PUPILS have shown bark and bite with colourful art displaying powerful messages.

As part of an art project called Bark, the work of students from Lydney’s Dean Academy will be shown at Beechenhurst in September as part of a temporary open air exhibition

Funded by the Arts Council and Summerfield Trust, Bark tasked pupils to create and produce a large scale piece of art work for the exhibition.

Susan McCarthy, a lead teacher for the project, explained: “The project is called Bark because it gives students a chance to shout out loud about what matters most to them.

"So far, more than 150 students from the area have got involved in the project.

"I’ve been really impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of the students at the Dean Academy, their dedication to the project has been amazing.

"It has been great to see them demonstrating great teamwork skills and supporting each other.”

School art teacher Kate Charles added: “The project has been a wonderful opportunity for our students to work with street artists and they have learnt some new techniques creating spray can art; they have all really enjoyed the process.”

Year 8 student Hollie Bentley was keen to highlight political issues in their war and peace-themed board.

Drugs, bullying and domestic abuse were just some of the other powerful messages that the students wanted to shout about.