I am an archaeology and ceramics trained visual art educator who believes that joy and curiosity should be at the centre of students’ school experience. I am interested in project-based, interdisciplinary, student-centred learning. Artists in my classroom have opportunities to pursue their own interests leading to a wide range of diverse outcomes and high levels of student ownership.

As an art teacher, I believe in the power of art to transform one’s view of the world, leading to deeper shared understanding and personal well-being. I see my role as facilitating positive social change. In recent years students have been finalists in the Human Rights Arts Prize in Hong Kong, and have been inspired by their work in class to organise fundraising events for local organisations. Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of my teaching practice, as evidenced by the number of students who choose to take diploma level visual art despite not wanting to pursue a visually creative career.

My own experience coming to visual art as a mature student informs my art teaching on a daily basis as I can uniquely put myself in my students’ shoes. I continue to develop my own art making skills through regular courses and in my own practice, and enjoy modelling a growth mindset. Through innovative, fun and unusual drawing activities students gain in confidence and skill, and I regularly have parents tell me about their child’s new-found identity as an artist.