Rugby School student Sofiia breathes new life into archival photographs

Rugby School student Sofiia has brought a new perspective to the School’s history by colourising a selection of archival photographs from a 1902 album, as part of the Schools of Empire: Class and Colonialism, c.1750–c.1945 project.

Drawing on skills developed during her work on the UkraineInColour initiative, Sofiia approached the project as both an artist and historian, painstakingly restoring and colourising century old images to help modern audiences connect more deeply with the past. “I’ve always been fascinated by how photographs shape our understanding of history,” she explains. “For me, it’s a kind of magic to bring these artefacts back to life.”

Using Adobe Photoshop, Sofiia selects colour palettes that are both historically informed and artistically sensitive. The work often begins with careful restoration, removing blemishes, rebuilding missing areas, and correcting exposure, before she applies layers of colour matched to the image’s light and shadow. Where possible, she supports her artistic decisions with research, delving into sources such as the historical colours of CCF uniforms or the reflective qualities of antique materials like terracotta.

Particularly rewarding was her work on images of the old Art Museum at Rugby (now the Temple Reading Room). “I loved working on classical sculptures, paintings, and long lost spaces such as the School Bath. It made me reflect on how these spaces, although changed or gone, still resonate with life and meaning.”

The most challenging aspect? Faces. “Group photos took hours of subtle work. It is difficult to enhance facial detail without making them look unnatural, and sometimes that detail is lost in deep shadow,” she says.

One photograph of a science classroom stands out in Sofiia’s memory. “The abundance of vintage apparatus and the chaotic energy of the space made me feel connected to the School’s academic legacy. There’s a special joy I feel in classrooms, and seeing that spirit in old photographs made the project feel very personal.”

By transforming black and white images into full colour, Sofiia believes the photographs become more accessible. “Monochrome can feel cold or distant. Colourisation brings warmth, presence and intimacy. It reminds us that history is not abstract. It is made of individual lives and moments.”

Sofiia’s work forms part of Schools of Empire, an award winning five year research project that explores the role of education in the British Empire through the lenses of class, colonialism, gender and race. The project is led by Dr Tim Guard (Head of Humanities), Dr Thomas Smith (History Department), and Rugby School Archivist Manager Jennifer Hunt RMARA, and is overseen by an independent academic advisory board.

Supported by the passion and encouragement of Dr Guard and Dr Smith, whom Sofiia warmly credits for their mentorship, this project is a vivid example of how student creativity, scholarship and technology can combine to bring the past powerfully into the present.

Find out more about Sofiia’s project and the Schools of Empire project in her latest blog post: Colourisation — Schools of Empire