The Women of City and Guilds of London Art School
City & Guilds of London Art School was founded in 1854. This specialized art college, in the middle of England’s capital city, offers a wide range of courses. Currently, it is the only school in Britain that offers undergrad and postgrad degrees in historic carving. Today, we’ll introduce you to a few of their talented ornamental woodcarvers and architectural stone carvers (in order of appearance).
Over the past 3 years, Silje Loa has been studying woodcarving at City & Guilds of London Art School. It’s the only school in Britain that offers undergrad and postgrad degrees in historic carving. This rare skill would be drastically understaffed if it weren’t for the dedicated artists hoping to bolster the traditional craft.
Silje’s journey toward woodcarving has been a pilgrimage of her own making. To outsiders, some of her steps may seem random, but each change in course laid a foundation to her current career. From sailing large wooden ships, to studying prehistoric archaeology, to earning a degree in the conservation of pictorial art, her understanding has deepened and her eye has matured.
In these photos, Silje is working on a commission she won to carve a coat of arms for Princess Anne—the first female Prime Warden of the Fishmongers Company in London. Swipe right to see her work in progress.
Silje’s advice to anyone considering trying their hand at the wooden arts:
“If you want to become a carver, get carving. Looking at carvings at museums and in historical buildings is amazing inspiration and can even give you an understanding of how they were made, but really just find a piece of wood, a chisel and begin.” -Woodcarver Silje Loa
Miriam Johnson began her career as a stonemason five years ago. Through the apprenticeship program with the Prince’s Foundation, she was able to travel across the UK working on historic buildings. To continue her training, Miriam enrolled at Bath College. There she learned masonry skills in the classroom and in the real world in a stone masonry company. That experience made her realize she wanted to specialize within the industry on the more artistic and creative side, carving. Bringing her to City & Guilds. In June, Miriam will graduate with a Historic Carving Diploma in Architectural Stone Carving.
“Creating something so permanent in the world is such a satisfying thing to do, and to have the chance, as I often do, to work on historic buildings is such an honour. Things that I have made with my hands will live on long past me. To be part of a trade that is so old, using methods that have not changed that much in hundreds of years is something that is wonderful. I also feel really lucky to have a job that could take me anywhere in the world, there is so much to explore!
It isn’t all rosy though. I can often work in pretty harsh environments, using an angle grinder all day, having to wear masks, goggles, gloves etc. Often I work outside, I’ve worked in snow, and sleet, and rain. Working in awkward places high up on scaffolding, lifting heavy loads, and working long hours.” -Stone Carver Miriam Johnson
Zeinab is currently studying Historical Woodcarving and Gilding. Her interest in wood followed her study of textile design.
Through her studies, she felt the need for greater sustainability. In an effort to combat consumerism, Zeinab researched mediums that had longer lifespans than textiles. She learned that woodcarvings can last twice as long as you or me. Eventually that led her to City and Guilds, happily in her own hometown.
That doesn’t mean she’s stayed put. Zeinab has traveled all over, using crafts as her universal form of communication. She’s taught weaving and block printing to small villages in Samoa and Indonesia. She’s facilitated art workshops in the Amazon. And she spent a summer in Rome, studying floral symbolism in Augustan art.
That time in Italy inspired the piece she’s working on in these photos. Zeinab carved this beautiful panel of Lime wood in the style of the Ara Pacis, a Roman altar from 13 BC.
Zeinab hopes to raise awareness of woodcarving to support the continuation of the craft. She plans to show her carvings in contemporary spaces in an effort to revive the traditional skill as an art form and an important tool in conservation.
“Learning a traditional skill is a continual learning process. The more mistakes you make the more you will learn!” -Woodcarver Zeinab Harding
For 30 years Sue worked as a graphic designer, creating packaging and branding.
“In my career when I first started, I tried to hide the fact I was dyslexic but I came to realize (and I would suggest it to others) that you should embrace the things that you find most challenging, and work hard and smart to get round your difficulties. Maybe try a different angle on how to learn. The most successful things I’ve done in art is when I confront my Demons the most.” -Stone Carver Sue Aperghis
Despite her struggle with dyslexia, typography has always been one of Sue’s main interests. That led her to Letter Cutting in stone, a skill she’s learned over the last 3 years at City and Guilds. She’ll graduate this June.
What a beautiful story of triumph! Confronting her dyslexia and pursuing her passion for typography led Sue to a whole new career. Now she’s picking up the mantel, continuing the traditional craft of stone carvers, with her own insights and vision.
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