Author and illustrator inspires next generation of creators at NCEA Duke's Secondary School in Ashington
NCEA Duke’s Secondary School in Ashington was thrilled to host internationally renowned author and illustrator Kate Pankhurst on Friday 23 October, a special visit coordinated by Deborah Whinney, Librarian with the Schools Library Service (SLS) and Duke’s Secondary School Librarian Cheryl Bonham. As the National Year of Reading Ambassador for Northumberland Libraries, Kate spent an inspiring day exploring creativity and careers in the arts.
Creator of the bestselling Fantastically Great Women series - and a distant relative of legendary suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst - Kate captivated Year 7 students during an interactive assembly with the whole year group. She then hosted an exclusive creative workshop for 20 selected female students, offering them a unique, hands-on look into the world of professional illustration and writing.
The visit offered a powerful look into the creative industries, demonstrating how professional career paths in writing and illustration develop, while highlighting the importance of history and feminism in modern storytelling.
During the energetic Year 7 assembly, Kate shared her journey from studying at the University of Central Lancashire, where she entered a competition which later led to her very first published book - to working from her studio in Leeds, where she has dedicated a decade to creating her acclaimed books.
She candidly discussed the realities of being an author and illustrator, addressing the natural fear of sharing creative work with the public and explaining how constructive feedback helps refine ideas rather than serve as mere criticism.
To bring history to life, student volunteers were selected to dress up as pioneering figures such as artist Frida Kahlo and mountaineer Junko Tabei.
Kate treated students to a preview of her latest book, Letters from Fantastically Great Women, which uniquely brings history to life through pull-out letters from iconic historical figures, including Malala Yousafzai.
Following the assembly, Kate hosted a character design workshop with a group of 20 female students. Drawing on themes from We Are All Inventors, Kate guided the young artists through the professional design process.
The workshop kicked off with thumbnail sketches, teaching students how to plan compositions before diving into detailed drawings. Using her character Lizzy Sparks as a guide, Kate showed how imaginative details - like bubble-powered roller boots with laces that fly in the wind - make characters jump off the page.
After a step-by-step drawing demonstration, Kate challenged the group to invent a sidekick to help find a lost hamster. The students' imaginations ran wild, producing brilliant creations ranging from bear robots to walking fridges and specialised hamster detectors.
Deborah Whinney, Librarian with the Schools Library Service (SLS) said “Having Kate as the Reading Ambassador for Northumberland Libraries is a fantastic way to encourage people (students and adults alike) to talk about reading and books. The creativity and skill that goes into Kate's work is amazing.
"I know that she feels her love of books comes from visiting her public library as a child, with her Dad Eddie. Northumberland Libraries and the Schools Library Service are incredibly grateful to Kate for supporting the National Year of Reading in Northumberland and for the Inspire Grant from the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority that allowed this partnership to happen."