THE historic grounds of Mount Edgcumbe have been turned into an art gallery for an exhibition of large-scale work.

More than 30 students from the Plymouth College of Art specialising in a variety of disciplines, from ceramics and glass, to metalwork and 3D printing, are showing work reflecting their individual experiences of the vast estate.

They are studying on the college’s BA (Hons) programmes in 3D Design Crafts, Glass and Ceramics and Jewellery.

The students were given a project brief by the staff at Mount Edgcumbe, asking them to respond to stories connected to the house and grounds.

Tackling current issues such as the decline in the local bee population, the plastic pollution on the local beaches and homelessness, the art aims to provide a talking point.

Business development manager David Marshall said Mount Edgcumbe was delighted to be working with the second-year students to give them practical experience creating and installing large-scale art works.

He said: ‘The whole journey has been a joy and has allowed our staff to learn more about the sharing of stories and understand something of the creative process.

‘We hope the public will enjoy these temporary and very exciting interventions which will make people pause and think.’

The installation ranges from intricate glass pieces capturing the summer sun, to a life-size ceramic wolf lurking in the fern dell and large swathes of printed fabrics hanging in the relic garden.

Gayle Matthias, BA (Hons) 3D Design Crafts programme leader, said: ‘This is the first time that second year students have collaborated on a project at Mount Edgcumbe.

‘The work is to be a reflection to mirror the students’ experiences of Mount Edgcumbe that they have gleaned through individual and group research, and to share that experience with visitors who will engage with their work in the grounds.’

Design Crafts student Lorna Yabsley has created a direct replica of the day bed owned by the Mount Edgcumbe estate from 120 sheets of cardboard, produced on the laser cutter at Fab Lab Plymouth.

The day bed comes complete with a sleeping bag bolster cushion and aims to highlight the daily issues faced by those living on the street.

She said: ‘The project is a response to my frustration that the divide between rich and poor is so great that we accept this appalling situation that is under our noses everyday, and yet only seems to be getting worse.

‘We have all walked past or turned away when confronted with homelessness on the street and felt helpless to do anything about the situation.’

Lorna hopes her creation for this exhibition will help to initiate conversation and raise awareness of the issue.

The exhibition can be found throughout the formal gardens, house and grounds of Mount Edgcumbe until May 31.