PUBLISHER TURNED STONECARVER WINS £2,700 AWARD
Bernard Johnson from Oxford, who gave up his 27 year career in publishing sales to become a stonecarver, has won a £2,700 Queen Elizabeth Scholarship. The award will enable him to receive one-to-one tuition from one of the UK’s leading letter cutters. Bernard will be presented with his award by the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman David Brewer at the Royal Warrant Holders Association’s annual lunch in London in June.
The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) was endowed by the Royal Warrant Holders Association. Its aim is to advance education in modern and traditional crafts and trades in the UK. Scholarships, open to men and women of all ages, are awarded twice a year. This spring six awards were made totalling £40,700.
Bernard (52) was in publishing sales and marketing with Oxford University Press for 25 years and Lion Hudson for two years before deciding to become a stonecarver. He had always been interested in stone and five years ago attended a holiday course in stonecarving. Having discovered his aptitude for the craft he embarked on a stonemasonry course at City of Bath College two years ago. Last October he made the break from the publishing world and set up his own business undertaking private commissions for house names, inscriptions and garden pieces.
Winning a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship means Bernard can have private tuition with Ieuan Rees at his lettering and calligraphy studio in Wales. When Bernard attended a course run by Mr Rees two years ago he saw that further training with Mr Rees could help him advance his skills. Bernard explains, "I need the artistic and design input to help me produce work of distinction. My tuition will be spread out over a number of weeks so that I have time between sessions to develop projects arising from working with Ieuan. I am keen to learn more about design, especially for work which combines both low relief carving and incised lettering.
Bernard’s longer term ambition is to produce work of the quality achieved by the country’s top letter cutters and to work on commissions from corporate clients and cathedrals – as well as memorials and headstones for local people. "I am starting out on a new path and know I have the drive and ambition to develop what I am doing into a very rewarding career."
QEST, the charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, was set up in 1990 with money contributed by its members, to mark the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Association. Since 1991 the Trust has made cash awards worth over £950,000 to over 150 craftsmen and women aged between 17 and 50 plus to develop their skills.
The Trustees look for well thought out projects, which will contribute to the pool of talent in the UK and reflect the excellence of British craftsmanship as symbolised by the Royal Warrant of Appointment. Application forms for summer 2006 Scholarships (closing date 9 June 2006) may be obtained by sending an SAE (50p) to: The Secretary, The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, No. 1 Buckingham Place, London SW1E 6HR. Application forms can also be downloaded from the QEST website: www.qest.org.uk
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Bernard Johnson (D) 01865 556003 (M) 07785 750597
www.bernardjohnson.co.uk
Christine Lea, QEST: 01442.875267 qest@cleapr.co.uk
Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust website: www.qest.org.uk
Royal Warrant Holders Association website: www.royalwarrant.org