didn’t need to be perfect.”
Others said that “he had a cool outfit” and the takeaway from speaking to him was was to trust their intuition.
Known for his ceramic vases, tapestries, and cross-dressing, Sir Grayson was made a Knight Batchelor for services to art in the New Year Honours.
He had been made a CBE in 2014 after an investiture by the then Prince of Wales, now King.
Speaking to Channel 4 News about his latest honour, Sir Grayson said: “I’m very flattered and honoured and coming from a kind of working-class background, it kind of feels like… I’m definitely on a winning streak.”
Sir Grayson Perry inspires a hall full of sixth formers at Acland Burghley School (Image: Acland Burghley School)
Tessa, who is also psychology subject lead, said: “He came, he saw, he conquered, he had fun.
“Grayson is phenomenal; what a privilege to be in the company of such a humble and generous genius.
“The buzz around the school was and still is palpable and the ripple effects will be felt for a long time.”
Headteacher Nicholas John said: “Grayson Perry inspired our sixth formers about what it means to be creative, and how to live life to its full potential.
“We are incredibly grateful to him for giving us his time in that way.”
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