We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Keith Price, who was a much loved member of the City & Guilds of London Art School community for more than four decades.
Keith first joined the Art School in 1978 as a life-drawing evening class tutor, while he was still a student at the Royal Academy. He went on to become an important part of the teaching team, working as a sessional tutor from 1979 to 1997 and teaching students across the Diploma, Foundation and other courses, with a particular focus on drawing.
In 1998, Keith became Head of Foundation, a position in which he played a significant role in shaping the department over many years. When the opportunity came to move the Foundation Department to the adjacent Kennings Way site, Keith saw the potential to create a dedicated space for Foundation students. He oversaw the development and design of the new studios, which opened in 2012 and provided the department with a much larger space in which to teach and work.
For Keith, the new studios were more than simply a larger space. He wanted to create an environment where students could develop their ideas alongside strong practical and technical skills, with drawing and making at the heart of their education. Emma Simpson, former Foundation Technician, worked closely with Keith during this period said:
“Within this wonderful new space, I worked closely with Keith to create an environment that reflected a shared belief in a programme where academic study is supported by strong, skills-based knowledge, with making and creating at its heart. His dedication to the staff and students is immeasurable, and those of us who have worked alongside him consider it a privilege to have done so. I know I speak for all of us when I say he will be missed greatly.”
Keith’s influence was felt well beyond his role as Head of Foundation. Over the years, he taught and supported countless students and became a familiar and much-loved figure at the Art School. His enthusiasm for drawing, making and teaching remained at the centre of his work, and his contribution has had a lasting impact on the Foundation Department and the wider Art School community. Keith also continued to pursue his own creative interests alongside his teaching. He was passionate about drawing and spent his time researching and developing ideas for books on geometry and colour.
After such a long and important association with City & Guilds, Keith leaves behind a lasting legacy. The students he taught, the colleagues he worked alongside and the Foundation Department he helped to develop are all part of that legacy. We send our deepest sympathies to Keith’s family, friends, former colleagues and students at this very sad time.