News

The Creative Dimension Trust (TCDT) is delighted to announce that work created by its students will be on display within one of Fortnum & Mason’s windows in London Piccadilly for two weeks from 6 September 2021. TCDT offers online and in-venue workshops, with free tuition and materials, to young people who wish to develop their hand skills.

Workshops range from contemporary sugar modelling and stone carving to embroidery and gilding. TCDT aims to have 80% of participants from less advantaged backgrounds. Direct recruiting for workshops is at schools located in areas of social/economic deprivation or geographic isolation.

The window display for Fortnum & Mason has been designed by TCDT Trustee Simon Costin. Simon Costin’s work as a set designer brings the creativity of art installation to editorial and fashion shows alike. He collaborated with Alexander McQueen on his own line and McQueen's Givenchy ready to ready-to-wear and haute couture shows. Simon's other clients include Lanvin, Tiffany, H&M, Valentino, Gucci, YSL and Faberge. Simon’s design will consist of a surreal window featuring a sky painted backdrop with a table laid for dinner complete with marbled wine glasses, gilded napkins, leather masks for the quests, a sugar paste flower arrangement as a centrepiece, and floating black mannequin hands holding knives above each plate.

First founded in 1707, Fortnum & Mason has remained an essential destination for anyone in search of extraordinary food and exceptional service. Millions from around the world visit the iconic Eau De Nil store in Piccadilly to take Afternoon Tea and explore the famous Food Halls. Penny Bendall, TCDT Founder and CEO, comments: "We're thrilled to be collaborating with Fortnum & Mason and Simon Costin who are giving TCDT students the chance to create a unique display in a central London location. TCDT is determined to demonstrate the wide range of career paths available to young people with these valuable transferrable skills and help them fulfil their potential.”

15 TCDT workshops are involved in creating work for the window display. Student work will include:

• Perspex candlesticks
• 23 carat gold gilded napkins
• Stone carvings of letters and eyes
• Leather surrealist headpieces
• Wooden display stands
• Gilded leather placemats
• Marionette puppet insects with enamel eyes
• Enamelled metal eyes and napkin rings
• Marbled wine glasses
• Cast and gilded stars
• Silhouette dinner plates
• Sugar paste flowers
• Surrealist ceramic tiles
• A painted sky backdrop

All TCDT workshops are fully funded by generous sponsors and taught by world-class tutors. Workshops are open to students aged 14-19 who show potential in forging a career pathway where precise hand-eye co-ordination, and the ability to understand and construct three-dimensional shapes are prerequisite. TCDT workshops provide valuable insight to possible career paths. Alumni have pursued careers in architecture, engineering, fine art, jewellery making, art conservation, glass working, theatre design, fashion and costume design.

Workshops involved  

Contemporary Sugar and Gum Paste Flowers and Insects
Online workshop taught by Lucy Wilson, Head Pastry Chef for The Royal Household

From Dream To Product
Held at Zone Creations Ltd, London

Embroidery
Online workshop taught by Amy Burt

Stone Carving
Taught at the Building Crafts College, London

Woodturning
Taught at the Building Crafts College, London

Gilding On Textiles
Online workshop taught by Master Gilder Rian Kanduth

Backdrop For Window Display
Taught by fresco and decorative painter Sarah Hocombe and held at Zone Creations Ltd

Surrealist Head Pieces – Leather Mask Making
Taught by mask maker Emma Brassington and held at Dulwich College

Gilding On Leather
Online workshop taught by Master Gilder Rian Kanduth

Bejewelled Beasts – Marionette Puppet Making
Online workshop taught by puppeteer Siân Kidd

Enamelling And Flower Making With Metal
Taught by Tomiko Ravn (Goldsmiths’ 2021 Craftsmanship Award winner) and held at The Goldsmiths' Centre

Marbling
Taught by paper marbler Lucy McGrath and held at Dulwich College

Ceramic Tile Making
Run by Craven Dunnill Jackfield Ltd and held at Dulwich College

Casting & Gilding
Online workshop taught by Master Gilder Rian Kanduth

Silhouette Decoration For Window Display
Online workshop taught by fresco and decorative painter Sarah Hocombe

Further information about TCDT and its workshops can be found here.