Creative Inspiration Workshop: Barts Heritage Conservation Tour and Baroque Inspired Drawing Session
- Date
- 16 Jan 2025 · 2:00PM - 4:00PM
- Price
- £20 (12 places)
- Venue
- St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE
- Programme type
- Workshops, Tours
Experience the rich architectural history of the Great Hall at St Bartholomew's Hospital with a fascinating behind the scenes conservation tour with Barts Heritage, followed by a drawing session inspired by Baroque forms led by artist practitioner James Willis.
Discover conservation in action with this Creative Inspiration Workshop exploring the history, architecture and people involved in the craftsmanship of the Great Hall at St Bartholomew's Hospital. The workshop will begin with a tour highlighting the conservation work to rescue and rejuvenate the Grade 1 listed building, including the staircase painted by William Hogarth.
Taking inspiration from the conservation tour and the flamboyant designs of the Great Hall ceiling, artist James Willis will lead the group in a drawing exercise on the scaffolding viewing deck during the second half of the workshop. With an up-close view of the ornate ceiling, you will explore its Baroque features using graphite and paper to create drawings which capture the flowing lines and beautiful forms found in the plasterwork. James will guide you to make expressive drawings during this unique experience. All materials will be provided, including sketching stools. This workshop is suitable for anyone who loves drawing from beginners to professionals.
Please note, this tour involves accessing a scaffolding viewing deck. There are 31 steps on the staircase to reach the deck. The paintings in the Hogarth staircase are partially obstructed by scaffolding as our Conservation Team work on them.
FAQs
We will provide all the drawing material including pencils, charcoal, graphite and paper. There will be clipboards and surfaces provided to draw on as well as stools to sit on. Please feel free to bring any extra drawing material you wish to use as well as blankets or pillows, that may make the drawing portion of the workshop more comfortable but this isn’t necessary.
The address is St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE and the meeting point will be at the fountain in the hospital square.
Click here to view a map.
As the tour will be taking place during live conservation work, we can't guarantee what stage of work you will see.
There is a lift to access the Great Hall, however there is unfortunately no lift on the scaffold.
You will be at height on the scaffold deck. There are 31 steps on the staircase to reach the deck.
There will be some exertion in climbing the scaffolding stairs, so please be aware of that. There are 31 steps and three flights.
Unfortunately, due to the type of scaffolding, we cannot have anyone under the age of 18 on the tours. Please also be aware that the tour will require climbing a scaffold staircase to the top of the deck viewing platform.
You will be on a working site, so please wear sensible footwear, no stilettos, open toed shoes or flip flops. You will be provided with full PPE (hard hat, high visibility jacket, boots). Please be aware that you will be climbing a scaffold staircase to access the top of the deck viewing platform.
Unfortunately these tours are not accessible for wheelchair users due to fire evacuation procedures on the building site. When the work is completed and the building opens in September 2025 the building will be fully accessible.
Who are Barts Heritage?
Barts Heritage is an independent charity formed in 2017. The charity is the custodian of the Grade I listed North Wing and Henry VIII Gatehouse at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City of London. The North Wing houses two of England’s most important interiors, the Great Hall, and the Hogarth Stair with its large paintings by William Hogarth.
Their ambitious project, Sharing Historic Barts, will see the repair and conservation of the North Wing, delivered alongside an engagement programme which will enrich the wellbeing of hospital staff, patients and their visitors, and the general public. Works began in January 2024 and are due for completion in the summer of 2025.
Who is the artist practitioner?
James Willis has a B.A. Hons. degree in Fine Art and Music and an M.A. in The History of Art from Birkbeck, London. He enjoys sharing his knowledge through lecturing in a range of art historical subjects, teaching painting and travelling with groups abroad.
Inspired by his love of architecture, his work tries to capture a sense of a place through sketching and drawing or working in oils and watercolours.
His work has been exhibited in the UK and abroad including at the OXO Gallery on the Southbank, and the Mall Galleries in London. A number of his paintings are in public and private collections including Sir John Soane's Museum, Luton Hoo Hotel and the Shaw Collection.