Teachers' Corner

Abigail Aaron, Bradford Academy

I am a digital artist who is passionate about supporting local businesses and in particular, pubs in my area. I adore teaching but what helps me wind down and "switch off" on a weekend is wandering along the canal to our local towns Shipley and Saltaire and visiting some great local establishments. My plan is to visit and draw as many fabulous independent, local pubs as possible!

Amanda Lankford, St Paul's Catholic Primary School, Billingham, Stockton on Tees

I love all forms of art and craft but at the moment am especially enjoying crochet and painting both traditional and non traditional surfaces. I believe that every child is an artist and that our job is to inspire and lead by example both as in all subjects. For some children, as for me, art and craft is my therapy and real opportunity to explore my creativity the way I want to without limits or judgement.

Andrie Savva, Researcher Practitioner

The artworks form part of the collection ‘Ξωπόρτι’, enacted as the front door and the facade of (old) buildings. Through an artographic project, I re-member and re-visit centenarian architectural buildings and historical landmarks, and create with pencil and charcoal. The buildings are made with plinth and stone, whereas the front doors are made of wood and glass. These artworks are not an attempt in an observe-and-draw approach. Rather, they emerge from an entanglement of stories, lived experiences, senses, atmospheres, architectural elements, memories.

Camilla Campbell, St Andrews College, Cambridge

There are a sequence of drawings that visualise a kind of a graphic story around words. There is no religious meaning just an overall feeling of kindness, caring, compassion and empathy for people and the various emotions one experiences. Each drawing is a question about meaningful words and events.The medium is black pen and edited with Adobe Photoshop to further render details and watercolour. The fine careful minute drawings of the characters and the peculiarity of items which have a genuine and precious feeling and there is a superb high quality in the careful pen renderings. The images are incredibly beautiful and sensitive.The artwork is also available in black and white and intended for the crazy adult colouring crowd who are enthused by 'mindfulness' The colouring idea was to promote a peacefulness and an understanding of connecting. It has a sense of mystery surrounding the illustrations and there is a preciousness about each drawing. It will allow hopefully the person who takes it up, that is colouring, a real connection with different emotions, feelings, and experiences they go through.

Charlotte Strafford, Chetwynde School, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria

My art is my escape from the chaos of everyday life, a way for me to express myself and connect with the world around me. My art is a reflection of who I am, a mix of chaos, of simplicity and complexity. It is a way for me to share my unique perspective with the world, to evoke emotions and spark conversations. As a mother, I hope to instill in my children a love for creativity and a sense of wonder at the world around them. I want them to see the beauty in the smallest simplest things, to find joy in creating something from nothing. In my art, I find peace, freedom, and fulfillment. It is my passion, my therapy, my escape. And I am grateful for every moment I get to spend creating something beautiful.

Davina Hitchens, The Arnewood School, New Milton, Hampshire

I work across a variety of techniques, particularly in Textiles. My work is very much inspired by the local area, particularly the coastline.

Eve Wilson, St.Gabriel's C.E. Primary School, Blackburn

I love watercolour, pencil crayon and mixed media. I enjoy photography too. Latterly I've started to experiment in digital art on my iPadPro. I design and sell cards on Thortful. I always carry a sketchbook and my phone camera with me so I can capture interesting detail.

Hayley Parsons, Micklefield School, Reigate, Surrey

Art, for me, is a journey full of exploration, learning, and embracing the unexpected. I work with a variety of mediums, always eager to try new things and grow from the insights of others. This piece is a watercolor and ink painting of the school I proudly work at, a place where I get to nurture and inspire creative students every day. It reflects my belief that true beauty lies in the process—where mistakes turn into masterpieces and creativity knows no bounds.

Jessica Talbot, Dixons Croxteth Academy, Liverpool

I created this piece alongside my Year 11 students who were studying a project inspired by natural forms. To create this mixed media artwork, I used acrylic paints, oil pastel, pencil and ink. My focus was on capturing the intricate patterns and inherent beauty present in the world of nature.

Jonathan Carney, Framwellgate School, Durham

I love taking photographs of everyday things.

Katie Arakelian, St Thomas More Catholic Secondary School, Bedford

My practice is currently based around creating realistic pen and ink drawings of Architectural structures and Iconic buildings from locations around the world. Specialising in screen printing and drawing, the topic of Architecture has been a recurring theme in my work. It is something that I have always been drawn to and interested in. Throughout my final two years in University, I based my graduate project on the idea of combining the city, a cramped and inconsistent place, with rural landscapes. I focused on mapping, journey taking, and layering in order to combine and manipulate both cityscapes and landscapes.

Kate Irving, King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

I am always curious to try different ways of working and new materials, whilst trying to ‘keep my hand in’ with painting and life drawing. I’m proud of myself when I find time to do a painting just for pleasure - of a place I love or a composition that just inspires me. Acrylic paints are my go-to but I love the idea of understanding the properties of oil paints more. I love swimming outdoors which has inspired some of my work. These images are a snapshot of my portfolio over the last couple of years.

Kim Blythe, St John’s CE Primary School, Reading

Card work created with heart punch

Martin Jackson, Denbigh School, Milton Keynes

As an art teacher I find it rewarding to sit with the students and draw. It reminds me that I can still do it and allows me to manage time also, providing cues as to where they might be. I am also a keen photographer, working with light in creative ways. I do studio work and mix this with projection pieces where images are projected onto the model. A bit like body painting, but with light. This has also allowed me to share this technique with my students, some of whom have loved being a little more creative with technology and images.

Melanie Hunter, St Gabriel’s School, Newbury, Berkshire

These pieces were created digitally using Procreate and an Apple Pencil. I have recently started a side hustle as a surface pattern designer and I’ve always taken great inspiration from nature. I have recently come across Rex Ray and these pieces are somewhat inspired by his work.

Natalie Elaine, Leicester College, Leicester

I love making cards for family for special events. This one was a piece I created for Easter using a masking technique. I love planting wild flowers so thought this would be a great way to use them in my artwork.

Natalie Jenkins, St Thomas More Catholic Secondary, Bedford

I work mainly in oils and sometimes acrylic. I also enjoy using Procreate since downloading it during Lockdown. I like to paint landscapes, developing ideas based on real locations but adapting it to make them unique. I find the sky, and clouds specifically to be an endless source of inspiration. My camera roll is filled with pictures I’ve taken of the early morning sunrise or stunning sunsets. Even moody, cloudy days can fire my creativity.

Nicola Waltho, Bideford College, North Devon

My degree was fine art textiles, but I love to explore print and machine embroidery with hand stitching elements. Always wanting to learn new technqiues and explore new materials. These last few months I have been working along the theme of Still life and inparticular house plants.

Nicole Horgan, Walton High School, Milton Keynes

I am currently exploring the use of purposeful mark making and the layering of colour through both printmaking and painting.

Nikki Dennington, Helen Allison School, Kent

I have always been deeply fascinated by texture, nature, and the raw, tactile qualities of sculpture. My passion lies in the creative process itself, where the unpredictability of materials becomes a source of inspiration. I am captivated by how materials transform and evolve through the act of making, allowing me to explore their physical properties in new and unexpected ways. As both an art tutor and a practicing artist with my own studio, I feel incredibly fortunate to engage with creativity on multiple levels. Teaching allows me to share my love for art, encouraging others to discover their own creative voice, while my studio practice gives me the freedom to experiment and push boundaries. The interplay between these roles fuels my artistic journey, as each informs and enriches the other.

Sue Lowden, Bushey Manor Junior School, Bushey, Herts

Images completed as part of an online class I've been doing. Making time for me within a very busy life!

Tori Parker, Tuxford Academy, Nottinghamshire

Whilst receiving cancer treatment I elevated my abstract art techniques to using resin. This abstract piece is from a series of automatic painting pieces which distracted me from life and rekindled my love of art (and teaching it).

INTERNATIONAL SUBMISSIONS

Alyce Dickinson, Woolgoolga Public School, New South Wales, Australia

I love creating custom palms, textured art and fine line paintings. I also live experimenting with colours and textures when creating new pieces.

Chek-huo Leung, Peking University Experimental school, Jiaxing

In a transformative summer journey, I immersed myself beyond mere travel, delving into the heart of people, food, and culture. Armed with watercolors, Posca markers, and fineliners, I aimed to encapsulate these experiences. Each piece in this collection weaves a rich tapestry of human connection and cultural diversity. The faces I painted narrate stories of resilience, joy, and shared humanity. The vibrant food hues represent not just sustenance but also the communal bonds forged over meals. Intricately detailed cultural elements mirror deep-rooted traditions and the ever-evolving nature of societies. This body of work transcends a visual diary; it’s an emotional odyssey. It unearths the profound meanings behind everyday encounters and celebrates the beauty of diversity. Through my art, I invite viewers to perceive the world through my eyes, feel the emotions I felt, and appreciate the intricate details that render each moment unique.

Claire Patterson, Isle of Man

Mixed media conceptual artist who derives inspiration from a range of sources. Working in the discipline of fine art, I have also been teaching graphic communication for close to 15 years. Traces was completed as a response to a personal journey through grief.. the image represents a physical journey in the format of a heat map, recording the physical routes taken on foot, over the course of a year, in memory of my daughter. The purpose to create something tangible. A target of 2020 kilometers walked in a year, recorded in a heat map. To take something scared and damaged (the wooden board..) and use the scars to create something beautiful. Things don’t have to be perfect, or new to still be beautiful. Complete acceptance is to use what you have. The second image, Mr Turtle was completed for a friend. A description of a holiday enjoyed and a lasting memory of that holiday, replicated on canvas. Because I could. The final image, Completely abstract, a section og an old school desk.. damaged by years of graffiti and wear. Given new life as I looked to find something beautiful amongst the damage.

Eleni Bukalan, Yowie Bay Public School, New South wales, Australia

Art for me is a combination of being in the zone and immersing myself in the experience of making art for my own pleasure and also the acquisition of new skills so I can transfer my learning to my students. The more I learn about art the more passionate I become about it's importance and it's place in the curriculum. Giving young minds the opportunity to engage their right brains in learning experiences and develop their imagination and creativity is at the forefront of my teaching. Creating and linking my art to my own life lessons and journey is at the forefront of my artmaking.

Ivy Brioso, PAREF Rosehill School, Inc., Philippines

From painting landscapes to nature's flora, I am now advancing to depict animals in brushstrokes.

Kerry Harvey, British International School of Casablanca, Morocco

For World Book Day, teachers at BISC were encouraged to create a piece of art inspired by a book. As our school is in Morocco, I decided to recreate a scene from a book called 'The Storyteller' by Evan Turk who captures the vibrancy of a Moroccan medina in his amazing illustrations. The piece has been created using acrylic paints on canvas.