Inside Saltaire Primary: Where Kids Paint and Play Inspired by Hockney's Art

Saltaire Primary School in Yorkshire is a place where the influence of David Hockney can be seen and felt everywhere. The school has two reception classes, and one of them is named Hockney White, after the famous artist. The children in this class are surrounded by Hockney’s art and ideas every day. The walls are decorated with his paintings, and there are cartoons of him wearing his signature flat cap and holding a paintbrush. When visitors enter the school, they are greeted by a framed photo of Hockney and a quote above a classroom door that reads, 'To me the world is rather beautiful, if you look at it. ' The children in Hockney White class are very proud of their connection to the artist. They often create their own paintings inspired by Hockney, especially pictures of flowers and nature. Their teacher, Claire Willis, talks with them about Hockney’s life and his art. The children know a lot about him, even though they are very young. Finn says, 'He was a famous painter,' while Joni points out, 'He doesn’t just do paintings, he does videos as well. ' The children have favorite pieces of Hockney’s work. Betsy likes 'the big splash ones,' Finn prefers 'the sunflower one,' and Yunus says, 'I like his trees. ' Many of the children have visited Salts Mill, which is close to the school and has a large collection of Hockney’s art. For the children growing up in Saltaire, Hockney’s art is part of their everyday lives. They know their classroom is named after him, and they understand that he was born in Bradford, not far from their school. As they paint and talk, they try to notice small details and use bright colors, just like Hockney did. Betsy explains, 'I was using red and white and pink,' while Joni says, 'I was trying to draw the flowers. ' The headteacher, Chris Evans, says that Hockney’s influence is felt throughout the school and the wider community. He feels lucky to be in Saltaire, a village that Hockney helped make famous. Hockney and his friend Jonathan Silver played a big role in transforming Salts Mill into a cultural destination that attracts visitors from all over the world. Mr. Evans says, 'We named the reception classes after David Hockney because he brought people, art, and history together. That makes our school a creative and vibrant place. ' When teachers talked to the children about Hockney’s death, they wanted to focus on celebrating his life and art, not on being sad. Mr. Evans says, 'We wanted children to reflect on his contribution in a joyful, optimistic way. ' The classrooms are filled with framed reproductions of Hockney’s work, and his paintings of Saltaire landmarks are shown on large screens in the school hall and classrooms. Mr. Evans hopes that Hockney’s legacy will help the children appreciate their village and see the beauty in the world around them. He says, 'We want children to understand how special Saltaire is and to enjoy the little things in life. ' When the children are asked what they like about painting, one child gives a simple answer: 'I like it. ' For David Hockney, who was often called 'the people’s artist,' there may be no better tribute than a classroom full of young children learning to see the world in a joyful and creative way, just as he did.