Internationally acclaimed artist Nils Burwitz recently visited St Mary’s School in Menston as part of Leeds City Council’s “Celebrate Mandela Week.”

St Mary’s has close ties with South Africa through the school’s Bambisanani Partnership which links St Mary’s and Mnyakanya High School in KwaZulua Natal.

Nils spent the morning in the art department working with students. He described his time in South Africa under the apartheid regime and how he had used his art as a protest to show the absurdity and evil of the system that segregated and discriminated against people of different coloured skin.

Head of art Donna Quirke said: “Nils calls his work Resistance Art and gave a fascinating and inspirational account of his time in South Africa. He spoke about his famous artwork for Nelson Mandela and his time spent with him.

“He then worked alongside the students who produced their own work on the theme of Words Are My Weapon.

“Nils praised the work of students and the school’s commitment to an equitable partnership with a South African school.

“He was particularly taken by some artwork produced by Year 10 student Nathan Teague, entitled “Until everyone is equal no one is free.”

Nils also spent time with sixth form artist Jade Rigby-Williams, who had produced a portfolio of work based on her experience of volunteering in South Africa.