Art
For twenty four years I was an associate lecturer in Primary and Early Years art at the Faculty of Education, Cambridge University. Prior to my retirement, I worked with children and staff in the ways listed below, to the theme of the school's choice.
In all cases it was vital to me that clear, manageable methods were shown and tried, classroom organisation addressed, resources and books recommended, and reference made to the work of relevant artists. The sessions were informal, practical and relaxed, and offered a wealth of stimulating and exciting ideas for the specialist and non-specialist alike.
‘How good it was to have you with us. Everybody loved it....we all look forward to our next Inset with you. You make it practical and that’s what we need.’
Teacher, Preparatory School, Kingston-upon-Thames.
Drawing – a range of unusual approaches and media to develop skills, observation and understanding
Painting – classroom organisation, colour mixing, advice on resources and techniques, innovative ideas and approaches, expecting more from children
Printing techniques – block, roller, pounce, monoprints using a variety of media and starting points
Ceramics – introducing and exploring clay, hand-building techniques, firing with or without a school kiln, glazing. Large exterior or interior commissions involving whole schools. I specialised in ceramics for my art degree.
Book-making – defining a book, designing for specific purposes, decorative and binding techniques, books for presentation of work, individual and unique ‘boundary-pushing’ designs
Textiles – felting, wool-wrapping, stitching (including my special method of teaching children to thread their own needle so you don’t have to!) weaving, batik, printing on cloth, collage, 3-dimensional manipulation techniques, fabric and thread work, large wall-hanging commissions involving pupils.
Environmental art – in or out of doors, using natural materials, learning from the work of Andy Goldsworthy and others
Display – Inset courses to transform your school, explore your philosophy, create an environment for learning
Commissions - I can work as an artist-in-residence, either alone or with pupils, on an indoor or out-door mural, ceramic or textile project.
For my books on practical art for teachers, see Publications.
Art and writing commissions
I currently take occasional commissions for murals and writing, such as poems or songs, serious or humorous for a particular occasion, and also for hymns.
I worked as an artist-in-residence, either alone or with pupils, on an indoor or outdoor mural, ceramic or textile project, or to build a play, story, poem or other presentation piece on the theme of your choice and to suit specific numbers of pupils – or individual talents!
For theatre commissions see Shows.
Examples
Large ceramic plaques and fountains
Exterior/interior murals and painted panels for school walls
Large textile pieces, panels and wall-hangings (all the above usually involved many children)
A Home for Christmas – play for whole school
Peter Pan in a Day – play for 60 infants
The Three Little T-shirts – play on recycling for KS1 class
Commissioned art pieces for private houses
Commissioned plays for theatre
In all cases it was vital to me that clear, manageable methods were shown and tried, classroom organisation addressed, resources and books recommended, and reference made to the work of relevant artists. The sessions were informal, practical and relaxed, and offered a wealth of stimulating and exciting ideas for the specialist and non-specialist alike.
‘How good it was to have you with us. Everybody loved it....we all look forward to our next Inset with you. You make it practical and that’s what we need.’
Teacher, Preparatory School, Kingston-upon-Thames.
Drawing – a range of unusual approaches and media to develop skills, observation and understanding
Painting – classroom organisation, colour mixing, advice on resources and techniques, innovative ideas and approaches, expecting more from children
Printing techniques – block, roller, pounce, monoprints using a variety of media and starting points
Ceramics – introducing and exploring clay, hand-building techniques, firing with or without a school kiln, glazing. Large exterior or interior commissions involving whole schools. I specialised in ceramics for my art degree.
Book-making – defining a book, designing for specific purposes, decorative and binding techniques, books for presentation of work, individual and unique ‘boundary-pushing’ designs
Textiles – felting, wool-wrapping, stitching (including my special method of teaching children to thread their own needle so you don’t have to!) weaving, batik, printing on cloth, collage, 3-dimensional manipulation techniques, fabric and thread work, large wall-hanging commissions involving pupils.
Environmental art – in or out of doors, using natural materials, learning from the work of Andy Goldsworthy and others
Display – Inset courses to transform your school, explore your philosophy, create an environment for learning
Commissions - I can work as an artist-in-residence, either alone or with pupils, on an indoor or out-door mural, ceramic or textile project.
For my books on practical art for teachers, see Publications.
Art and writing commissions
I currently take occasional commissions for murals and writing, such as poems or songs, serious or humorous for a particular occasion, and also for hymns.
I worked as an artist-in-residence, either alone or with pupils, on an indoor or outdoor mural, ceramic or textile project, or to build a play, story, poem or other presentation piece on the theme of your choice and to suit specific numbers of pupils – or individual talents!
For theatre commissions see Shows.
Examples
Large ceramic plaques and fountains
Exterior/interior murals and painted panels for school walls
Large textile pieces, panels and wall-hangings (all the above usually involved many children)
A Home for Christmas – play for whole school
Peter Pan in a Day – play for 60 infants
The Three Little T-shirts – play on recycling for KS1 class
Commissioned art pieces for private houses
Commissioned plays for theatre