
Art – What is it Good For? – GI 25 108
26 September 2025 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm BST
Tutor: Tammy Ellis BA (Hons) (Lon) BA (Hons) (Surrey)
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Over the course of her career certain artists and their works have inspired former Guildford Institute tutor and current trustee Tammy Ellis in various ways. In this special talk for Guildford Festival of the Arts, Tammy will explore artists including Frederic William Burton, Gustave Caillebotte, Laura Knight, Frida Kahlo, Elaine de Kooning and Damien Hirst and consider how their works answer the question ‘Art – What is it good for?’
The bar will be open before the talk and also during the interval.
Tags

Gustave Caillebotte. 1877. Paris Street; Rainy Day. Oil on Canvas. 212.2 × 276.2 cm. Art Institute, Chicago. Image Source Wikimedia Commons
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About the Speaker
Tammy Ellis
Tammy was born in London and raised for some years in the North of England. She returned to her roots in 1982 to attend the University of London to read a degree in French and German and, more importantly, this is where she met her husband.
Whilst languages remain an important part of her life, and she still teaches both French and German up to A level, her main passion is Art History. Tammy has been a lecturer in Art History at The Guildford Institute since graduating from the University of Surrey in 2007. Her main interests lie in 19th, 20th and 21st Century art and her aim has always been to make art accessible and ‘food for the soul’.
Tammy has also been involved in art tours to France, Ireland and Liverpool and has given guided visits of Tate Britain. She thoroughly enjoy the level of interaction that these trips bring. Tammy also lectures privately to groups and gives ‘one-off’ talks on art.
Tammy has three wonderful children, three gorgeous grandchildren, two dogs, and a horse - they all keep her very busy! When she does have a moment’s peace, she loves to bake and read books for her book club.
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