City & Guilds of London Art School

Degree Show

21 - 26 June 2011



Unique among London art schools, City & Guilds (C & G) offers progressive ideas shared with a strong foundation in drawing and an understanding of the history of painting in a contemporary context. Students enjoy an exceptionally high student-to-tutor ratio and are given a thorough basis in craft skills. This special approach culminates at this summer’s BA Degree Show in June. From the Fine Art BA, 13 painters and 2 sculptors will be exhibiting alongside 8 Conservators and 16 Historic Carvers.



Fine Art Students are trained by practising artists including Robin Mason, Jasper Joffe and Reece Jones with regular access to visiting practitioners like Matthew Collings, Andrew Grassie and Emma Biggs. Priding itself on an ability to produce a new generation of contemporary artists, the department focuses on teaching a firm background in the theory, history and techniques of painting and drawing. The art school offers one of the only painting BAs in the country.



On graduating from the school all students are well established in transferable skills and the knowledge of how to make it in the art world. Professional practice is taught to all students by leading practitioners in the field. Having organised end of year shows in their first and second year, the degree show is a celebration of works by the next generation of successful artists. Graduates will be looking to follow in the successes of recent alumni such as Barnaby Hosking, Alastair Mackie and Oliver Clegg.



The drawing studio is at the heart of the school whether the students study painting, sculpture, carving or indeed, conservation. For Historic Carvers, this forms an important foundation while they are taught the highest standard of technical proficiency in carving (in wood and stone) and modelling. Their abilities are tested throughout their two/three years training by working on high profile projects and commissions. Recent affiliations include the on-going replacement of grotesques for Windsor’s St. George’s Chapel and a commission to carve an intricate installation of wooden benches for St. Pancras’ Churchyard in the City of London.



Graduates from the highly sought 3 year BA Conservation course will be showcasing their work on objects in stone and wood, gilded, lacquered and other decorative surfaces. The school’s long connections with some of the country’s leading heritage organisations and private collections allow students to develop strong vocational skills by working on objects of real distinction. Collaborations with the V&A; British Museum; Tate; the Royal Collection and other leading institutions equip graduates with the skills and scientific knowledge to enable them to work in a demanding and ever-changing environment.



City and Guilds was founded in 1879 and remains one of the only independent art schools in the country. Surviving entirely without public subsidy, the school is able to remain small and specialised. In total there are 205 students across the Fine Art, Historic Carving and Conservation departments and over 70 part-time tutors. There are in excess of 40 subsidised bursary places to ensure a high calibre of students from all backgrounds, and a consistently high and rising level of applications.



Recently ranked by Modern Painters as the 3rd best graduate arts programme in the UK, City & Guilds is in its ascendancy. The Degree show will be exhibited in the school's historic buildings in Kennington and much of the work will be on sale.