Kennington arts and crafts students show their best work as summer courses begin

An art college in historic Georgian buildings will have its students’ best work on show from next week as it begins a summer course in skills such as carving and antique conservation.

The City & Guilds London Art School in Kennington is offering a unique opportunity to visit and admire the work of its graduating Fine Art, Historic Carving and Conservation students.

Visitors to the degree show will have the opportunity to experience works of exceptional quality
within the atmospheric exhibiting environment of Victorian studios and Georgian buildings, linked
with a contemporary entrance foyer, designed by Alan Higgs Architects.
The exhibition will feature the work of BA (Hons) Fine Art students developed out of the traditions
of painting, sculpture, drawing and printmaking.

The final year projects of their BA (Hons)
Conservation Studies students and Historic Carving students will also be exhibited.
The bold nature and high quality contemporary work produced by this years BA (Hons) Fine Art
students continues to position the work of the Art Schools graduates amongst the highlights of the
graduate fine art community. The show celebrates individual dedication to research and the merging of the
traditions of making with new materials, ideas and possibilities, resulting in innovative and engaging
art practices.

Set in Georgian and Victorian buildings, the Degree Show Private View is Tuesday 26th June, 6.30-9.30pm, and the Show is open all week during the day, from 27th June – 1st July. https://www.cityandguildsartschool.ac.uk/about-us/show-dates/

City & Guilds of London Art School has also launched its first summer courses for adults, and is
still open for bookings https://www.cityandguildsartschool.ac.uk/london-art-summer-school-2/
Nine brand new short courses for adults (18+), each lasting between 3 and 5 days, take
place over a two week period in July. There’s a choice of drawing and painting; wood and
stone carving; gilding; relief modelling in clay; conservation of historic objects; and
architectural history. All the courses are suitable for beginners, and some are suitable for
people with experience. Course fees start at £295, and go up to £485.
An insight into a selection of the courses:
Behind the Scenes with the Conservators is for people who’ve always wondered what goes
on in the conservators’ studio. Short course students can bring their own objects for some
Antiques Roadshow style discussion and advice, and visit the V&A accompanied by one of
the museum’s leading furniture conservators. They learn about paintings conservation at
the National Gallery, and along the way try panel painting for themselves in the Art School’s
studios. A visit to National Trust property Knole in Kent provides a behind the scenes look in
the conservation studios there.
The Introduction to Ornamental Woodcarving course is a rare opportunity to learn historic
woodcarving skills in one of the few art schools still teaching traditional craftsmanship. Out
of raw timber and with guidance, short course students create an original architectural
ornament: an acanthus leaf or oak leaf for example. In the process they learn how to work
with the wood grain, and use and sharpen chisels safely and with confidence.
On the Gilding for Wood, Plaster, Wood and Stone course, you’ll create your own stunning
reflective artwork, by learning to apply and then etch in gold leaf on glass. You’ll also learn
the skills involved in oil gilding a plaster cast, a technique you can use on all sorts of
surfaces, including plaster, wood and stone, indoors and out and Verre églomisé (gilding on
glass). With the techniques you learn during this fascinating week, you’ll have all the
essentials you need to start practising gilding at home.
For people who prefer to be out and about in the summer sunshine, The Buildings of Britain:
AD 600 to 2018 is a whirlwind tour of some of the key buildings of Britain from the past
1,500 years with Dr Michael Paraskos (writer, lecturer, and BBC Radio 4’s Front Row

reviewer). One highlight is meeting leading architectural stone carver, Tim Crawley, at
Westminster Abbey, where he is responsible for the design and carving of ten modern,
multicultural martyrs for the West Porch. Tim Crawley talks at the Abbey about this
demanding and ambitious project.
Bookings have come in from enthusiasts aged from 18 to 65. They are attracted by the small
class sizes, excellent teaching, and the opportunity to explore this small specialist London
art school, and the traditional skills of historic carving in stone and wood, conservation and
contemporary fine art.