A champion graffiti artist who has produced artwork for Green Day, McFly and YouTube helped students at Witchford Village College to brighten up the school’s walls.

Ely Standard: Witchford Village College held a graffiti workshop with renowned street artist and illustrator Si Mitchell last week. Picture: JOANNA GORDON.Witchford Village College held a graffiti workshop with renowned street artist and illustrator Si Mitchell last week. Picture: JOANNA GORDON. (Image: Archant)

Students were lead through the design and planning process then instructed in spray paint techniques by graffiti artist and professional illustrator Si Mitchell.

The workshop, which was run as part of the college’s SPARK initiative, ended with the spraying of two large external walls at the college.

A college spokesman said: “SPARK aims to identify what makes each student tick, ignite their love of learning and raise their aspirations.

Ely Standard: Witchford Village College held a graffiti workshop with renowned street artist and illustrator Si Mitchell last week. Picture: JOANNA GORDON.Witchford Village College held a graffiti workshop with renowned street artist and illustrator Si Mitchell last week. Picture: JOANNA GORDON. (Image: Archant)

“The workshop also served to enhance the students’ learning environment, as part of the school refurbishment project, and gave students ownership of this area.

“The students involved threw themselves into the project and came up with some great individual ideas.

“They then collaborated with their fellow students to pull the various designs together to form a cohesive plan for their walls.

Ely Standard: Witchford Village College held a graffiti workshop with renowned street artist and illustrator Si Mitchell last week. Picture: JOANNA GORDON.Witchford Village College held a graffiti workshop with renowned street artist and illustrator Si Mitchell last week. Picture: JOANNA GORDON. (Image: Archant)

“They were all very keen to get started on the spray painting, which was far more difficult than they all first thought.

“Once they got over their initial errors and had practiced the techniques Si had shown them, the wall art began to emerge.

“We were extremely lucky to secure Si Mitchell for the workshop. He is a Street Artist and the current UK Illustration Champion.

“He has produced artwork for Green Day, McFly, BBC, YouTube and many more. The students found him to be very inspiring and motivational and were entranced by some of the stories he told them.

“The final walls are awesome and this group of students will now use their knowledge to roll out further workshops to inspire some of our younger students.”