Sheffield School of Art

Founded in 1843 as the Government School of Design it has over its long existence been known variously as Sheffield Technical College of Art, Sheffield College of Arts and Crafts and Sheffield College of Arts. Within a very few years, it had produced a number of outstanding students some of whom were awarded Gold Medals at the 1851 Great Exhibition held at Crystal Palace, London. It is believed that no other school of design were awarded medals. In 1859 students past and present were invited to assist in the design work for the South Kensington Museum later to be known as the Victoria & Albert Museum. The Schools offered a wide range of subject from painting through to metal work, various branches of silversmithing, wood carving, bookbinding and printmaking. After World War I some of the students were chosen to design the Memorial to the fallen of that war with the fallen from World War II being added later. The monument now stands Weston Park in the city. During the interwar years two students from the School Arthur Lismer and Frank Varley, moved to Canada to work as industrial designers and became members of the Canadian Group of Seven who initiated the first major Canadian national art movement. Notable staff and alumni have included Donald Carrington George Hamilton Constantine, John Gutteridge Sykes, Kenneth Martin, Charles Mozley, William Taylor, Edwin La Dell, John Hoyland and many more.