Lectures and Specialist Tours

I lecture on a range of specialist subjects including Asian and Islamic art and the ancient Middle East and India. I also give talks on the architecture of London, looking at the city's development since 17th century including recent and ongoing construction. I am a lecturer for the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts (NADFAS).

I guide specialist tours of major London museums. These include the Islamic, Indian and Chinese collections in the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Also the Mesopotamian, Assyrian and Persian Galleries in the British Museum.

I lead specialist tours of architecture in London. Depending on your requirements tours can focus on the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire, the Georgian period, Victorian buildings or 20th century and contemporary.  Or look at particular types of buildings, churches, public, residential.

Current lecture subjects are alongside. Click on the thumbnails for details of each lecture.

Heavenly Veils

Islamic ornament on buildings and artefacts
The beauty of Islamic art, its difference, intrigues and delights.  The approach to ornament lies at the heart of its uniqueness...
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Islamic Buildings

From the Dome of the Rock to the Taj Mahal
Islamic buildings are among the most admired and visited, from the Alhambra in Spain to the Taj Mahal in India. This lecture examines the emergence of an Islamic architectural style...
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Classic Turkish Buildings,

Seljuk Medreses and Ottoman Mosques
"What a miracle is this Seljuk architecture. It has an elegance, a distinction of design and a subtle delicacy of ornament surpassing any other known to me since French Gothic at its best"
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Iznik Pottery,

joyous floral designs of the Ottoman court
In 16th century Ottoman Turkey a revolution in ceramic decoration occurred as the Iznik kilns produced flower designs of astonishing freshness and vibrancy...
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London Architecture

From the Great Fire to the modern day
London has developed in an unstructured way over the centuries, still a historic city despite the ravages of fires, bombing and development. We all have our perceptions of the city’s buildings...
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The Olympics and Developing Face of London

The good, the bad and The Olympics
London is changing more than at any time in its history. New icons such as the ‘Gherkin’ and London Eye are being joined by the Olympic Park and the 'Shard of Glass'...
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Road to the Olympics

Inviting the world to London: Great Exhibition to 2012 Olympics
1851... 1908... 1948... 2012... London has set the standard for major international events. The 2012 Olympics will not only be a great sports festival, but a striking example of urban regeneration...
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