London Art College - Archives

Bill Browne (A.W.Browne) Founder
 The London Art College was founded in 1931 by a group of working artists and art editors who believed that a new kind of art school was needed. Foremost amongst them and indeed the originator of the concept was A.W.Browne F.Z.S one of the all time great artists of Fleet Street, then the home of the British newspaper industry.  The London Art College was to be unlike any other art college. It would be practical rather than academic. It would be completely comprehensive in the areas where an artist could earn a living. It would provide outstanding tuition by artists who were currently selling their work, rather than by ordinary academics. To make its services available to aspiring artists wherever they lived, it would teach its students by Distance Learning in the comfort and convenience of their own homes. 

To this great concept all the founding artists and art editors contributed. Everything they had learned by being practicising artists was incorporated and more has been steadily added as courses are regularly renewed and revised over the passing years.

Bill Browne, as everyone knew him, won national fame. His first books were published in the 1920's and he continued to publish for another thirty years.

Apart from his best selling books on painting and drawing, for many years he contributed a daily cartoon to one of the leading newspapers and was a regular contributor to the Daily Mirror, Daily Express, Daily Mail, News of the World, Sunday People and was consistently featured in Punch, Tatler and other leading magazines of the day.  He was an Official War Artist in the 39-45 war. Bill was never too busy or too important to help younger colleagues. Success had not come easily to him in the early years of his career. He realised that artistic talent was not enough.

A guide for the young artist by A.W. Browne
   Above a 1930's Letter Heading
To be successful, an artist needed the knowledge of how art could be used to develop an income. Artists needed to understand particular markets and they needed help to bring out their talent and to adapt their natural flair to meet market demand.  Throughout the ages young artists had studied in the studios of the great artists of the day.

Bill Browne and his friends and colleagues at the London Art College wanted his college to carry on this tradition. It was to be the place that aspiring artists of all ages could get the tuition, help and encouragement they needed to succeed in the profession he loved.

Today the London Art College acknowledges the debt we owe to Bill Browne and the other founding artists and strives to continue in the spirit with which they started the college, three quarters of a century ago.

Our courses are new, developed for the twenty first century, but we share with the founders the genuine wish to help all our students, as individuals, to achieve their personal goals - to help them become successful, fulfilled artists.
Above a 1980's Newsletter
Above a 1960's Brochure
Above a 1950's Brochure
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