iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

😮😆 oh god the kids would've loved it if we'd spent that long.

Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Today, I took a trip to the beautiful Stogursey Primary School to help the KS1 kids to build a giant Ichthyosaur for the forthcoming parade. There are now pieces of Dinosaur strewn across the KS1 classroom. Imagine the excitement and times it by ten. www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky #UKEd #artworkshop

Photos of pieces of a large-scale Dinosaur model created by the KS1 kids from Stogursey Primary School. The pictures show the jaws, flippers, and tail of an Ichthyosaur, there was also an enormous body!

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Thanks Annie, brings a smile doesn't it, there's a lot of heart in this. 😁

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Thanks! 3 days, 300 kids, and believe it or not, one me 😁

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Says a lot doesn't it. The 300 that made it were smiling too, and me. 😁

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Thank you, unsurprisingly, I do too 😁👍

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I agree Gill, I've been smiling about these character's expressions for days 😆

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I think I've probably made about 8 over the years, different poses, and with different ages etc, but I reckon if you pushed me I could make one while blindfolded. 😂

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

For those trying to guess, we've got . . . a 'wild thing', the Tiger who came to Tea, The Snowman, a Gruffalo, Paddington, the Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Cat in the Hat, The Witch from 'Room on the Broom', Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Where's Wally, Willy Wonka, and Peter Pan. 😁

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I've spent three days at Sherborne Abbey Primary helping the children to create a large display for their library. We made a book with famous characters leaping out of it. 😁😮 About 300 kids have taken part, from Yr 1 to Yr 6. How cute is this! 😁 www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky #UKEd #artworkshop

The artwork made by the children from Sherborne Abbey Primary. A large model of an open book with famous book characters leaping out of the pages.

A close-up of a 'wild thing' from 'Where the wild things are'.

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

It was excellent, for about an hour, I was 7 again. 😁

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

So amazing to see these up close, plus there's loads of Ray's sketches and beautiful design work, they've even got the tools from his workstation. It's a really nice exhibition, especially so if you're a nerd/superfan like me. 😆

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Well I've had a lovely morning catching up with some old friends. 😮 Those who know me well will understand just how exciting this was! Thanks to The Arc in Winchester for sharing with us the artwork of legendary film-maker & animator Ray Harryhausen. #RayHarryhausen #Animation #Jasonandtheargonauts

Talos model from 'Jason and the Argonauts'

Minotaur model from 'Sinbad and the eye of the tiger'

One of the skeleton warriors from the film 'Jason & the Argonauts'

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I remember reading a big article online about this when I first saw it, and they were having to constantly temper things by saying that the fossil's placement may be coincidental . . . erm, yeah right. 🙄😆

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

You and all your friends did a great job. 👍

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The kids remind me very much of where I grew up (West Brom) If you are honest and build a relationship with them, they are loyal and will let you in. It takes a hell if a lot of energy and awareness, but worth it. 🙂👍

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

It’s a lovely place. The staff are excellent and the kids were really positive and enthusiastic. 😁

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Ah thanks, the children have worked really hard and been so positive about the project. 🙂

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Well, it’s been a busy few days up at Bridge Learning Campus in Bristol. The kids from Year 4/5/6 have created three large 3D posters promoting teamwork and cooperation. 🙂👍 www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky #UKEd

One of three large-scale pieces created by the Yr 4/5/6 kids from Bridge Learning Campus in Bristol. This is ‘Respect’.

One of three large-scale pieces created by the Yr 4/5/6 kids from Bridge Learning Campus in Bristol. This is ‘Support’.

One of three large-scale pieces created by the Yr 4/5/6 kids from Bridge Learning Campus in Bristol. This is ‘Inclusion’.

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

This looks far too chic for me 😆

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Yeah, my favourite thing to draw has always been figures. I do love other stuff, but stuck on a desert island I’d just do this. 😁👍

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Hotel living this week has its benefits. 🙂 At home I always find ‘other things to do’ but this week I’ve made time for some sketching based on my holiday photos. www.darrellwakelam.com

A sketch based on a Roman statue from the Naples Archaeological Museum.

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

😁 now that’s a little beyond my skill set 😆

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Excellent! I get this. I've still got a small box up in my loft containing the fossils I collected as an 8/9 year-old at Wren's Nest Hill in Dudley, close to where I grew up. I live in Lyme Regis now, the passion never stopped and it eventually led me here. 🙂👍

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

😆 excellent. They need good names

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

So, today was the first face-to-face project of my 36th academic year of art workshops 😁 I've been helping the KS2 kids at North Cadbury Primary to create this piece inspired by their 'Evacuees' project. www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky #UKEd #sculpture #artworkshop #artistinresidence

Artwork created today with the KS2 children from North Cadbury Primary School in Somerset. Inspired by their current 'evacuees' project the children worked as a team to build this scene, showing two young children on a railway platform. The young boy gets up from sitting on his suitcase and bends to pick up a note or letter, his older sister walks the other way reaching for his hand and holding her doll tightly in the other. Below them, the railway tracks look like repeated army gravestones.

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Fantastic, you'll have to let me know what you think. I'm just glad you weren't sent the cheese by mistake. 😁👍

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I stand corrected, looks like there are a few. 👀

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I’m not even sure there’d be a book, I don’t think there’s a great deal known about some of the artists this far back, I might be wrong though.

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

'Widely considered' to be his final painting before he died. 😮

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Yep, Henry VIII was still on the throne there then. 😮

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I'm adding my close-up here, tried to post the full length original but once again it's being 'censored'. You can obviously search it elsewhere. 🙄

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

It's a close-up. I took it because I loved the hair details. It's 'Lucretia, by Parmigianino . . . in the complete painting she's taking her own life. 😮

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Naples 2026. For me, if you want to understand the soul of a place, you can do little wrong in immersing yourself in its artwork. "Addio Napoli, hai conservato un pezzetto del mio cuore."

A collection of photos of the art I saw on my trip to Naples last week.

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I’d recommend it. It’s a very full-on place and even though my hotel was lovely it was right in the heart of the city, so not for the faint-hearted! I wanted to be close to things, but that also brings you closer to noise and ‘life’. 👍🙂

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I’ve really enjoyed it, and got to do almost everything I’d earmarked. 😁

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Exactly, there’s a few things at the museum that were being ‘restored’ too, so weren’t on display, so that’s another good reason to return one day. 😁

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Darrell Wakelam @darrellwakelam.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Thanks mate! I’m not a ‘sit and relax’ person, as I’m sure you’ve guessed, so I packed what I could into these 5 days! 😎

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