The National Gallery is a centre of the nation's heritage and houses an art collection of international importance. A far cry from the site at Woolwich, you might think, but the two places have more in common than meets the eye.
Our trainees went to the Gallery with Robert Shand, the chief Plasterer on Bricking It. But they weren't there for the Monets or the Van Goghs. They were more interested in the ornate plaster cornicing in the huge galleries.
At just 24 Robert was the foreman in charge of the plasterwork in gallery nine, and he showed the trainees his handiwork. "The idea was to show them that there are different sides to plastering, not just the mundane essential work," says Robert. "The walls look like natural stone, but in fact they're plaster. The craft skills haven't changed much in 150 years."
Plaster-mad trainee Greg Males was in his element, joking that the portraits on the walls depict famous plasterers through history. Overall, Robert felt that the visit was well worthwhile. "The trainees saw a different side to the job. They realised that it's the same fundamental process, and the same people. Zac was particularly impressed."
Robert is no stranger to grand and high-profile jobs. During the course of his 23 years in the business he has worked on luxury homes, colleges, Canary Wharf and Buckingham Palace.
Other jobs include the Sultan of Brunei's English country house and Bluewater Shopping Centre main entrance. "The Bluewater job involved a five million pound budget, a two-year schedule, and involved 155 men at its peak".
So it's not all taping and jointing then.
