The Liverpool College of Art was created in 1825. The original building opened on Mount Street in 1832 as the Mechanics Institution teaching draftsmanship in the design of ship building, an industry that was already established on the River Mersey.
By 1850 it introduced art and design into its curriculum followed in 1936 by women’s craft classes in dress and textiles. By the end of World War Two it was much in demand as the Regional College of Art with many famous lecturers and students including George Jardine, Maurice Cockerall, Adrian Henri, Nicholas Horsfield as well as the well known cartoonist Norman Thelwell. Soon it was one of the finest art colleges in the UK.
However, by the turn of the millennium with its polytechnic status and subsequent amalgamation into the Liverpool John Moores University, the old Victorian building was reaching the end of its usefulness and new premises next to the Metropolitan Cathedral were proposed. When it opened in 2008, here was an opportunity for the college’s history to be told.
In 2010, Liverpool documentary film maker Michael Swerdlow and ex Art College student and local artist Janet Webb invited a group of college alumni and staff to reminisce about their time at the college between the 1940s and 1970s. They described the college in its heyday, their time there and compared the methods of teaching art then with now. The result is a brief look at its history together with an affectionate, light hearted yet informative insight into college life and the work of some of its illustrious lecturers and students.
Thanks to the college staff we were able to film students at work in the old building before it closed down as well as capturing material and images at the University’s Archive. Although the footage was captured on those visits to the college in 2010, the Covid lockdown presented a perfect opportunity to kick start editing the film and its completion. Sadly since filming the interviews some of those who took part had passed making their anecdotes all the more valuable. The film is dedicated to them.
ABOUT THE PRODUCERS
Janet Webb (nee Schofield) (group photo far right) studied in textile design and fashion at the college from 1960 to 1964. After graduation Janet went on to be a freelance designer in London and a Tutor at West Cheshire College. Janet has exhibited her artwork in her own gallery with many of her paintings in private collections.
Michael Swerdlow (group photo extreme left) is a Liverpool businessman who in his retirement turned to producing corporate and documentary films. These included “Chicken Soup and Scouse” charting the history of the Liverpool Jewish Community from the 1700s to the present day relating how members of the community contributed over the years to the city’s prosperity in commerce, science, education and entertainment. Another film “The Story of Harold House” focuses on one of the numerous institutions founded in the 1800s within the Liverpool Jewish Community as one of the most successful youth and community centres in the UK but which, in the early 2000s, had to close down due to the community shrinking in size. Both films are informative as well as nostalgic.
Janet and Michael have previously made two films together. ‘Objects of Desire’ which won an award in Liverpool, takes a fantasy trip through the eyes of a man gazing at a painting in an art gallery. Their film, “They see me as a bowl of fruit,’ through candid interviews, examines the life and work of men and women who pose in the nude in art life classes, through their anecdotes and reactions to a room full of gazing eyes.
ABOUT THE INTERVIEWEES
Reg Cox (group photo top left) studied at the college in 1943 and graduated in photography eventually becoming a full time teacher of photography there. He joined Fred O’Brien and became one of the partners in the Northern Design Unit studio.
Robin Riley (group photo top right) studied at the college in the late 1950s and graduated in ceramics and mosaics and had an illustrious career as sculptor and mosaicist in Liverpool working alongside some of the city’s famous artists. His work included the moving of the huge Mosaic of Pentecost by George Mayer-Marton from the Church of the Holy Ghost in Bootle in Liverpool and reinstalling it in the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.
Helen Anderson (group photo front left) studied Fine Art at the college 1957-61 and later in Rome, specializing in portraits. In 1962, she established a hip couture leather and suede boutique on Liverpool’s Bold Street, creating John Lennon’s iconic leather cap. Helen diversified into high-end fashion eg weddings and red carpet, dressing many celebrities, until 1999, when she returned to portrait painting.
Charles Metcalfe (group photo front middle) was a student at the college in the 1940s and was appointed lecturer and Head of Fashion at the Regional College of Art in 1959 and retired as Deputy Director of the School of Art and design, Liverpool Polytechnic in 1989. He was Chairman of the Bluecoat Gallery and Chairman of the Design and Product Marketing Group of the International Textile Institute.
June Furlong (group front right) was a student at the college from 1947 but later became its full time life-class model and was in demand by painters and sculptors around the country. She told her story in her book, ‘June – a Life Study.’
Fred O’Brien (not on photo) studied at the college in the mid 1950s and graduated in graphic design and went on to create his own successful design practice, Northern Design Unit, in Liverpool specialising in total conceptual design interpretation of commercial and retail premises. This included the Northern Approaches Battle of the Atlantic Museum in Liverpool.
Alan Swerdlow (not on photo) studied at the college 1956-60 and graduated in typographic design and became one of its tutors in the subject. After a short period as a freelance designer with clients including Brian Epstein doing work for his NEMS record shops and early Beatles publicity, he joined his family catering equipment business.
HOW TO OBTAIN THE FILM
The 45 minute film is available only on DVD (pal) from the producer by contacting michael@swerdlow.co.uk where more information is available.
Words, Michael Swerdlow
