About
Sophie Embleton Woodhouse is an artist and tutor, specialising in pigments, gilding, printmaking and drawing.
Brought up by illustrator parents, surrounded by art materials, books and adults mysteriously dressed in historic costume, Sophie inevitably went on to study art. A degree in illustration followed a foundation course, then a printmaking course and a masters in Renaissance Studies. This lead to an apprenticeship and a twenty-five year career as a decorative surfaces conservator, specialising in historic pigments and gilding. Alongside this, Sophie tutored in conservation, gilding, polychromy, art and art history.
While continuing to work as a conservation consultant, Sophie concentrates on printmaking and drawing, sometimes working collaboratively, gathering inspiration from the natural world, medieval art, books, music and the absurdities of life.
She also tutors for light relief, running workshops and teaching individually.
Illustration, history, historical re-enactment and love of gold have led to working on projects as diverse as gilding the Queen’s Jubilee Barge, costumed figures for the Pirate Museum in Nassau , designing the illustrated paving stones for the Samuel Pepys Garden in Seething Lane, polychroming the wooden C15th soldier bell-ringers at Wells Cathedral, creating panels for the Ashmolean Museum using gilding and historic pigments to demonstrate the process of medieval painting and conserving a c1500 carved altarpiece for Radley College.
Sophie has also been unleashed on a number of Oxford colleges, her pigments and gold helping to win the Oxford Preservation Trust Building Conservation award twice.
Sophie tutored for eleven years at City and Guilds of London Art School, tutored in art history at the University of the West of England and for International Academic Projects. She teaches gilding at the Paragon School of Furniture Restoration, courses on pigments and medieval art at West Dean College, drawing and printmaking at Westhope College and nature-based art courses for Severn Gorge Countryside Trust.
She recognises the importance of giving students the confidence to play and experiment, as well as teaching the skills and techniques which have endured for centuries.
When not teaching or researching, Sophie wanders the Shropshire hills with a sketchbook, experiments in her studio, draws anything which doesn’t move and wields a scalpel to make paper art and illustrations.
Brought up by illustrator parents, surrounded by art materials, books and adults mysteriously dressed in historic costume, Sophie inevitably went on to study art. A degree in illustration followed a foundation course, then a printmaking course and a masters in Renaissance Studies. This lead to an apprenticeship and a twenty-five year career as a decorative surfaces conservator, specialising in historic pigments and gilding. Alongside this, Sophie tutored in conservation, gilding, polychromy, art and art history.
While continuing to work as a conservation consultant, Sophie concentrates on printmaking and drawing, sometimes working collaboratively, gathering inspiration from the natural world, medieval art, books, music and the absurdities of life.
She also tutors for light relief, running workshops and teaching individually.
Illustration, history, historical re-enactment and love of gold have led to working on projects as diverse as gilding the Queen’s Jubilee Barge, costumed figures for the Pirate Museum in Nassau , designing the illustrated paving stones for the Samuel Pepys Garden in Seething Lane, polychroming the wooden C15th soldier bell-ringers at Wells Cathedral, creating panels for the Ashmolean Museum using gilding and historic pigments to demonstrate the process of medieval painting and conserving a c1500 carved altarpiece for Radley College.
Sophie has also been unleashed on a number of Oxford colleges, her pigments and gold helping to win the Oxford Preservation Trust Building Conservation award twice.
Sophie tutored for eleven years at City and Guilds of London Art School, tutored in art history at the University of the West of England and for International Academic Projects. She teaches gilding at the Paragon School of Furniture Restoration, courses on pigments and medieval art at West Dean College, drawing and printmaking at Westhope College and nature-based art courses for Severn Gorge Countryside Trust.
She recognises the importance of giving students the confidence to play and experiment, as well as teaching the skills and techniques which have endured for centuries.
When not teaching or researching, Sophie wanders the Shropshire hills with a sketchbook, experiments in her studio, draws anything which doesn’t move and wields a scalpel to make paper art and illustrations.
