TTA ATTENDS CRAFT AWARDS 2023
The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers is one of the historic companies of the city of London and is unusual, if not unique, in being involved with three distinct crafts – bricklaying, roof slating and tiling, and wall and floor tiling – for which the Craft Awards were presented.
A significant part of the Company’s role today is in the fostering of the crafts it represents within the construction industry through the giving of awards and prizes. In this way the Company seeks to encourage the development of these crafts and the training of aspiring craftsmen and craftswomen, giving recognition to individuals at the outset of their careers and ultimately conferring Master Craftsman status on those who can demonstrate the very highest standard of craftsmanship over a range of work.
This year’s Craft Awards were attended by TTA CEO Kay Porter and Chairman Paul Luff.
The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers recognised Chris Cox as Master Craftsman for his services to the wall and floor tiling industry through his substantial career as a creator and designer of wall and floor tiles.
In 2007, Chris spent 12 months developing a fully vitreous encaustic clay body for a project which replaced all the principal tiled floors in the Palace of Westminster.
The project remains the single largest tile contract in the 150-year history of Craven Dunnill.
Craven Dunnill encaustic tiles are now supplied to significant projects worldwide including Parliament buildings in Canada and Australia, large municipal buildings in the United States and more!
The Montgomery Award for Wall and Floor Tiling was presented to Conor Nugent. Conor recently completed his level 2 and 3 NVQ in Wall and Floor Tiling at Southern Region College.
Contestants had to first complete a stretch (speed) test which involved using a tile backing system from Schlüter-Systems.
The competitors were asked to create a large thistle motif in cut tile to precise measurements on one wall and to craft circular work and tile niche with a border on the adjacent wall.
Great to see Chris Cox being recognised for not only his skill and craftsmanship but the massive contribution in retaining the knowledge and abilities to produce encaustic tiling of exemplary quality.