This year, the Year 2 children at St Joseph’s Lower Primary School have embarked on an exciting journey of discovery, learning all about Gibraltar—its history, its environment, and its people. One of the highlights of this journey was their exploration of local artist Paul Cosquieri’s work. Inspired by his unique style, the children created three large-scale artworks that now proudly hang in the school playground.

The children were first introduced to Paul Cosquieri’s work during a visit to the University of Gibraltar, where they went to see the original lighthouse bulb. During this visit, they encountered Paul’s striking mural, which sparked their curiosity. This led them to ask questions about the artist and his style, ultimately leading to a focused study on his work. As part of Art Week, they put their newfound knowledge into practice, creating their own large-scale pieces using Cosquieri’s techniques and artistic approach.

INSPIRED BY...

The first painting draws directly from Cosquieri’s artistic style and painting techniques. The children created a collage of photographs that capture moments of their active learning throughout the year. The piece reflects the colours and energy of Paul’s University of Gibraltar mural, demonstrating how they absorbed his artistic vision and reinterpreted it in their own way.

THE ROCK

This second artwork is a tribute to Paul Cosquieri’s well-known depictions of the Rock of Gibraltar. The children had immense fun splashing paint onto the canvas, creating their own vibrant and abstract version of the Rock in Cosquieri’s style.

FLORA & FAUNA

For the third piece, the children explored Gibraltar’s local wildlife as part of their project-based learning. They visited Parson’s Lodge and took part in workshops with The Nautilus Project and The Gibraltar Bats Project, capturing photographs of flora and fauna, which they incorporated into this piece. This artwork also takes inspiration from Paul Cosquieri’s work in pop art, bringing a lively and colourful interpretation of Gibraltar’s natural world.

The excitement reached new heights when Paul Cosquieri himself visited the school to see the children’s work. He was amazed by their creativity and artistic expression, praising the young artists for their enthusiasm and talent. He spent time admiring not just the final large-scale pieces but also the preliminary studies each child had completed individually before working on the collaborative artworks.

Kelly McGrail Trico, the school’s Art Coordinator, emphasised the importance of children learning about artists—especially local ones. She believes that studying an artist’s journey, experimenting with their techniques, and then displaying their own interpretations is a valuable experience. “It’s not just about creating art,” she explains, “it’s about understanding the process—from research to experimentation to exhibition. The children take so much pride in seeing their work displayed for others to enjoy.”

Headteacher, Mrs Benzecry, expressed her gratitude to Ms Trico and all the Year 2 teachers and SNLSAs for supporting the project and making it such a success. Most importantly, she highlighted that the children had immense fun throughout the process, proving that art is not just about skill but about creativity, exploration, and joy.

These incredible artworks now stand as a lasting testament to the children’s hard work, their learning, and their love for Gibraltar—celebrating the beauty of our home through the eyes of its youngest artists.