City youngsters got the chance to showcase their artistic skills as a group of schools joined forces to host their own exhibition.

Norfolk-based artist Jessica Perry tonight (Monday) opened the Cluster Art Exhibition at Helleson High School in Middletons Lane.

The event, which runs until Thursday, features work from each year group at the nine schools which make up the Hellesdon, Horsford, Horsham St Faiths Schools Cluster.

Work on display includes an oversized packet of Smarties made from papier mache, a cake stand filled with treats made from textiles, a sculpture made from bicycle parts and a series of drawings of faces.

Becky Moncur, 13, a pupil at Hellesdon High School and chair of the Cluster Schools Council, said: 'We thought it was a good way to bring the schools together and for everyone to share ideas and get involved in a project where they can support one another and have fun at the same time.'

The exhibition features more than 100 pieces of work, three submissions from each year group at each school.

Simon Fisher, head of Firside Junior School, one of the nine cluster schools, said: 'The cluster has worked for a number of years very closely together. This project has brought the schools even closer together.

'It's brought the children from all ages together and it's been their work, their ideas were just supported by the grown ups.'

Ms Perry, who uses a mixture of paper, textiles, buttons and recycled materials in her own work, added: 'I think anything which gets young people using their hands and expressing themselves through what they can make is very positive.

'It's great to see mixed media, not just drawings and paintings - the pupils have experimented with wire and other materials which I love.'

The nine schools in the cluster are Kinsale Infant, Kinsale Junior, Heather Avenue, Arden Grove, Horsford Infant, Horsford Junior, Firside Junior, St Faiths Primary and Hellesdon High.

A piece of Ms Perry's work is currently featured in the Elements: Material Worlds exhibition at the Forum in Norwich which runs until July 28. Artwork by some of Hellesdon High School's sixth formers also features in the Elements Extra part of the exhibition, a selection of work by young artists.

Is your school part of an innovative project? Call reporter Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk