ABOUT OUR ART TEACHERS

Nicolas Granger-Taylor - Painting Course

Nicolas Granger-Taylor

Nicolas is a traditionalist figurative painter, working mainly in oils. His principal subjects are portraits, nudes, and still lifes. Since completing his postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy Schools in 1990, Nicolas has had a number of solo exhibitions in London, and has exhibited in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the BP Portrait Award, the Discerning Eye, and the New English Art Club. He is the grandson of the artist Edith Granger-Taylor, who was highly regarded for her works in pastel.

Click here to check Nicolas’art work

Joshua Millard - Fashion Design, Illustration and Textile Portfolio Courses

Joshua Millard is a cutting-edge contemporary fashion designer. He graduated from the prestigious UAL, London College of Fashion.

His expertise in both menswear and womenswear is the fruit of his prodigious background working for brands such as Chanel and Jonathan Saunders. He is now the head of his own luxury brand.

Click here to see examples of Joshua’s work in our teachers’ art & design page.

Dimitris Giannakopoulos - Drawing and Painting Course

Dimitris was born in 1987 in Greece. He started his art education during at an early age attending the Faris Art School in Kalamata, Greece. Between 2005- 2007 he studied academic drawing at Kostas Argyris Laboratory of Drawing in Athens, Greece. Between 2007 -2014 studied painting at the prestigious Athens School of Fine Arts. During this period he practiced his skills and knowledge about traditional Byzantine iconography, photography, wood and metal engraving, marble sculpture sculpting, and theatrical scenography. In 2010 he studied at the Facultad de Bellas Artes | University of Granada, Spain. Dimitris has an extensive list of group exhibitions as well as art festivals in Greece. He also created the cover of the Greek calendar for Amnesty International, 2013.

Emily Roberts - Painting Course

Emily Roberts was educated at the University of Bristol and Charles Cecil Studios, Florence, where she went on to teach for several years whilst holding key administrative roles. Her work aims to celebrate the movement and flow of light be it in portraiture, still life, landscape or figurative work. A background in History of Art and a commitment to understanding the methods and materials of the old masters are the defining factors of her practice, while her subject matter takes it’s inspiration from the complexities and contradictions of the modern psyche.

She has exhibited at the Royal Academy and Mall Galleries, and has held residences in Europe and Asia.

Iris Legendre - Painting Course

Iris Legendre graduated in 2012 from Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and also studied at the Sydney College of The Arts, Australia. She awarded the Diamond Drawing Prize in 2012.

She has taken part in solo and group exhibitions in France (Paris, Boulogne, Toulouse), Portugal (Guimaraes, Porto), Australia (Sydney) and the UK (London).

Click here to check Iris Legendre’s art work

Natalia Kuptsova - Painting Course

Natalia Kuptsova is Russian born artist and designer currently based in London, taking her inspiration from a wild nature and science. With diploma in Interior Design and a significant Fine Art background, she has been practising  painting and drawing for over 15 years. She has an experience in Art, Architecture, Interior Design and Illustration as well as a great knowledge in different styles, materials and techniques. Her expertise in techniques and materials covers acrylics, oil, watercolour and pastels.

 Natalia’s art celebrates beauty and diversity of a natural world helping to raise awareness in climate change.
 
She’s now exhibiting her works with London’s leading art societies .
 

Maryam Foroozanfar - Painting Course

Maryon Foroozanfar is an artist with an established background and with an expertise in portrait painting. In particular, she studied in New York where she obtained her BFA from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She now works in London where she has been shortlisted for many prestigious prizes and exhibitions such as The Columbia Threadneedle Prize (2016) and the legendary BP Portrait Award. Moreover, she has regularly exhibited her work at the National Portrait Gallery since 2004. Her continuous presence at this national and international institution is the result of Maryon’s efforts in constantly redefining and pushing the boundaries of contemporary portraiture.

Marilia Stagkouraki - Drawing Course

Born in Greece in 1982, lives and works in London and Athens.

EDUCATION

2012-2013: Chelsea College of Art and Design, MA Fine Arts.

2004-2009: Athens School of Fine Art, BA Painting.

2008-2009: Athens School of Fine Art, Education Diploma in Art.

2007: École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, ESN.

Click here to check Marilia Stagkouraki’s art work

Yinjie Sun - Drawing Course

Yinjie Sun holds a Master’s degree from both Chelsea College of Art and Bachelor’s degrees from both the China Academy of Art and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Yinjie focuses on religions and beliefs in literary contexts with China and Europe and there impact on everyday existence. He uses a vocabulary that is accessible to his global audiences and has references to both Eastern and Western philosophy and social history. In his most recent work, Yinjie has tended to focus on some of the most unexpected objects as models for his work, trying to reflect the problems of the society. Yinjie exhibits extensively both throughout the UK and internationally. His most recent Solo shows include The Museum of East Asian Art, Bath (2012), Museo Ramon Maria Aller Museum, Lalin, Spain (2012). Besides, his work has been selected by the Victoria and Albert Museum for the Chinese New Year Celebration and exhibited in Raphael Gallery (2011). His work has also been exhibited in UK Chinese Artists Biennale in Asia House (2013), Dulwich Picture Gallery(2014), The Mall Gallery(2013), Shanghai Biennale (2012), Barbican Art Center(2012), the Today Art Museum in Beijing (2011), The Sunshine Art Museum in China (2010), Ourense Museum in Spain (2011), Shengyang Industrial Museum in China (2010), Sunshine International Art Museum, Beijing (2010). He has worked and been commissioned by international renown companies such as HSBC, Viktor & Rolf ,Griorgio Armani, Harrods and Selfridges&co. His work has appeared in numerous publications such as BBC China, Eastern Art Report, The State Council News Office of China, People’s Daily Newspaper, China News, Art China, and is represented in public and private collections in Britain and worldwide.

Click here to check Yinjie Sun’s art work

Catherine Francis - Architecture Course

 

Catherine is an award-winning architecture and interior designer tutor. She holds a BA and MA from University College London (UCL) and has won awards in both London and Oslo, including the 1st prize at the National Museum of Art as well as numerous retail project awards for the Nordic Council of Shopping Centres and other commercial entities both in Oslo and London. Catherine also realised innumerable interior designs projects throughout her career, from concept to final completion and therefore understands all aspects of any design brief.

Rod Bastable - Painting and Life Drawing

Rodney Bastable was born in 1953 and spent his formative years in a rural environment, which provided the base for his artistic interests. He attended Great Yarmouth College of Art and Design for his Foundation Studies and the Winchester School of Art where he completed a Dip.AD course. Back at home, he proceeded to study landscape and portraiture. The works of Michelangelo and Turner were an inspiration, along with the writings of Vasari and Ruskin. Working in a range of media, the following six years resulted in many solo shows and a wide range of commissions in both portraiture and landscape.

In 1985 he exhibited at the Royal Academy. In his own words:
‘My studies of light, in the engineering and scientific sense, have given me a unique visual resource to use in my manipulation of pigment and result in a different approach to the surface preparations and effects used in my paintings. I believe these treatments affirm a continuation from the classic works which inspired me.
I believe that acrylic, used in the largest part of my collection, is a purer media than oil, despite the old school views. I am certain that Turner and the Impressionists would also have supported my view. My works from 40 years ago are as fresh as the day I made them. On smaller works I prefer to use soft pastel on Ingres faced card, because of the grainy, particle pixelated effect’.

Click here to check Rod Bastable’s art work

Jon Britten - Drawing Course

Since graduating from Art College in 1992 (with a degree in Illustration) Jon has consistently practised and developed his work in both drawing, painting and printmaking. He recently took regular classes (over a three year period) on the public programme at the Royal Drawing School and remains committed to observational study even though his work is at times, non objective. His latest phase sees a return to his roots in illustration and explores themes of fantasy to produce stand alone works given rise to by a graphic novel Jon is currently working on (as both artist and writer). He is an experienced drawing instructor.

Ve Tippetts - Painting Course

Ve is currently living in London and has completed her Masters in Painting at the Royal College of Art, having previously gained a degree in Fine Art from Goldsmiths University of London. She attended the Charles. H. Cecil Studios in Florence, Italy and it was here that she learnt painting methods and techniques that had been passed down from the Renaissance period, where the subject is painted exclusively from life without any technological aid. She depicts her subjects in broad impressions, incorporating the abstract and representational, engaging with the fleeting sense of light and movement from life’s observation. Using this crucial classical training with a contemporary twist, Ve can create poetic yet accurate representational portraits of her subjects, either from life sittings or an assemblage of photographs. She can also accommodate site-specific commissioned portraiture and can work from sittings arranged at the clients home or chosen location. Ve has twice received the Elizabeth Greenshields award for Excellence in Painting, and currently live and work in London.

Click here to check Ve Tippetts’s art work

Olivia Crane - Drawing Course

Olivia spent two years studying traditional atelier methods at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy before moving to France to work as a painter’s assistant for the Parisian based artist Nick Devereux. After a year in France, Olivia returned to London to pursue her own professional practice.
 

CV: 2012 to 2014, the Florence Academy of Art, Italy. 2012, the London Atelier of Representational Art (LARA). 2008 to 2012, the University of Newcastle Combined BA (Hons) in History of Art and Classical World Culture (2 years Fine Art BA discontinued 2010) Grade 2:1. 2007 to 2008, Chelsea College of Art, London Foundation Diploma.

Click here to check Olivia Crane’s art work

Lucy Crabtree - Drawing Course

Classically trained professional artist Lucy Crabtree’s work performs within a large variety of media.

Having undertaken a foundation year at Wimbledon College of Art, she continues her studies in Technical Arts for film and theatre.

She went on to further her knowledge in Florence studying at the Russian Academy of Art, where she gained a real insight into aesthetics and took inspiration from the great masters.

Working within some of Europe’s great museums and galleries increased her artistic insight. It was there that she found her true perception of the world as an artist and that inspiration stays with her to this day.

Click here to check Lucy Crabtree’s art work

Shishi Du - Fashion Design

Education
2010 – 2012: London College Of Fashion BA FDT
Major: BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear

2007– 2009: Northumbria University

Major: BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear Western history, technique drawing,pattern making and design

2006-2007: Tsinghua University

Major: Art And Design, Business English, Chinese, History, Engrave and IT

Judy Pilarczyk - Drawing Course

Specialising in oil painting and works in pencil, Judy Pilarczyk has received an MA from The Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Poland. Since graduating she has exhibited internationally as part of group displays. As a member of the polish Plein-Air Painting society, she takes part in group exhibitions every year. Judy’s work can be described as narrative realism. The people in her paintings are particular persons that represent themselves. She always looks for unique personalities with interesting faces. Being in London, and working in the fashion department at Central Saint Martins, has had a significant impact on Judy’s art, and has contributed to her style and the concept of the beauty that she endeavours to represent. Judy also specialises in fashion illustration, using colour pencils as her primary medium. Judy currently works and resides in London.

Click here to check Judy’s art work

Liuqing Yang - Visual Communications

Liuqing Yang studied Visual Communications at the Royal College of Art. Her expertise focuses on the moving image and graphic design. Her experience in packaging, web, and VI design for companies and studios gave her an insight on contemporary corporate design. Moreover, she has worked for the International Art Institutes Association as a designer to help students throughout their portfolio preparation. She assists people with the whole process including research, development and interview simulations. The development of her portfolio preparation targets each student’s application for subject such as graphic, branding, spatial, textile and fashion graphic design. Liuqing is an invaluable resource for those that need help to develop their works as well as assistance in displaying their work in a digital format.

Annalisa Saviano Wilkinson - Drawing Course

As a painter born in the beautiful surroundings  of  Lake Como Italy ,she studied Art at “Liceo Artistico G.Terragni”and at  the acclaimed Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan. It was here she learned classical drawing and painting techniques alongside other subjects such as History of Art ,painting restoration, conservation and photography. Her passion for  Art was inherited from her grandfather (a philanthropist & patron). It was his appreciation of her natural ability to portray  the beauty of nature that inspired her journey into the arts. She paints in the traditional style, predominantly oil paint, favouring methods developed by the old masters but still appreciating more modern techniques such as abstract and digital mediums. Annalisa works mostly on commission and has also exhibited in Italy and London. EXHIBITIONS Award: “Brianza’s young Artists Exhibition”, Palazzo Broletto, Como, Italy Group Exhibition. Entered two Oil landscapes, won the young artist prize and a covering article in the local press. – Degree Show at the Academy of Fine Art of Brera, Milan. – Solo exhibition at the “Castello di Pomerio” Como, Italy – Entered London Royal Academy of Art “Summer Exhibition” Submitted an Oil Painting and a drawing. –  Art Gallery/studio “Il Naviglio”, Milan. – Exhibition at the Accademia Italiana in London – Exhibited at the Anglo Italian Academy of Art,. Gagliardi Gallery London.

Robert Obrien - Painting Course

Robert is a well-established artist in the UK and have had work shown in the National Portrait Gallery in London on several occasions. In 2008 he was awarded 3rd prize in the prestigious BP Portrait Award.

Click here to check Robert Obrien’s art work

Chung Desmond - Chinese Calligraphy Course

Born in Hong Kong, Desmond studied Chinese calligraphy and painting from a young age under the late Lingnan master Chiu Sai-Kwong. The Lingnan style of art developed in Guangdong during the early 1900s, a time of revolution in China. As such, works from this period often had Western and Japanese influences. In fact, a lot of the Lingnan masters studied abroad and subsequently brought a fresh outlook to the more traditional form of Chinese art. Desmond came to the UK in 2002. While studying the sciences, he continued practising Chinese calligraphy and painting. Moreover, he started studies in Western drawing and painting, as he believes such skills would bring an additional element to and thus improve his works. Desmond has been participating in annual group exhibitions and is a member of the Hong Kong Art Research Association. In 2013, he demonstrated calligraphy at one of the city law firms as part of their Chinese New Year celebrations. Desmond currently lives and work in London.

Click here to check Chung Desmond’s art work

Shu-wen Kang (Sharon) - Chinese Painting Course

Shu-wen Kang (Sharon) was born in Taiwan and is now living and working in London. She holds a Master degree from University of the Arts London and Bachelor degree from Taipei Municipal University of Education in Taiwan. She was major in Chinese Painting and arts education. Sharon’s interest and talent of Arts has been discovered since she was young. She received high scores in all the art subjects in schools, and she was also the president of the Comic Book Drawing Clubs in both secondary and high school. Sharon has the specific interest in Chinese painting, and had received formal Chinese painting training since she was 14. In 2004, she attended the Taiwan University Art Exam and won the 1st prize in the Chinese Painting subject. In her earlier art works, Sharon has done several traditional/academic style Chinese Paintings of mountains and rivers, flowers, birds and fish. Being a big fan of Post-Modernism, she later on became fascinated with mixing elements in contrast (western and eastern; traditional and modern) in her paintings to create a visually fun impact, and to interact with her audiences.

Click here to check Shu-wen Kang’s art work

Zhang Qian - Chinese Painting (Gongbi) / Calligraphy Course

1999 Graduated from Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art, BA Traditional Chinese Painting.

2009 Graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, MA Fine Art.

Born into a traditional Chinese family, Zhang Qian became interested in Chinese classical literature, painting and calligraphy. She acquired a Bachelor of Chinese traditional painting from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art in 1999 and an MA in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins in 2009.

As a contemporary artist, her work deals with the unknown and the challenges which develop from this. She takes her knowledge and understanding of the world and communicates this through the visual language of painting. She specialises in Chinese ink techniques, especially on rice paper.

She has established herself within the fields of art research and art education. In 2011 she began working at the Arts College of Jinan University where she joined the Studies of Chinese Art Lecturing Team. Her teaching programs are vividly comprehensive as she utilises her knowledge of Chinese culture woven with Western artistic traditions.

Click here to check  Zhang Qian’s art work

Yuet Yean Teo - Chinese Painting Course

Yuet Yean Teo was born in Malaysia. Her interests in painting and drawing has been cultivated since young. Therefore, she chose art as her major in Chong Hwa High School Malaysia when she was 16. After obtaining a diploma major in Western Painting and sub-specializing in Chinese Painting at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore, she further extended her BA in Painting with University of the Arts London Camberwell College of Arts. During her studies in London, she participated in several group exhibitions. She is also the member of Singapore Society of Chinese Artists. She currently lives and works in London. In 2014, Yuet has been commissioned by HSBC. to create some art works for their Chinese new year event, and her works have been displayed in all branches throughout UK. In 2015, 2015 Yuet has been commissioned by Selfridges&Co. to create a few art pieces to be used on their gift cards.

Click here to check Yuet Yean Teo’s art work

Francis Martin - Drawing Course

Francis Martin’s drawings explore the light emulating properties of charcoal and Contè on paper. He works from observation and on location, responding to the emotive influence of atmosphere over his environment. Francis often works at night, for him the nocturnal hours are a time where his fascination with the artificiality of an environment, detached from nature and illuminated by human ingenuity can fully be explored. Francis studied fine art practice and theory at Winchester school of art – University of Southampton, graduating in 2009. He has shown work across the Uk and Europe, participating in exhibitions including; The Royal Society of Portrait Painters, The Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize, The Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Prize, The Cork Street Open Exhibitions and The Royal West of England Academy exhibition. In 2015 Francis participated in an exhibition of Drawings held at Christie’s Auction house, King street and in 2013 the Royal Institute of oil painters granted Francis the Phyllis Roberts award for work by an outstanding young painter.

Click here to check Francis Martin’s art work