Art students from Shrewsbury College will exhibit their work next month at popular National Trust tourist attraction, Powis Castle.

Bill Sample and Rebecca Collins, who are studying the part-time Foundation Degree in Contemporary Art Practice at the College have been working on the project since the start of the year. They were tasked with creating engaging pieces of work inspired by the historic location and building.

The medieval castle, which stands high above the world famous gardens in Powys, offers a spectacular subject for creative art - along with its superb collection of treasures from India displayed in the Clive Museum.

It is an exhibition of personal responses to Powis Castle and both students have created very different pieces of work.

Bill Sample, 61, from Shrewsbury, said: “My work has been inspired by the Indian Artefacts in the Clive Museum and by the history and legacy of British Rule in India.

“The work is an installation in the form of a version of the famous ‘Tipu’s Tent’ – one of the main attractions of the Clive Museum. My version also has walls made of chintz cotton, but the fabric has been made to my own design and produced on a digital fabric printer.

“Inside the tent a video of a performance by a British Asian dance group is projected onto layers of gauze and sari fabric. The dancers perform to a popular Bollywood song – an example of the blending of Western and Asian cultures.”

Rebecca Collins, 42, also from Shrewsbury, has taken inspiration from the artefacts inside the castle, and in particular the Roman cat statue.

She said: “My intention with the Powis Castle project has been to focus my interest on objects that belong to the castle and consider how the people who come into contact with these objects relate to and perceive them.

“I have created three videos for the exhibition and two series of drawings to accompany the videos, giving particular focus to the Roman cat, derived from conversations I have had with staff and visitors to the castle.”

The castle, which often stages art exhibitions has worked closely with the art department at the College previously. Matthew Wood, Art lecturer at Shrewsbury College spent time there last year as the artist in residence.

The exhibition will run from Sunday, 9 November (with a private view from 2 – 4pm on Saturday, 8 November), until Friday, 28 November. (Normal Powis Castle admission fees apply).

For more information about Art courses at Shrewsbury College please call Course Advice on 01743 342411 or visit www.shrewsbury.ac.uk