YOUNGSTERS at a Durham school have been introduced to the techniques of Oriental art by a Chinese artist.

Chiu Chun-Chao, who is from Taiwan but now lives in Newcastle and teaches at Newcastle University's Lifelong Learning Centre, has been working this week with the 73 pupils at Hamsteels Primary School, Esh Winning.

He said: "My work is very deeply influenced by Chinese thought, particularly by Zen and Taoist philosophy.

"Art, for me, is a way to condense my heart and clarify my mind in the hope that I can realise, cultivate and communicate my true nature to the world."

The artist, who visited the school through the China Link Arts Programme, showed four to seven-year-olds the techniques of Chinese opera painting, the facial make-up used in traditional Chinese drama to denote characters such as villains and heroes.

Youngsters aged seven to nine were introduced to Chinese lantern making and pupils aged nine to 11 were taught about Chinese landscape painting.

The artist also held a workshop for the school's teachers and there was an exhibition and community workshop last night.

Headteacher Jane Smith said: "The children have loved it. As well as the artwork, they have also learned a bit of Chinese language into the bargain."