Tyntesfield National Trust has been brought to life this festive season with a stunning collaborative display that celebrates history, community, and creativity. The ‘Christmas Past’ display includes nine unique Christmas trees designed and crafted by our Level 3 Art and Fashion learners as part of the "Re-imagining Christmas" project. This initiative is a multidisciplinary effort showcasing the talents of artists and communities across North Somerset, supported by the National Trust and Super Culture. 

The ‘Christmas Past’ display at Tyntesfield reflects the estate’s historical richness, blending modern artistic interpretations with the stories of the Gibbs family and the estate’s beautiful gardens. Over 250 participants, many visiting Tyntesfield for the first time, have contributed to this creative display, making it a true community effort. 

Our students embraced the challenge, drawing inspiration from their visit to the estate where they explored the house and gardens, soaking in the intricate details of objects, artifacts, and landscapes. Once they were back in the studio, they worked collaboratively in groups to translate their inspiration into a forest of imaginative trees. Each tree reflects the estate’s natural beauty and Victorian heritage, while also addressing deeper themes of Christmas like celebration and solitude. 

Sustainability also played a key role in the project with the students using reclaimed materials to construct their trees, decorating them with thoughtful details like paper ornaments, embroidery, collages, spray-painted accents, and fake snow. This eco-conscious approach not only highlights the importance of reducing waste during the festive season but also adds a unique handcrafted charm to the display. 

This project was supported by the National Trust and Super Culture, with the students' work being part of a bigger body of artwork created by diverse community groups from Weston, including Alliance Homes, Weston Adults Affected by Addiction, Children of Weston Southward, and Friends of Grove Park. This project was also put in motion and assisted by one of our Art and Design lecturers, Ronnie Houselander-Cook, who assisted the learners with every step of this project and made it all possible.

This year’s Christmas display at Tyntesfield celebrates creativity, sustainability, and collaboration, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in a thoughtfully reimagined holiday experience. The students’ trees represent community and bring history and tradition into a modern, meaningful context. 

Thank you to Tyntesfield National Trust and Super Culture for making this event possible and giving our learners a chance, but also well done to our learners for taking this project in stride and creating a Christmas display to be proud of. 

If you are interested in applying to one of our Art and Fashion courses next September, click here.