Graduate School Alumni Talk

Discover the journeys of our talented alumni and explore how their time studying in our Graduate School shaped their careers.

Join us for an evening of conversation and insight featuring graduates from our MA Fine Art, MA Carving and MA Conservation courses. This event is a unique opportunity to hear firsthand about their experiences during the course, see examples of projects developed during and after their studies, and learn about the long-term impact on their professional practice.

The panel disucssion will be moderated by our Head of Graduate School Dr Charley Peters.

Valentino Vannini – MA Fine Art
Valentino is a London-based multidisciplinary artist. He holds an MA in Fine Art from City & Guilds of London Art School, where he recently completed a two-year fellowship in Glass and Cast. His background also includes a PGCE from UCL Institute of Education and a BA in Visual Arts from the University of Bologna.Recent exhibitions include New Contemporaries (ICA, London, 2025; KARST, Plymouth, 2024), Penetrable Boundaries (solo, Standpoint Gallery, 2024), and shows at The Hide (Stroud, 2025), Greenfield Project Space (2024), White Conduit Projects (2024), and Somers Gallery (2023). He received the Sculpture Award from Studio West, London (2023).
Chris Cudlip – MA Carving
Visual artist Chris Cudlip is based in Southampton. His practice involves woodcarving, studio ceramics, brick installations, portrait sculpture and environmental art with key elements of outreach. He often collaborates in interdisciplinary projects especially with scientists. Examples of his public art works can be seen in parks, housing developments, libraries, schools, youth centres, theatres, universities and hospitals. Recently he was commissioned by New Forest District Council to create a large-scale carving celebrating their 50th anniversary. This work references the research into the concept of a “woodland web” which proposes that trees both communicate and help each other via the underground mycelium networks that connect them.
Nicola Shreeve – MA Conservation
I undertook my original training in furniture restoration at the London College of Furniture, completing the 2-year HND programme. I enjoyed a long career as a freelance furniture restorer/conservator working for private clients and historic houses before deciding to return to full-time education. The Conservation of Wood, Stone and Decorative Surfaces BA Hons and MA courses at City and Guilds of London art School gave me the opportunity to explore new and exciting aspects of conservation whilst also validating and building upon my empirical knowledge and experience. After graduating I joined the National Trust’s Royal Oak Foundation conservation studio as the Remedial Conservator for furniture.

The major practical projects for my undergraduate programme were a severely damaged alabaster ewer, and a fragile polychrome Madonna and Child. My conservation science research project investigated gel cleaning methodology for silver gilded surfaces with historic glazes. My MA thesis, supported by QEST, explored the technical investigation and conservation of a post-Reformation polychrome alabaster monument in Westminster Abbey. The scope of this project covered the identification of original 16th century decorative scheme and 20th century over paint layers, and an investigation into potential methods for removing the over paint to reveal the original surface.

LOCATION

MA Seminar Room (First Floor)
City & Guilds of London Art School
100 Kennington Park Road, London, SE11 4EF

SCHEDULE

18:00 - Arrival and welcome from Admissions Tutor

18:00 - 18:20 - Presentations from Graduate School Alum

18:20 - 19:00 - In-conversation panel with Graduate School Alumni and Head of Graduate School

19:00 - 19:30 - Q&A with panel

If you book a place and are unable to join us, we kindly ask that you cancel your place in order to free this up for another attendee.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

MA Seminar Room (First Floor) City & Guilds of London Art School, City & Guilds of London Art School, London, United Kingdom

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