CITY & GUILDS OF LONDON ART SCHOOL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Commercial, Digital & Exhibitions at Victoria and Albert
Alex Stitt Alex is Director of Commercial, Digital & Exhibitions at Victoria and Albert Museum, having joined the V&A in April 2014 to lead the newly formed Commercial & Digital Development Department. He has a track record as a successful entrepreneur in the publishing and digital industries. In 2007 he founded iAnnounce, which went on to lead a digital revolution in family notices throughout the European local and regional press. He sold this business in 2013. Prior to that he held senior management positions at Telegraph Media Group, News UK Ltd and Bertelsmann. He has an MBA from INSEAD, an English Literature degree from Oxford University, and an Arsenal season ticket.
Anne Beckwith-Smith LVO Anne retired at the end of 2014 from Tate, having worked as Head of Campaigns in the Development Office since late 1990, with particular responsibility for Tate's capital campaigns. After the opening of Tate Modern in May 2000, Anne undertook a part-time joint honours BA degree in History and History of Art at University College London. Prior to joining Tate, Anne was Assistant Private Secretary and Lady in Waiting to Diana, Princess of Wales from 1981-1990, but continuing in a part time capacity until the summer of 1997. Anne has also worked at the Arts Council (Exhibitions Department) and Sothebys (British Paintings Department). Anne is also Chair of Roche Court Educational Trust, a Trustee of Salisbury Museum, a Trustee of The Foundling Museum and is on the Advisory Board to the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.
Barbara Norden is a writer of plays, many of which tend towards the comic and fantastical. Her first commissioned work, The Milkman, was an absurdist take on the theme of nurturing. She went on to write a play about children handling personal disaster, Meteorite (Hampstead Theatre, 2003, published by Oberon). Her play for Radio 4, Souvenirs, explored cultural assumptions through the recordings of a woman on a mission to create a family. She was awarded a Hawthornden Fellowship during which she worked on Babylon, a historical epic about turbulent life at the time of the English Civil War (The Rosemary Branch, 2013).
Her short plays have been performed in art galleries, alongside or as part of exhibitions, and in outdoor settings and she collaborated with The Factory theatre company on a series of projects including a devised production of The Odyssey which toured the UK.
As a lecturer she set up the Creative Writing MA at City, University of London where she taught on the playwriting programme for a number of years. Former students have gone on to successful careers in the drama industries and to do PhDs. Her own PhD looked into dramatic structure in the context of 20th century European and American playwriting. The research involved writing formally experimental plays and spending time on exchange at New York University.
She has also worked as a journalist writing on arts and social issues and in editorial roles on both mainstream and countercultural magazines. She is currently working on prose fiction.
Brendan Finucane (Chair) Brendan was a Trustee of Tate Members and the Council of British Museum Friends for over a decade. He was also a Trustee of Paintings in Hospitals. He was a Director of Artlaw Services, an organisation giving free legal advice to artists, a Director of Fine Art Journals Ltd which published Modern Painters, and a director of the East 73rd Gallery Ltd, a gallery set up to show the work of young contemporary artists. Brendan was a DACS Board Member from 2010 until 2016. He was a Trustee of Pallant House Gallery, a Member of the Council of the Royal Academy and Chair of the Ethics Advisory Group of the Royal Academy. He is a member of the Finance Committee of the Art Fund, Chair of the Art Fund Art Partners, a member of the Development Boards of Somerset House and Pallant House Gallery, a Member of the RA Schools Committee, a Trustee of the Warburg Charitable Trust of the Warburg Institute, a Trustee of Barts Heritage Trust and the 900th Anniversary Committee, and a Trustee of the Art 360 Foundation.
Carol Taylor CBE Carol has substantial experience of employment and discrimination law and is a champion of diversity. She has over a decade of experience as a leadership judge, managing a busy London Employment Tribunal. Recently retired from her full-time role, Carol sits part-time as an employment judge, and was recognised in the 2025 Birthday Honours for services to Justice and to Judicial Diversity and Inclusion. She was Governor of a school in Greater London for many years and looks forward to contributing to the Art School achieving its aims of greater diversity.
Clementine Mitchell is the Head of Foundation at City & Guilds of London Art School. She leads the programme, supporting students' creative development and critical thinking. With a strong background in design practice and education, she is committed to inclusive approaches to work and learning, a focus that has been present throughout her career.
Clementine holds a BA Honours in Graphic Design from Central Saint Martins and a PGCE from the University of East London.
Her design and illustration practice encompasses identity, print, exhibitions, and digital media, with clients including Channel 4, The Langham London and Imperial College Business School. Before establishing her own practice, Clementine worked at creative agencies, with a focus on projects and clients that promote social innovation and community engagement, including The Young Foundation and the NHS. Clementine's work has featured in Grafik magazine and received recognition from Awwwards, Memcom, and for its commitment to sustainability through the Nonino Risit d'Aur prize.
Her academic leadership is informed by her role as Course Leader at Ravensbourne University London, where she contributed to curriculum development for many years. She is an external moderator for OCN London and has taught at Central Saint Martins and Somerset House. Alongside her role at the Art School, she volunteers at a primary school and leads community workshops to improve access to the arts for young people.
Job Titles:
- Development & External Relations Manager
Job Titles:
- Head of Finance and Resources
Job Titles:
- Trustee of the Art School
Dr Caroline Campbell Caroline was appointed a Trustee of the Art School in January 2018. She is Director of the National Gallery of Ireland. Born and educated in Northern Ireland, she has lived in Kennington for over a decade. In her museum career, Caroline has curated exhibitions across the range of Western art, from the Middle Ages to the late 20th century, with a particular focus on Renaissance Italy; and was until recently Director of Collections and Research at the National Gallery, London.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Officio Trustee & Principal
Dr Lois Rowe joined the Art School in 2022, following a successful career in Higher Education at the University of the Arts London (UAL), where she was Programme Director Fine Art and the Lead of Knowledge Exchange for Fine Art at Camberwell College of Arts and Wimbledon College of Arts.
Alongside her career in Higher Education, Lois is a practising artist and researcher. Her art practice was shaped by an early career in theatrical costume design in Canada and Japan. Following a growing interest in textiles and soft sculptures, her work moved towards ‘animating' her costumes and sculptures and her practice turned to producing and exhibiting film and video. Her work as an artist also involves writing and has focused on how art intersects with other disciplines, and she has published a series of written pieces on current cultural events.
Her academic career has led her to initiate active research partnerships with organisations around the world, such as Ars Electronica, in Austria, where she curated Spectacular Resonance, a showcase of UAL interactive works. Lois also engages in pedagogic research and has organised a joint conference with OCADU in Toronto called Worlding Landscape which considers the different ways that art and land ownership are entwined and how pedagogic strategies can decolonise canonised perceptions of landscape.
Following a Diploma in Theatre Studies at Dalhousie University, Lois gained her Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art at Concordia University, Montreal. Moving to the UK, Lois took a Masters in Fine Art at Glasgow School of Art, and has subsequently been awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Management of Learning and Teaching, and a PhD at Goldsmiths College, London.
) Lois is a practicing artist and creative researcher whose interests combine both Fine Art and Applied Art contexts. Her art practice was shaped by an early career in theatrical costume design in Canada and Japan and later turned to producing and exhibiting film, video and VR internationally. Her academic career has led her to initiate active research partnerships with arts and educational organisations around the world and her research has prompted her to lead on projects in Austria, Ireland and most recently, a conference in Toronto with OCADU. She completed her MFA at Glasgow School of Art and a PhD at Goldsmiths College London. She joined the Art School in 2022.
Job Titles:
- Head of Conservation
- Head of Conservation, Conservation Science, Surface Analysis, Laser Cleaning
Dr Marina Sokhan received an MSc in Physics (Optics and Spectroscopy) at the department of physics, Kiev State University, in 1983, and a High Course Certificate in patent law from Moscow in 1980. After six years working as a research engineer (infrared spectroscopy and electrophoresis of organic complexes) at the Kiev Institute of Plant Physiology, she left in 1986 to become a lecturer in physics at the Kiev State High School where she stayed until 1990.
After moving to the UK she became a lecturer in higher mathematics for the international baccalaureate at Southampton Technical College between 1998 and 1999, and in 2000 she received a BA (Hons) in Fine Arts Evaluation and Art History at The Southampton Institute.
Between 2000 and 2006 she completed a PhD in Conservation Science at the Materials Department, Imperial College London. Her thesis is entitled "The Surface Analysis of LASER Cleaned Museum Materials" and the project was carried out in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Gallery and the Natural History Museum. During these years she completed a number of conservation projects at these institutions and conducted a series of training seminars for conservators.
From 2004 to 2005 she was also a research fellow (corrosion analysis; mass spectrometry, prophilometry, scanning electron microscopy, Q-switch Nd:YAG LASER operation) at Imperial College London in collaboration with the Victoria & Albert Museum, Tate Gallery and the Natural History Museum. In 2005 she was appointed senior conservation tutor (materials science and laser cleaning) at the Art School and has actively helped to develop the department's LASER technology section. She has considerable experience in LASER treatment technology and practice, and has been one of the main instigators behind the LASER Consortium and the new cleaning technology course offered in October 2006. In 2007 she was appointed Head of Conservation at the City & Guilds of London Art School.
Job Titles:
- Artist, Researcher and Writer
- Head of BA ( Hons ) Fine Art
Dr Marita Fraser is an artist, researcher and writer. She holds a PhD from The Royal College of Art. She previously studied at the Academy of Fine Art Vienna in the Class of Heimo Zobernig, completing her undergraduate studies at Sydney College of the Arts. Marita was previously Undergraduate Program Director for the School of Fine Art at Glasgow School of Art. She has also held the roles of Head of Sculpture and Environmental Art for BA Fine Art; Programme Leader MLitt Fine Art Practice; Pathway Leader Drawing, Painting and Print and Tutor for the Sculpture and Performance Pathway on the MLitt FAP program and Tutor on the MFA at Glasgow School of Art. She was an across Schools Tutor for MA at the Royal College of Art and is part of the NIDA Doctoral School in Lithuania.
Marita is an artist with internationally recognised interdisciplinary practice which includes painting, sculpture, installation, performance, moving image, art writing and scores. She collaborates with movement performers and musicians most recently working with musician Mücha. Institutional exhibition highlights include a solo survey and catalogue with Städtisches Museum Engen Germany as well as exhibitions with Kunsthaus Vienna, Atelierhaus Salzamt Linz, Kaunas 2022, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Fundación Mapfre, Tenerife, Museum of Contemporary Art, Querétaro City, Annex Gallery, Glasgow School of Art. Marita has worked with a number of gallery programmes internationally including, Gallerie Layendeker Tenerife, Kerstin Engholm Vienna, Moore Contemporary Perth and Peter Von Kant London amongst others. Marita was awarded the inaugural ArtReview Casa Wabi Residency Award in 2017. Other residency awards include artist-in-resident at Museums Quartier Vienna (Q21), Saltzamt Linz and Cité Paris.
Marita's research interests include ‘speaking with' as a feminist method of practice, the legacies of Carla Lonzi, Carolee Schneemann and Margaret Macdonald's involvement in the Vienna Secession, as well as methods of feminist refusal as creative practice. Recent presentations of research include Teaching, Practicing, Researching for a Feminist Future for Have Some Imagination: Towards a Manifesto for Arts Education, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art; The Curtain: Margaret Mackintosh in Vienna for Feminist Histories of the, Henry Moore Institute, Leeds Carolee Schneemann's Feminist Frottage: ‘Speaking With' Parts of a Body House for Carolee Schneemann: Body Politics, 9th September 2022, The Courtauld Institute of Art. Recent publications include the article ‘Careless Reply', Careless, Blackshaw, G. and Kivland S. (eds), MA Bibliothèque, London, 2021, ‘Speaking With the School Run' Journal of Contemporary Painting, 10 (1 - 2), 2024 and ‘Speaking With' Journal of Contemporary Painting, 9 (2), 2023. Her most recent and ongoing moving image project is Speaking With (2020 - ) explores entangled spaces of feminist thinking and writing through Marita Fraser's response to texts by Carla Lonzi and Clarice Lispector, alongside material practices of painting and movement, locating the cinematic space as a site to hold the artist's social and maternal concerns.
Job Titles:
- Head of Access to Learning
Edward Campbell-Johnston Edward has worked in the investment management profession for some 30 years, and is a Partner at Sarasin & Partners LLP. He is a Trustee of the Oundle School Foundation and the British Humane Association, and is Fourth Warden for the Grocers' Company. Edward is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments, and holds an MA in Management and International Relations from the University of St Andrews.
Helen Sunderland-Cohen Helen is a corporate-commercial lawyer specialising in cross-border investments and the creative industries. She has an international background including over 15 years in China, where she was a partner in a local firm. Helen holds a BA from Bryn Mawr College, a JD from the University of Washington School of Law, and a Masters in Museum Studies from the Harvard Extension School. Today, she splits her time among freelance strategic and legal consulting, helping young businesses, and pro bono projects. She works with the Anne Frank Trust and is on the advisory council of The Toucan Project. Helen adores art, music, food and wine, travel, stories, and living in London. She manages a private collection of antique maps and atlases, and hopes one day to own a dog.
Job Titles:
- Trustee & Chair of Students
James Clayton (Student Trustee & Chair of Students) James is in his second year of a BA in Conservation of Stone, Wood & Decorative Surfaces at the Art School. Previous to this he spent many years travelling and teaching English abroad, chiefly for NGOs and private schools in parts of Africa, as well as working for a number of years as an au pair in Florence, Rome and Venice, and lengthy stints of volunteering in India, Greece and the Middle East. Time spent in historically-rich environments cemented a deep fascination in the humanities, historic crafts and architecture and decorative objects - an interest deepened by time spent as an intern as a conservation framer and artist's assistant in London. As Chair of Students he hopes to build upon cross-departmental cooperation and a healthy Student Voice within the Art School.
James Kelly James has a long association with business and the arts. Prior to his semi-retirement he was a director of Science Limited, which managed the affairs and business activities of contemporary artist Damien Hirst. During his time at Science, he played a key role in projects such as the creation of Newport Street, Hirst's gallery, which won the 2016 Stirling Prize for UK's best building. He also was involved in significant elements of the artist's epic Treasures exhibition that opened to acclaim in 2016. James retired from full time employment with Science and now provides commercial and strategic advice to businesses within the art world through his consultancy. He acts as a Non-Executive Director to a number of businesses including Bonhams auction house. Previously, he spent more than 20 years as a partner at the international chartered accountants, Rawlinson & Hunter, where his clients included a number of artists, galleries, auction houses and other art related businesses.
Having spent over 30 years in publishing at the Hearst Corporation and Condé Nast, both in Europe and the US, Jamie went on to work as a director of the London Design Festival and Design Biennale. He has previously been a Governor at the University of the Arts London.
Job Titles:
- Staff Trustee
- Student Funding
Since graduating from the Art School's MA Fine Art programme in 2023, Laura has been working as a Registry Administrator, focusing on admissions and bursaries. She is also a practising artist with a studio space in South Bermondsey. Her painting I'll never not miss you was selected for the 2024 Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award and accompanying exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. She is also exhibiting as part of the 2024 RWA Annual Open exhibition in Bristol.
Laurence has over 20 years' experience leading professional and administrative services in higher education, having held senior positio ns in the multi-faculty, world-leading universities of Oxford and King's College London, and more specialist institutions such as the University of Roehampton and St. George's, University of London.
Martin Hatfull Martin is a former British diplomat (Minister to Japan; Ambassador to Indonesia and ASEAN) and Director of International Public Affairs at Diageo plc. He served on board of UK-India and UK-ASEAN Business Councils; and is currently advisor to a global public affairs company, Chair of Anglo-Indonesian Society, and Deputy Chair of the Japan Society.
Job Titles:
- Senior Adviser at City & Guilds Institute
Michael Osbaldeston Michael is currently the Senior Adviser at City & Guilds Institute and has a background in branding and corporate identity, stakeholder engagement and partnership development.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Resources and Operations
Company Secretary: Nick Rampley (Director of Resources & Operations)
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Fundraising Management Consultant
Patricia Castanha (Advisor) Patricia is a fundraising management consultant with a wealth of experience in both revenue and capital fundraising, primarily in the arts and heritage sectors. She had ten years in the fundraising teams of English National Opera, Aldeburgh Festival (now Snape Maltings), Tate and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by a move into consultancy. Her clients since then comprise national and regional performing and visual arts organisations, as well as heritage institutions. In addition to the Art School, clients have included: Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The Royal Academy of Arts, London Symphony Orchestra, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Lambeth Palace Library, Chelsea Physic Garden, Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust, the Illuminated River Foundation, YCAT (Young Concert Artists Trust) and St John's Smith Square.
Sokari Douglas Camp CBE Sokari was born in Buguma, Nigeria, in 1958, and lives and works in London. She first exhibited at October Gallery in 1985 and has since had more than 40 solo shows worldwide. In 2005 she was awarded a CBE in recognition of her services to art. Her work is in the permanent collections of the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; Setagaya Art Museum, Tokyo; and the British Museum, London. In 2012, her large sculpture, All the World is Now Richer, a memorial to commemorate the abolition of slavery, was exhibited in The House of Commons and then, in 2014, at St Paul's Cathedral, London.
Tabish Khan Tabish is an art critic specialising in London's art scene, and he believes passionately in making art accessible to everyone. He visits and writes about hundreds of exhibitions a year covering everything from the major blockbusters to the emerging art scene. Tabish has been visual arts editor for Londonist since 2013, reviews regularly for Culture Whisper and has a weekly top 5 and a column for FAD. He is also a trustee of ArtCan, a non-profit arts organisation that supports artists through profile raising activities and exhibitions, the annual Discerning Eye exhibition and a critical friend of UP projects who curate and commission public art.
Wilf Weeks OBE Wilf was a Public Affairs Consultant and co-founder of GJW Government Relations. Before that he was Private Secretary to the Rt Hon Edward Heath. Wilf has held a number of voluntary positions including Chairman of the Friends of the Tate, Trustee and Chair of the Dulwich Picture Gallery, Trustee of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, Trustee of the Trust for London. He is currently a Trustee of the Prison Advice and Care Trust, Gainsborough House, Chair of Spitalfield's Music, Trustee of the Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust and Governor of The Charterhouse, London.