This lesson invites students to explore the story of Eva Paddock through art. They will analyze a collage by her daughter Alison Paddock and create their own artworks inspired by her life and history.

Step 1: Introduce the artwork
Show students the image below by displaying it on the screen. Ask them to take notes on the following questions:

  • What elements do they notice in the artwork that connect it to the story of Eva Paddock that they have learned?

  • Who might have created this artwork, and when?

  • What technique was used, and why do they think it was chosen?

Invite volunteers to share their observations with the class. Encourage discussion and note the different perspectives students may have.

Step 2: Provide context about the artist and the work
Explain that the artwork was created by Eva Paddock’s daughter and is titled Torn Lifes. The artist is Alison (Ali) Paddock, daughter of Eva Paddock. She was born to James Paddock and Eva Paddock on March 22, 1962, in Preston, Lancashire, England, and passed away on February 2, 2023.

Alison created art using different techniques, and in the case of this artwork, she used old newspapers brought to her by others. By chance, one of the newspaper clippings immediately caught her attention because it had the word “Czechoslovensko” (Czechoslovakia, the country which her mother Eva left to the UK as part of the Kindertransport). While working on the collage, she realized that within the word Czechoslovensko, the word “love” also appears. She decided to emphasize this part in her artwork, creating connections between personal history, loss and emotion.

Step 3: Connect to Eva Paddock’s story
Remind students of what they have learned about Eva Paddock’s life. Then, ask them to create their own collages inspired by her story. Encourage them to think about personal or historical connections, symbols, and hidden meanings.

Step 4: Exhibition and sharing
Display the students’ collages around the classroom. Invite some of the students to explain their work and share the ideas or stories behind their creations. Emphasize reflection on how history, memory, and personal experience can inspire artistic expression.