In its original rendition, the school was modelled on the late-Victorian-era
Arts and Crafts movement in Britain, centred in
London's
National Art Training School in
South Kensington. Its mission was to give instruction focussing on the "
arts and crafts" and their "practical application to the requirements of trade and manufactures. By 1884, student artworks of sufficient quality to being shown at the
Wellington Art Society's Annual Exhibition in the company of
J C Richmond,
John Gully and C D Barraud and two years later as part of an exhibition of Colonial art in the
Royal Albert Hall, London. By 1912, the college had 365 attending students although as reporters pointed out many of them were doing classes normally provided by technical colleges. In 1920, the New Zealand painter and past student of the school
Archibald Nicholl was appointed and would remain head of school to 1927. Along with David Blair, previous heads of the school were: G.H. Elliott and R. Herdman Smith. Nicholl was followed by R. Wallwork (1927–1945). Initially, the school was based in the Girls High School building on the corner of
Rolleston Avenue and Hereford Street, now part of The Art Centre after Girl's High moved to
Cranmer Square. In 1957, the art school was the first faculty of the university to move to Ilam where it was situated in Oakover House on the Ilam campus. The following years, John Simpson was appointed senior lecturer and in 1961, aged 38, was made first professor of fine arts at the School of Art Canterbury University. Simpson headed the school for nearly thirty years, retiring in 1990. During his time as head of school, he oversaw its relocation on the Ilam campus in 1979 in what would be its first purpose-built structure. and film in 1966 as subjects. Art history was included in 1974, the
Bachelor of Fine Arts degree introduced in 1982 and art theory available as a subject from 1985. In 1991, the School of Fine Arts celebrated its Māori students, past and present, with an exhibition
He Tol Tutanga Na Ngaa Toa O Te WhareWaananga O Waltaha. One of the earliest Māori artists to attend Ilam was
Buck Nin (Ngati Raukawa), who trained under Rudi Gopas and gained a Diploma of Fine Arts from Ilam in 1966 becoming the first Māori to graduate from the school.
Gavin Bishop (Waikato, Ngati Awa) 1964–1968,
Jonathan Mane-Wheoki [Nga Puhi] 1966–1969, Eruera (Ted) Te Whiti Nia 1970–1973,
Kura Te Waru-Rewiri (Nga Puhi) 1970–1973,
Shane Cotton (Nga Puhi) 1985–1988,
Peter Robinson (Kai Tahu) 1985–1988,
Chris Heaphy (Ngai Tahu) 1987–1990,
Darryn George [Ngapuhi) 198–1991 and
John Walsh Aitanga a Hauiti/ New Zealand Irish 1973–1974. == Staff ==