James Willis
www.jameswillisart.co.uk jameswillisartist@gmail.com Insta: james.willis.artist
Painter of portraits and architecture, Art Historian and Educator, Consultant and Author
I am deeply honored to be invited to be your Art Champion at the Centre Academy London. Thank you so much.
I very much believe in creativity as a bridge to build confidence, self-awareness and
expression as well as a way to communicate with the world. It is an essential part of our lives and an important core element at all levels of education. In a time when creative subjects are being cut from the national curriculum it seems to me all the more important to support and develop the arts in schools.
Trish is an exceptionally gifted art tutor whose empathy and abundant compassion allow creativity with intention and freedom to the benefit of the students and all who come in contact with their achievements.
I enjoyed meeting the students and staff at the school and joining in the exhibition and lessons I attended. It showed me how insightful, creative and progressive the students become on their journey with you.
I am proud to be associated with the Centre Academy London and look forward to seeing you again soon.
Education
University of Chester, BA Hons. Fine Art and Music, 1984-1987 (winner of the St Peter’s Saltney Prize)
North Hertfordshire College, Grad IPD, 1992-1993
Birkbeck, University of London, MA History of Art, 2006-2008
Solo Exhibitions
- Back to the Drawing Board (with Carl Laubin), North Hertfordshire Museum, 2022-23 Visions of Greenwich, Greenwich Old Royal Naval College, 2019
- The London Paintings, Coin Street Gallery, Oxo Tower, London, 2015
- People, Places, Perspectives, The Nehru Centre, India High Commission, London, 2011 Forty New Paintings, Letchworth Arts Centre, Letchworth Garden City, 2005
- First Solo Show, Letchworth Arts Centre, Letchworth Garden City, 2000
Joint/Selected Shows
- Fabriano in Aquarello, Bologna, 2024 RWS, Mall Galleries, London, 2024
- RSMA Mall Galleries, London, 2020, 2017
- I Love Herts, Letchworth Arts Centre, Letchworth Garden City, 2010 Home, North Hertfordshire Museum and Art Gallery, Hitchin,1995
- A Yorkshire Anthology, Letchworth Museum and Art Gallery, 1995 Turberville-Smith Gallery, Berkeley Square, London 1995
Commissions
- Luton Hoo House Hotel, Sir John Soane’s Museum, Barclays Bank Plc
Employment and Experience
Painter and freelance lecturer, arts educator, author, art historian 1997 -present
In addition to the details give I design and deliver weekly practical painting and drawing courses, online courses and lectures and summer schools and courses abroad for the leisure market.
Founder and Director of Hitchin Creative CIC 2021-2025.
A support organisation and network to reflect the strength and diversity of the creative community and support, facilitate and promote opportunities for public participation in the arts without boundaries.
Letchworth Settlement Adult Learning Centre, freelance lecturer 2014 – present Further education course design and delivery in Art History.
Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, freelance lecturer and workshop artist, 2012-2020
Annual lectures and projects for the first- year degree programme presenting art historical context from a non-architect painter’s perspective. These included practical painting and drawing sessions. Participation in exhibition projects, field trips.
Sir John Soane’s Museum, Resident Artist and Art Programme Leader, 2006-2015
Helping devise, design and deliver a new adult art programme through active participation with diverse groups, organisations and institutions across London and beyond. Programmes included
working with aspiring young architects to develop their portfolios and experience, groups from mixed social and cultural backgrounds, open access art workshops and courses.
Open College of Arts, Freelance tutor and course developer, 2000-2013.
Distance and face to face tutorial support for Higher and Further Education courses. Course module designer and writer for the emerging BA degree. Assessment and reporting of courses.
North Hertfordshire College, Head of Performing Arts Department, 2003-2005
Responsibilities for staff and student support, active tutorial and pastoral care, development and welfare, safe guarding, course development and rewriting to ensure appropriate standards adhered to, HND and BA tutoring and mentoring support, participation in promotion and production of activities across BTEC, HND and BA programmes. Writing report and assessment documentation.
Completion of OFSTED inspection 2004. Personal OFSTED Grade 1*.
North Hertfordshire College, Academic Tutor, 2002-2003
Freelance tutor for BTEC, HND courses in contextual studies, Art Business, Fine Art, Performing Arts.
Bassingbourn Village College, Tutor in Fine Art 2002-2006
Design and delivery of courses, creation of GNVQ creative programme in collaboration with HMAS
Letchworth Arts Centre (Broadway Gallery) Founder and Creative Director, 1997-2002 Development of community art gallery, workshop, performance and administrative spaces, Fundraising for Capital and operating expenses, liaison with funding bodies (ACE Lottery award
£48,000), local authorities, programme design and implementation, staff management.
Stevenage Artscape, Manager, 1997
Community Arts management, administration and programme development.
Transamerica Commercial Finance Ltd, Personnel Officer and Accounts Assistant, 1987-1996
