On Friday 20th June, the Art School community came together to celebrate our BA Fine Art, Carving and Conservation graduates at their end of year Ceremony and Prize-Giving.
The Chair of the Board of Trustees, Jamie Bill, opened the event and introduced the Art School Principal Dr. Lois Rowe, who congratulated our graduating students and welcomed our guests.
Jamie Bill, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Dr Lois Rowe, Art School Principal
This year, we were delighted to award an Honorary Art School Fellowship to former Head of Foundation, Keith Price, in recognition of his significant contributions to the Art School and the Foundation Department. For more than four decades, Keith has been a cornerstone of City & Guilds of London Art School, and the Art School community bid him a warm farewell when he retired earlier this year. Please read more about Keith’s impact on the Art School here.
Keith Price, former Head of Foundation and Honorary Art School Fellow
Dr Rowe welcomed Dr Marita Fraser, our new Head of BA (Hons) Fine Art, to address the graduating students. Marita congratulated the students and thanked the staff for supporting them in bringing together a ‘world-class’ degree show, with particular thanks to Andy Bannister, our Interim Head of BA Fine Art. Commending the work in the show, Marita noted the diversity of confident, creative positions and voices, and impressive material and making skills, and shared her anticipation to joining the Fine Art department and working with our students and staff.
Dr Marita Fraser, incoming Head of Fine Art (July 2025)
The Heads of Department, Tom Young (Head of Carving), Dr Marina Sokhan (Head of Conservation) and Andy Bannister (Acting Course Leader – Fine Art) presented the certificates and prizes to the graduating students, and each thanked their teams for their hard work. Please see a full list of the prizes at the end of the article.
Tom Young, Head of Carving, presenting certificates to our Carving graduates
Dr Marina Sokhan, Head of Conservation, presenting certificates to our Conservation graduates
Andy Bannister, Interim Head of Fine Art, presenting certificates to our Fine Art graduates
The Ceremony ended with addresses from graduands from each course on behalf of their classmates. Each speaker thanked their fellow students, the staff and the team at Art School. This year’s graduands addresses were delivered by Neville Richter, BA (Hons) Carving: Woodcarving and Gilding, Julian Sonta, BA (Hons) Conservation: Stone, Wood and Decorative Surfaces, Alice Lane and Georgia McKenzie, BA (Hons) Fine Art.
Neville Richter, BA (Hons) Carving: Woodcarving and Gilding
Julian Sonta, BA (Hons) Conservation: Stone, Wood and Decorative Surfaces
Alice Lane (L) and Georgia McKenzie (R), BA (Hons) Fine Art
We wish our graduating students the very best of luck and we look forward to hearing about their future projects and endeavours.
2025 GRADUATE PRIZES AND AWARDS
ART SCHOOL PRIZES
City & Guilds of London Art School Board of Trustees Prize – Nicole Morrigan, BA (Hons) Fine Art
PRINTMAKING PRIZES
CGLAS Printmaking Prize for Technical Excellence – Antonia Hockings, BA (Hons) Fine Art
CONSERVATION PRIZES
City & Guilds of London Art School Research Project Prize: Books & Paper – Katherine Kemp, BA (Hons) Conservation: Books and Paper
City & Guilds of London Art School Research Project Prize: Stone, Wood & Decorative Surfaces – Thomas Yeung, BA (Hons) Conservation: Stone, Wood and Decorative Surfaces
CGLAS Ballardie Practical Conservation Project Prize: Stone, Wood & Decorative Surfaces – Thomas Yeung, BA (Hons) Conservation: Stone, Wood and Decorative Surfaces
City & Guilds of London Art School Practical Conservation Project Prize: Books and Paper – Katherine Kemp, BA (Hons) Conservation: Books and Paper
Venice in Peril Residency – Adrian Gono and Julieta Herrera, BA (Hons) Conservation: Stone, Wood and Decorative Surfaces
CARVING PRIZES
The Brian Till Art Histories Thesis Prize Carving – Madi Day-Levy, Graduate Diploma Arts: Carving, Woodcarving and Gilding
De Laszlo Stone Carving Prize for Outstanding Work – Natalie Gee, BA (Hons) Carving: Architectural Stone
De Laszlo Woodcarving Prize for Outstanding Work – Christiane Barbknecht, Graduate Diploma Arts: Carving, Woodcarving and Gilding
The Joiners & Ceilers’ Prize – Neville Richter, BA (Hons) Carving: Woodcarving and Gilding
The Neil Shannon Memorial Award – Levi Sher, BA (Hons) Carving: Architectural Stone
The Masons’ Company for Outstanding Work by a Graduating Student – Max Rickard, BA (Hons) Carving: Architectural Stone
The Masons’ Company Prize for Studentship and Commitment – Kevin McCarthy, BA (Hons) Carving: Architectural Stone
Lettering Arts Trust Prize – Natalie Gee, BA (Hons) Carving: Architectural Stone
FINE ART PRIZES
The Brian Till Art Histories Thesis Prize Fine Art – Esengo Miere, BA (Hons) Fine Art
The Chadwyck-Healey Prize for Painting – Georgia McKenzie, BA (Hons) Fine Art
Anthony Caro Sculpture Prize – Tallulah Le Bon, BA (Hons) Fine Art
The Baton Fine Art Prize – William Reinsch, BA (Hons) Fine Art