Higher School Certificate 2020: two Oxley High School art students selected for ARTEXPRESS exhibition

Elly Chapple and Charlotte Baker shut their books on their time at Oxley High School this year, and the school leavers have both had their Higher School Certificate (HSC) artworks chosen for the annual ArtExpress exhibition.

Principal Simon Bartlett-Taylor said the school was "over the moon" with the results.

"I was ecstatic for them ... to have two student chosen for the exhibition is something that in 25 years of teaching, I have never been at a school where that has occurred," he told the Leader.

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Elly put together a collection of photos documenting and "paying tribute" to her dad for her HSC major work.

"I was really shocked and excited when I found out, I didn't ever think it would come to this," Elly said.

"When I told my dad he said 'I'm going to be famous now!'" she laughed.

Elly's work will be on display at NERAM in Armidale.

"I should be able to go and see it up there which is exciting and if they have an opening night or anything, I can go," she said.

Charlotte Baker also submitted a collection of photography works with multimedia elements, which has been selected to go on display in the Hazlehurst Art Centre in Sydney.

"My head is still in the clouds a little bit, it's so surreal and very exciting," she said.

Charlotte's work explored mental illness, an issue she said was personal and close to her heart.

"I'm hoping this brings awareness to situation that everyone in their life deals with a mental illness in one way or another, and you don't often see it for what it is," she said.

"It will be good to get people to talk about it and start conversations."

While Elly is still mapping out what her future might look like after her gap year, Charlotte was thrilled to get into the National Art School in Sydney, to start a Bachelor of Fine Arts next year.

Amid a tough year, both students gave a huge thank you to their art teacher, Leisel McIlrick, for her support.