About the Program

On Thursday 6 November 2025, Carey’s Year 9 Art students participated in the Artist in Residence program, which allowed students to experience the artmaking process under the direction of a practising artist. The School was pleased to invite printmaker Nichola Prested. This initiative encouraged students to explore creatively the design and spirit of the new Middle School building, both internally and externally. Working alongside Prested, students were tasked with creating artworks that focused on the architectural features of the building.

Students engaged in an experiential learning process that combined technical skill with artistic expression. Through careful observational drawing, they examined defining architectural elements such as shape, pattern, and line, while reflecting on how these features contributed to the character of the building. They were introduced to the printmaking techniques of monoprinting and silkscreening, and each student developed an individual monoprint panel. Selected works were then combined into a larger collaborative piece. The residency emphasised collaboration, with students encouraged to share ideas, experiment with materials, and interpret architectural forms in innovative ways.

The program culminated in the creation of a series of collaborative artworks for display within the Middle School building. These works not only demonstrated the students’ artistic development but also reflected their connection to the architectural environment in which they learned. The Artist in Residence program continued to enrich Carey’s art curriculum by fostering creativity, collaboration, and an appreciation of design.

The School extended its thanks to Nichola Prested for her contribution to the program, for guiding students through the creative process, and for sharing her expertise in printmaking. Her considered resolution of the final artwork, including her own artistic contributions and the integration of textile elements, brought cohesion and clarity to the collective piece. The finished work stands as a layered visual response that will be displayed within the Middle School, reflecting student creativity, collaboration, and engagement with their surroundings.

About the Artist

Nichola Prested is a contemporary printmaker whose practice encompasses relief, screen and experimental print processes. She has worked across both studio-based production and collaborative, community-focused print projects, often combining traditional hand-printing techniques with contemporary approaches to image-making.

Her work is typically process-led, exploring texture, layering and materiality, and reflects a strong interest in print as both a fine art and participatory medium. Alongside her studio practice, she has contributed to printmaking workshops and shared-access print environments, supporting engagement with print processes across different audiences.

Prested’s work is held in private and institutional contexts, and she continues to produce limited edition prints and experimental works within an ongoing studio practice.