Britain as Workshop of the World. The Founding of the Victoria and Albert Museum by Anna Warrillow – Thursday March 6 2025

This lecture focuses on the design impact of the Great Exhibition and the need for a ‘legacy institution’ in the form of the South Kensington Museum. We will look at the building as a work of art and explore the work of William Morris, Frederick Lord Leighton and other influential designers of the Victorian Age.

Anna Warrilow

Anna graduated as a Blue Badge Guide early in 2013 and won an award for the best new guide at Westminster Abbey. Since then she has conducted bespoke private tours for visitors to London and established her own guiding company Canvas and Stone Tours in 2018.

Anna’s background and passion is Art and History. She studied for her BA in History of Art and Italian at the University of Sussex and completed her MA in Renaissance Decorative Arts and Design at the Royal College of Art.

Anna worked for 6 years as a curator in the Sculpture Department at the Victoria and Albert Museum as well as in smaller collections such as the Henry Moore family Trust. As well as guiding she teaches The History of London to undergraduates as an adjunct lecturer at Richmond The American International University in London.

Anna lectures regularly for art, history and academic societies as well as providing training and Continual Professional Development courses for students and guide members of the Institute of Tourist Guides.