Byam Shaw Art College

The Byam Shaw School of Art, often known simply as Byam Shaw, was an independent art school in London, England, which specialised in fine art and offered foundation and degree level courses. It was founded in 1910 by John Liston Byam Shaw and Rex Vicat Cole. In January 1962 Maurice de Sausmarez, A. R. A, former first Head of Fine Art at Leeds University and first Head of Fine Art at Hornsey College of Art, became the principal at the Byam Shaw, at the time known as The Byam Shaw School of Drawing and Painting. The school had previously been run for several years by the registrar, Pamela Ovens. At the time when Maurice took over, the school had about sixty students, many of them part time. By the time he died in October 1969, the school had over two hundred full time students, many of them on local authority grants, and was recognised and supported by the ILEA (Inner London Education Authority). The school managed to hang onto its independent status in spite of receiving recognition from officialdom. With so many students, the school, under the principalship of Geri Morgan, was bursting at its seams and expanded by taking over a disused church in Walham Grove in the seventies. In 1990 the original purpose built school in Campden Street was sold, (it is now luxury flats! ) and the school moved to Elthorne Road, Archway. (Additional information added by Jane de Sausmarez)In 2003 it was absorbed by Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design. HistoryThe Byam Shaw was opened in May 1910 by John Liston Byam Shaw and Rex Vicat Cole with the name Byam Shaw and Vicat Cole School of Art. The teaching staff initially consisted of W. Dacres Adams, D. Murray Smith and C. Austin Cooper; additional lectures were given by Evelyn Eunice Pyke-Nott (Mrs. Byam Shaw), Kenneth Martin and Percival Silley.

The Byam Shaw School of Art, often known simply as Byam Shaw, was an independent art school in London, England, which specialised in fine art and offered foundation and degree level courses. It was founded in 1910 by John Liston Byam Shaw and Rex Vicat Cole. In January 1962 Maurice de Sausmarez, A. R. A, former first Head of Fine Art at Leeds University and first Head of Fine Art at Hornsey College of Art, became the principal at the Byam Shaw, at the time known as The Byam Shaw School of Drawing and Painting. The school had previously been run for several years by the registrar, Pamela Ovens. At the time when Maurice took over, the school had about sixty students, many of them part time. By the time he died in October 1969, the school had over two hundred full time students, many of them on local authority grants, and was recognised and supported by the ILEA (Inner London Education Authority). The school managed to hang onto its independent status in spite of receiving recognition from officialdom. With so many students, the school, under the principalship of Geri Morgan, was bursting at its seams and expanded by taking over a disused church in Walham Grove in the seventies. In 1990 the original purpose built school in Campden Street was sold, (it is now luxury flats! ) and the school moved to Elthorne Road, Archway. (Additional information added by Jane de Sausmarez)In 2003 it was absorbed by Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design. HistoryThe Byam Shaw was opened in May 1910 by John Liston Byam Shaw and Rex Vicat Cole with the name Byam Shaw and Vicat Cole School of Art. The teaching staff initially consisted of W. Dacres Adams, D. Murray Smith and C. Austin Cooper; additional lectures were given by Evelyn Eunice Pyke-Nott (Mrs. Byam Shaw), Kenneth Martin and Percival Silley.