A recent refurbishment has revitalised the Print Room in our Art School into a bright, open-plan space designed to enhance the printmaking experience for boys across the school. The redesign has sympathetically incorporated and preserved the architectural features and distinctive character of the 18th‑century Grade II listed Howard Building, believed to be the oldest building on site.
The transformation would not have been possible without the generous backing of Old Bedfordian Gilbert Lloyd (50–58)*, whose longstanding support has previously helped improve the Art School entrance and the Sculpture Studio, and we remain incredibly thankful for his continued commitment to the arts at Bedford School.
The alterations to the layout have been warmly received, with boys enjoying the increased space, improved layout and the dynamic, inspiring environment it creates.
The open-plan design offers far greater visibility throughout the room, allowing light to flow more freely and significantly improving movement and use of the space. As a result, the Print Room feels brighter, more spacious and more like a print workshop environment. It also now houses a second printing press: a large Hunter Penrose etching press, which is already proving a fantastic asset for our Sixth Form artists to use in their designated workshop space.
A Unique Printmaking Curriculum
The specialist equipment and facilities within the Print Room enable us to offer a printmaking programme that is exceptional at school level. From the Fourth Form, boys rotate through a termly programme of printmaking, painting and sculpture. Each discipline is taught by specialist teachers, giving pupils the opportunity to explore a wide and exciting range of artistic processes.
Those who continue Art to GCSE and A-Level develop their printmaking practice in greater depth, acquiring impressive technical skills across a broad range of techniques including monoprint, intaglio drypoint etching, collagraph and linocut. This approach allows boys to experiment with methods that are not often available in schools, equipping them with skills more commonly encountered at degree level.
Inspired by the Greats
The Print Room is also a space of artistic inspiration. Boys study the work of renowned printmakers such as Edward Bawden, Albrecht Dürer and Andy Warhol, among others, exploring how their innovative techniques and prints continue to influence contemporary printmaking. These artists provide a rich source of reference and inspiration that informs and enriches our boys’ creative work.
Art teacher and printmaking specialist, Mrs Fiona Whiteman, commented, “Our boys are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to create prints using such excellent facilities, which they would not normally encounter until studying at degree level. The refurbishment has created a light, airy space that is a real pleasure to teach in.”
* Old Bedfordian Gilbert Lloyd (50–58) has shown outstanding and long‑standing commitment to the development of the school’s art provision, and we remain extremely grateful for the transformative impact of his generosity. His support has enabled a remarkable range of initiatives, from establishing the Gilbert Lloyd Lecture Series, which continues to enrich and inspire our artistic community, to funding significant improvements across the Art School. His contributions have helped create a striking exhibition space at the Art School entrance and made possible the development of the light, spacious and inspiring Sculpture Studio enjoyed by boys today. Thanks to his vision and kindness, many generations of young artists, present and future, will continue to benefit from the enhanced creative opportunities his philanthropy has made possible.
