On the trail of artists old & new: a tour of Vauxhall & Kennington

Did you know there was a lively and exciting art scene at the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens a few centuries ago? Visitors would dine among big paintings and encounter intriguing sculptures on the Walks. The art works would not always be admired and would sometimes even be attacked. In the same area, two centuries later, we see the rise of the Lambeth School of Art, under the inspiring guidance of John Sparkes. The area is still teeming with art and artists. Discover more about these artists through the centuries and join us for an exploration of the places where they exhibited, learnt their craft and practised their arts.

We will start our walk at the Kennington Lane entrance to the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and end near Kennington Station.

Lucia van der Drift is a lively and knowledgeable speaker. She is a member of the Lambeth Tour Guide Association. She is a writer and facilitator of events promoting wellbeing through engagement with artworks in a gallery context. She regularly gives workshops for The National Gallery, The Royal Collection and The Wallace Collection.

CMPV Wellness Reception at the National Gallery © Ian Tuttle Photography