Creative pupils in Hellesdon have been inspired by an original work of art brought to their school ahead of their very own exhibition.

Artist Tessa Newcomb's colourful painting He Gave Her Flowers was the subject of workshops at Heather Avenue Infant School today.

Brought to the school by Roxanne Matthews, from the LivingNorwich project, the painting of a man looking down a garden path captured the imagination of the young artists who are soon to display their own work for the public to see during Norfolk and Norwich Open Studios.

Ms Matthews, who spent yesterday morning talking to the youngsters about the work which was on loan from Norwich's Art 18/21 Gallery , said she was impressed by the enthusiasm of the children and she was really interested to hear their views about the painting.

She said: 'We talked about perspective and about the story in the painting and who the man was.

'The flowers are much larger in scale than the man so we talked about how artists could use artistic licence to tell a story. It was all about building up the children's skills of looking at and creating images.'

She said afterwards some of the children created their own pictures, experimenting with perspective and thinking about what happened next in the story of the picture.

Stacey Coleman, deputy headteacher of the school, said: 'The children enjoyed looking at and discussing the gallery piece and were fully engaged in the drawing activity which followed.

'These skills will be developed in preparation for our involvement in Norfolk and Norwich Open Studios when the school will showcase its work to the public on Friday, June 1.'

Norfolk and Norwich Open Studios, which is managed by the Norfolk and Norwich Festival in partnership with Norfolk's artists, will see more than 400 artists across the country open their studios to the public from May 26 until June 10. Pupils from 19 Norfolk schools are also exhibiting work.

• Heather Avenue Infant School is holding a open day for the public to see the children's art work on Friday, June 1 from 9.30am until 11.30am and from 1.30pm until 2.30pm.

• Schools interested in taking part in the LivingNorwich project should email hello@livingnorwich.co.uk or visit http://livingnorwich.co.uk/

• For more about Norfolk and Norwich Open Studios visit www.nnfestival.org.uk/openstudios.

• Are you involved in a new art project in Norwich? Call reporter Emma Knights on 01603 772428 or email emma.knights@archant.co.uk