A day out exploring Damien Hirst's sculptures and paintings is certainly not your average school trip, but youngsters from across Norfolk are enjoying the chance to find out more about the controversial artist's work.

Eastern Daily Press: Pupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Here the children are with Lord Cholmondeley and Hirst's Dog with a Bone. Picture: Ian BurtPupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Here the children are with Lord Cholmondeley and Hirst's Dog with a Bone. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

North norfolk's Houghton Hall is currently hosting Damien Hirst's latest art show and as part of the hall's education programme it has been holding free open days for schoolchildren to discover the internationally renowned artist's work.

About 160 children from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School, in Wymondham, were among the first pupils to take a school trip to the exhibition, and teacher Kath Lilley said the pupils were intrigued by Damien Hirst's giant sculptures and colourful spot paintings.

'The children were fascinated by the insides of the bodies and quite overwhelmed by the size of the outdoor sculptures. They all loved the floating balls very much,' she said.

'Year One liked Myth and Legend because they could relate it to stories, Year Two enjoyed naming the body parts in Temple, Year Three enjoyed the spot paintings because they were so colourful, Year Four were fascinated by the fact that in each spot painting no colour was repeated and Year Five also liked all the different colours in the spots.

Eastern Daily Press: Pupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian BurtPupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

'We are planning to base our summer arts week around the works of art which we saw on our visit to Houghton Hall.'

Pupils from Gresham's School also enjoyed looking around the exhibition on Tuesday, April 24, meanwhile on Tuesday this week four more schools - Walsingham Primary School, Langham Village School, Litcham School and Harpley Primary School - visited the show.

From June 5 until July 10 the hall will also be running a Hirst at Houghton programme for secondary schools which is being supported by NEACO (Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach).

Lord Cholmondeley, owner of Houghton, said: 'We are delighted that so many Norfolk schools will be visiting Houghton and the Damien Hirst exhibition.

Eastern Daily Press: Pupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian BurtPupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

'It has been wonderful to see the children's excited response to both the paintings and sculptures and I hope it will be an inspiration to them.'

Secondary schools wanting to find out more about getting involved in the Hirst at Houghton programme should email Fiona Roberts at fionarobertsart@yahoo.co.uk

Under 17s can also see the Damien Hirst at Houghton Hall exhibition for free if they are visiting the show with an adult.

Adult entry to the exhibition costs £18.

Eastern Daily Press: Pupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian BurtPupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Visit www.houghtonhall.com for more details about the exhibition including opening times.

Eastern Daily Press: Pupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian BurtPupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: Pupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian BurtPupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: Pupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian BurtPupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: Pupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian BurtPupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: Pupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian BurtPupils from Browick Road Primary and Nursery School in Wymondham visited Houghton Hall to look at the Damien Hirst exhibition. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)