UNESCO World Art Day: A Look Back at the Polytechnic School of Art
UNESCO World Art Day offers the perfect moment to reflect on the creative heritage of the University of Westminster—particularly the long and vibrant history of the Polytechnic School of Art.
In 1889, the West London School of Art at 155 Great Titchfield Street closed its doors. But this was not an ending—it was a transformation. The Polytechnic acquired the building, laying the foundations for what would become the Polytechnic School of Art.
Leading this new chapter was headmaster W. P. Cornish, bringing nearly twenty years of experience. Alongside him were portrait painter E. W. Appleby and design master G. P. Gaskell, whose influence would help define the School’s direction in the years to come.
Excitement around the new school was immediate. In June 1889, the Polytechnic Magazine reported: “The New Art School at 155 Great Titchfield Street opened last Monday… There has already been strong interest in tickets.” Within weeks, enrolment surged, with expectations of hundreds of students by the autumn.
By 1891, the School of Art offered a wide-ranging curriculum. Students could attend evening classes in everything from freehand drawing and advanced perspective to etching, wood carving, and book illustration. Practical skills sat at the heart of the teaching—whether in cabinet design, metalwork, or modelling in clay and wax.
Life drawing was central to artistic training. Classes included “Drawing and Painting from Life (Nude) Male” as well as dedicated sessions for women. Open to both men and women, the school prided itself on its facilities, including a rich collection of casts, statuary, and an antique gallery.
Art education at the Polytechnic extended far beyond formal classes. A lively Sketching Club gave students space to experiment and collaborate, while exhibitions and competitions provided opportunities to showcase their work.
Students also benefited from access to London’s cultural resources. As the Polytechnic Magazine noted in April 1889, they enjoyed “free access to the different museums in London… including the Science and Art Libraries”—an invaluable extension of their learning environment.
Over time, the Polytechnic School of Art nurtured artists whose work would resonate far beyond Regent Street. Among them were Leon Underwood, an influential sculptor and teacher; Delmar Banner, celebrated for his landscapes and portraits; Sybil Atteck, a pioneering modernist from Trinidad; and Anita von Brackenhausen, who won the British Institution Scholarship in Sculpture in 1951.
Delmar Banner’s connection to the Polytechnic remains visible today. Three of his oil paintings hang in Fyvie Hall, depicting scenes from the construction of Westminster Abbey in the 13th century. After studying at the Polytechnic between 1919 and 1927, Banner went on to build a successful career in the Lake District.
By the mid-20th century, art education across the UK was undergoing significant change. Government efforts to “rationalise” art schools led to plans to merge the Regent Street Polytechnic School of Art with Chelsea Polytechnic.
The proposal sparked debate. According to The Times, the two institutions differed in their teaching approaches—Regent Street relying on full-time staff, while Chelsea drew heavily on practising artists teaching part-time. In 1958, the Polytechnic’s Director of Education voiced concern, warning of the potential loss not only to students but to the institution itself.
Despite these objections, the merger went ahead. A new purpose-built art school in Chelsea, opened in 1961, marked the end of the Regent Street School of Art as it had been known.
Yet the story did not end there. In 1990, the Polytechnic of Central London merged with Harrow College of Higher Education, reintroducing art and design into the institution’s academic portfolio.
Today, the University of Westminster’s Harrow campus carries this legacy forward through courses in Art, Design, and Visual Culture. From its beginnings in the West End to its present-day home in Harrow, the Polytechnic School of Art represents more than a chapter in institutional history. It is a story of evolution—of adapting to change while holding onto a core belief in the value of creative education.
References
Agreement between the West London School of Art and the Polytechnic Institution [YCI/2/1/2]
Merger of the School of Art with Chelsea College [RSP/2/ART/3]
Cuttings from The Times relating to the School of Art, 30 December 1957 and 1 January 1958 [RSP/2/ART/5]
The Polytechnic Magazine (access via: https://recordsandarchives.westminster.ac.uk/digital-resources/)
Polytechnic School of Art Prospectuses
Images
Photograph: Painting in Fyvie Hall of the Painted Chamber at Westminster Palace c.1300 by Delmar Banner, 1923 (Fyvie Hall paintings also include those by School of Art students Alice Burton and Edward Osmond. More detail can be found in our research guide on our catalogue)
Photograph: School of Art: Studio [RSP/7/b/35]
Photograph: School of Art window display, 309 Regent Street, London [RSP/7/a/1/56]