How did you find your experience at the City & Guilds of London Art School?
I would describe my experience as very positive. Even though my year group was affected by 2 years of Covid lockdowns, it was felt that the school made a committed effort to make sure we would still be able to access teaching and studio facilities. I had spent a year at a larger university before coming to City & Guilds of London Art School, and my experience here, especially in terms of tutor contact time, was much more positive.
What was your work/background before starting your course?
Before I started at the Art School, I was much more experienced in an Illustration/Graphic Design background. I had spent a lot of time working two-dimensionally, both digitally and traditionally, but had rarely made personal, conceptual work.
What aspects of the course did you most enjoy and/or benefit from?
I feel that I benefitted the most from the facilities and how open the access to them was. During my time on the course, I spent a lot of time bouncing between different workshops, figuring out processes concurrently. All of the technicians are extremely knowledgeable, helpful and eager to help you make your project a success. When I started, I didn’t think that at the end of my course, I would know how to weld, cast, and make almost anything out of wood.
How did your practice develop over your time here?
My practice went through a huge evolution toward the end of my second year. While I was initially only interested in painting and drawing, over time I expanded my practice into more sculptural approaches. I became much more interested in architecture, particularly model-making, which has informed both my sculptural and drawing practice. While I’m still figuring out what my practice looks like outside of art school, understanding more about different manufacturing processes has been extremely exciting, and drawing and sculpture continue to blend and inform each other within my practice.
What have you been up to since graduating?
Since graduating, I have continued working on my own practice, doing technician work for multiple galleries, and I have been the Student Trustee for the past year. Each of them offers different challenges and learning experiences, and my time at CGLAS has made me equipped for all of them.
What would be your advice for students about to start at the Art School?
Be open to everything and stay consistent! Your peers, tutors and technicians will all excited and interested by what you do – the more you put in, the more you’ll get out of your experience.
