|
Corsham was a great achievement. Many students must have thought themselves dreaming when they started their courses; living in beautiful countryside with the centre of the college a distinguished country house with peacocks on the lawn. They were taught by some of the leading artists of the day, rare at that time in provincial art schools, and not all that common in London, although it became commonplace later. Students studied a wide variety of subjects and topics and had their minds stretched and their perception enhanced. Despite this Clifford Ellis was regarded as a crank by some heads of art schools in London. He was never part of the Establishment and was never honoured for his efforts.
The Ellises worked hard and were very versatile. Clifford and Rosemary taught a wide variety of subjects as the occasion demanded. In Michael Craig-Martin’s opinion the two most important people in English post-war art education were Clifford Ellis and Harry Thubron. Corsham produced more than 600 art teachers and those who later worked in schools opened the eyes of children to many aspects of the world and life, just as they had had their eyes opened, became good at lateral thinking and able to improvise and practise their own art, painting or making sculptures, or pots or working in other media. Not all those who trained at Corsham work now as teachers, designers, or as artists. Some are in private or public galleries, the British Council, farming or horticulture, publishing or in many occupations unknown to me. Wherever they are, all have a great debt to Clifford and Rosemary Ellis and their colleagues at the Bath Academy of Art, Corsham.
|
|
|
|