St Edmund's
A-Level Art & Photography Trip to Tate Britain
Our A-Level Art and Photography students enjoyed an inspiring visit to Tate Britain, where they explored two remarkable special exhibitions: Lee Miller and Turner vs Constable.
The Lee Miller exhibition offered students a compelling insight into one of the most significant female photographers of the 20th century.
Miller’s life was extraordinary: beginning her career as a high-fashion model in New York, she later moved to Paris, becoming both muse and collaborator to Surrealist artist Man Ray. She eventually established herself as a pioneering photographer, producing striking fashion imagery before becoming one of the few female war correspondents during the Second World War.
Her photographs from liberated concentration camps and war‑torn Europe remain some of the most powerful visual testimonies of the era. Students were able to engage firsthand with the depth, bravery, and innovation that define her legacy.*
* This article may also be of interest? – Lee Miller: In Hitler’s bathtub – BBC Culture
Lee Miller in Hitler’s bathtub, photographed by David Scherman April 30th 1945. © Lee Miller Archives, England.
In contrast, the Turner vs Constable exhibition allowed students to step into the world of two of Britain’s most celebrated landscape painters. Through close study of preparatory sketches, sketchbooks, and studio studies, students compared each artist’s approach to light, atmosphere, and the natural world. Experiencing these working processes up close helped students understand how Turner and Constable both shaped—and in some cases challenged—the traditions of British landscape painting.
Overall, the visit provided a rich contextual learning experience, deepening students’ understanding of artistic practice and the stories behind iconic works.
Students have returned from the trip with a range of exciting new ideas and are already beginning to expand upon these within their personal investigations.
