education

Over the years I have run a range of workshops throughout the UK including Ruthin Centre for applied Arts, Park Gallery - Falkirk,  Shire Hall Gallery- Stafford,  MIMA -Middlesborough and  Stockport Art Gallery as well as schools throughout England ranging from day workshops to week long projects such as creating a huge tiled Noah’s Ark at Mepal and Witcham C.E Primary School - Cambridge. I have taught all age ranges from 3 - adult

Since my oldest daughter started school in 2017 I noticed that with the academic pressures within the modern school system the subject of Art and Craft has inevitably taken a backseat in the curriculum. It led me to ponder and indeed worry where all the future creatives will come from if the opportunities to explore ideas creatively and the use of different mediums are dwindling in the classrooms.

With this in mind and add to the mix my love of a challenge, enterprise schemes, working in multimedia (and jumping headfirst into a ball of stress) I decided to create a weekly after school club on a voluntary basis which in a small way addresses some of these issues, so far it's been a real challenge, very stressful at times and has taken over a bit too much! But within that it has been incredibly rewarding, It's an absolute joy to see what the children come up with and watch how they develop their ideas and skills from week to week. The pictures here show some masterpieces by the children in the club, age ranges from 6-11.

In the small time it has been running we have had great successes such as appearing on Blue Peter and getting into the finals twice of the David Shepherd Global Canvas children’s art competition. The real success though is on a day to day level seeing the confidence and ideas of the children shining through, pictures brought in from home, bright eyes explaining ideas and the triumphs over struggles and setbacks. Their enthusiasm and excitement is captivating

Following on from the success at primary level I am now planning on working with secondary school pupils helping them take the next steps in the art world - watch this space! 

You can follow the progress on the Creative Enterprise Club Facebook Group.