THE head of English at Newstead Wood School, Avebury Road has wowed students with the opening of her first exhibition at Riply Arts Centre in Sundridge Park.

Sezgin Kemal from Bromley collaborated with thephotographic chairman of Beckenham Civic Society David Wood to open the exhibition On Choosing Excellence.

Displayed are 21 photographs of the collages taken by David of Sezgins. The section was chosen from a total of 120 which Sezgin has been working on over the past six years. The contemporary media collages of newspaper and magazine cuttings attempt to capture a stream of consciousness looking at reality.

Sezgin said: "Naturally the brain is selective in the way it interprets words and images. The concept behind the collection is to show different ways of thinking - an exploration of individual identities and opening the mind."

Mrs Kemal finds art helps her in the classroom. She said: "I try to encourage every student to find their own voice and express themselves. I often do collage workshops with the girls to help them understand themes in books."

She added: "Similarly English language influences my creative side because it is my curiosity about words, language and images which inspires my art."

Sezgin believes everyone should make time for creativity and she makes an effort to balance her time at the Arts Centre with working at the school.

Sezgin has high hopes of taking her exhibition to central London.