John Ruskin was a Victorian polymath, with interests in botany, natural history, art, architecture, and social reform.  Perhaps more famously known as William Turner’s promoter, he was a distinguished artist in his own right, and played a pivotal role in bringing the pre-Raphaelites to fame and fortune.

Martin Fidler created a Ruskin Walk for the Camberwell Arts Festival in 2007, then in March 2011 started working with Andrew Stuck devising a number of different Ruskin Walks.  Their collaboration led to funding from the Curry Fund of the Geologists Association to develop four Ruskin Geology Walks, and subsequently they were commissioned by University College London’s Bartlett School of Planning. A number of different commissions followed as well as festival appearances in London and beyond.

“It is a tribute to the continuing influence of John Ruskin that a bunch of apparently sane people will voluntarily spend a cold, damp December afternoon walking around London looking at cobbles and tracing the fossils in Portland Roach stone, in homage to his work.

Ruskin Walks, led by artist and originator Martin Fidler, with his collaborator Andrew Stuck, encourage you to look at the city around you through Ruskin’s eyes, noticing the richness of stones and craftsmanship in the urban fabric which are often being lost beneath the machine-made modern city. The most recent one took place in Camberwell, the area where Ruskin lived for over 50 years.” Dulwich On view

Between 2011 and 2016, Andrew Stuck and Martin Fidler devised a creative walkshop using techniques and following the life of John Ruskin:

• November, 2011 – Clerkenwell Rocks – funded by the Curry Fund
• December 2011, – Camberwell Kerbs – funded by the Curry Fund
• June, 2012 – Ruskin Theatre garden, Croydon – Chelsea Fringe
• July, 2012 – Ruskin at Leighton House – InTRANSIT Art Festival – Leighton House is one of the most remarkable buildings of the 19th century. The house was the former home and studio of the leading Victorian artist, Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896) and it was extended and embellished over a period of 30 years to create a private palace of art. Leighton house became a focal point for the pre-Raphaelites and John Ruskin was one of its most public admirers.
• June, 2012 – Ruskin Walk in Camberwell
• July, 2012 – Ruskin Walk in Camberwell – UCL Bartlett School of Planning
• May, 2013 – Ruskin Walks in Ramsgate – UpDown Gallery
• June, 2013 – Ruskin and the Fabric of Life – Leighton House
• February, 2014 – Celeb8Feb: Ruskin’s birthday walk in Shoreditch – Unto This Last
• February, 2015 – Ruskin Walks: Sheltering in Shoreditch
• June, 2015 – Home Fronts – Ruskin Walks in Shoreditch – Geoffrey Museum
• July, 2015 Ruskin Walk in Camberwell
• February, 2016 – Out and About in Shoreditch – Journals of Discovery making and creating event – Cass Business School & Geoffrey Museum
• November, 2019 – Ruskin Revisited – Ruskin Park, Camberwell

Comments from Ruskin Walk participants:

• Eclectic day full of inspiring ideas and surprising connections.
• Good way to spend Saturday morning: bit of architecture, bit of drawing, bit of Ruskin, bit of design ‘puzzling’.  Fab!
• Very informative – will visit area again. Super-organised. Plenary session great to finish a really enjoyable morning. Loved the connection with boards and creating a 3D piece.  Great opportunity to create. Thanks Martin & Andrew.  Will come on another walk! 
• Most interesting, makes me feel I want to explore more of the area.
• Hugely enjoyable – Ruskin still rocks in the 21st century.
• As usual, it was the doing that was the most interesting. Looking and drawing at Unto this Last, drawing at Arnold Circus, but most especially building and sharing drawings at the Geffrye Museum.  Again the ‘active gift’, the board, make the walk extra special. Enjoyable and effective.  Well done!
• Excellent, “off the London Wall” experience amongst an eclectic bunch of individuals. Great way to spend the day.
• Excellent day! Nice group of people and enjoyable walk.  Some fascinating places en route!
• Excellent atmosphere and original ideas for this ‘constructive’ and instructive walk – will come again! 
• Another successful Ruskin Walk. Loved the East End location and the links with Ruskin’s ethos.  Give us more! Thanks Martin & Andrew
• Ruskin walking today has been amazing to grab info on the world of his thoughts and ideas.  I could share a lot of aspects with others and people were all enjoyed. Well organising the route and warm welcome group!! Thank you Andrew & Martin!!.

Find out more about Ruskin Walks from our blog