Creative ID: 122
North Shore including Devonport, Stanley Bay, Vauxhall, Hauraki, Belmont, Bayswater, Takapuna, Milford, etc. Central Auckland.
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I am a Master of Fine Arts (Elam) qualified Auckland-based visual artist, working in painting, sculpture, and site-specific installation. Alongside my creative practice, I am the Director of a specialised art services agency that focuses on arts education, artist mentoring, and art valuations. Within my artistic work, my focus is on abstraction. My work references New Zealand and international abstract painting movements, art history, and contemporary art theory and movements. As an art educator and mentor, my aim is to encourage students to develop their own unique concepts and show them how art is vital in developing critical thinking.
My track record of experience and success - or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with
I have been working as a professional visual artist exhibiting throughout New Zealand and internationally for twenty years. My art educator experience includes teaching children, young people, and adults in practical art, art theory, art history, and art appreciation from primary school to university level.
EDUCATION
- 2002: Bachelor of Fine Arts
- 2009–2010: Postgraduate Scholar
- 2010: Master of Fine Arts
- 2019: University Scholarship Recipient
CAREER SUMMARY
- Director, specialised art services agency, March 2018 – present
- Educator, after-school and holiday art workshops, May 2018 – present
- Mentor, arts mentoring programme, November 2018 – April
- Gallery Exhibitions Manager, auction house, June 2017 – January 2018
- Fine Art Department Consultant auction house, July 2016 – June 2017
- Artist Ambassador, New Zealand April 2015 – October 2019
- Independent Fine Art Professional November 2010–present
- Professional Visual Artist 2002–present
- Auction Coordinator June–August 2011
- Valuation Specialist, Manager, Assistant Manager, March 2003 – November 2010
- Graduate Teaching Assistant, 2009 and 2010
- Assistant Director, an art gallery, Auckland 2002–2004
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
Educating people in art, art history, and art appreciation is a passion of mine. My teaching experience began when undertaking my postgraduate studies, working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Painting and Critical Studies (Art). Following on from this, I have been teaching children, age 5–11 for over a year through a company's after-school programme. Through my own art business, I have developed 'Art Appreciation' courses for adults and children. The creative process is of great interest to me, enabling people to develop an understanding of art, and how the creative process develops critical thinking is of utmost importance. I believe that art and creativity are a vital part of the school curriculum and assisting with the development of this would be extremely valuable. I would like to work with a school to develop a specific project that addresses the particular areas of interest, based on the location, history of the school and its people.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
I see arts education as the future for me. There is a huge amount of value in sharing the knowledge and information I have garnered thus far with young people. The Creatives in Schools programme will be a valuable link through the opportunity it brings to both the artist and students. Learning by doing is particularly important in art. The chance to share technical, conceptual, and practical art knowledge with children to encourage future generations of creative thinkers will inform my practice greatly.