Notes from the studio, classroom and creative practice. Here I share recent work, teaching ideas, collaborations and reflections on the processes behind them.
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Critique should move the work forward.
When I was an art student, I loved critique sessions. There was something exciting about putting work in front of other artists and hearing what they genuinely noticed, questioned or responded to. Now, teaching A-level and IB Visual Arts, I think critique is one of the most important habits we can develop with students — particularly in the second year, when time suddenly becomes very precious. In my classroom, we have a regular critique towards the end of the week. Students bring either a finished artwork or something currently in development. But they also need to bring a question. What…
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Student Agency in Visual Art: Learning to Own the Process
Student agency is something we talk about frequently in education, but in Visual Art it can be more complicated than simply allowing students to choose their own subject matter or materials. For some students, Art is an intimidating subject. They arrive with a firmly established belief that they are either good at art or they are not. They compare their work with other students’ work, worry about drawing something incorrectly, and can become so focused on what the finished artwork will look like that experimentation begins to feel risky. This is why I increasingly see the sketchbook as one of…
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Do students need strong drawing skills to succeed in IB Visual Arts?
One of the key differences I have noticed between A-level Art and IB Visual Arts is the students’ starting points. A-level Art often follows naturally from GCSE or IGCSE Art, with students already having developed practical skills,
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Tree of Life, drawn by hand
Art collaborations can be challenging and even stressful at times, but they also have a way of delivering unexpected and rewarding results. I’m especially proud of this one: a hand-drawn interpretation of Klimt’s Tree of Life — with no tracing paper involved.
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Celebrating Year 7 Geometric Abstract Art
Term 3 in Art is always a challenging one — a mixture of goodbyes, final deadlines, and the rush to complete projects around the many unexpected events that suddenly appear in the school calendar. Despite the chaos, it’s nice to finally update some display boards and celebrate the fantastic work created by Year 7 during their Geometric Abstract Art unit in Term 2. The outcomes are vibrant, colourful, and full of energy — a great reminder of the creativity students can achieve when they fully engage with the process.
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Closing One Door: A Fond Farewell to the IB Visual Arts IA Exhibition Process
After many years of IB Visual Arts Exhibitions, it feels like the right moment to say a fond farewell to the IA process. Goodbye to the late-night uploads, the unpredictable technical issues, and the constant pressure of the unknown. It has, at times, been intense and demanding. But it has also been incredibly rewarding. What stays with me are the exhibitions themselves — thoughtful, ambitious, and often deeply personal. Watching students grow from having little or no experience with art to presenting work in a professional exhibition space has been a privilege. Each exhibition has felt like opening a new…
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Our School Has Heart: One Vision, Many Hands
“True collaboration is shown, not told. ‘Our School Has Heart’ unites every student (Y1-Y12) to create one vision from many hands. Using simple materials—pipecleaners, felting, 3D paint—we built a culture where every texture and perspective adds strength. Leadership is about creating the framework, then trusting the collective genius.
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Creativity for a Cause: Year 9 Art at the Christmas Fair
Some incredible Year 9 artwork finished just in time for our Christmas Fair!This year, we’re hosting a silent auction to raise funds for a local charity — and honestly, I could happily take every piece home myself. So proud of their creativity and hard work.
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Where Art Meets Nature: Year 1 IGCSE Inspiration at Shanghai Greenhouse
Exploring resources for Year 1 IG Art and Design is much more than just an academic task—it’s an inspiring day out at the stunning Shanghai Greenhouse. This vibrant setting not only fuels creativity but also offers a refreshing change of scenery that can spark new ideas. There’s nothing like merging art, nature, and learning into one beautiful experience!
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Art as Awareness: Creating Change Through Collaboration
Art can do more than express ideas — it can also raise awareness and bring people together. In a recent community project, students used oil pastels and collaborative art-making to communicate an important message, combining individual contributions into one powerful shared outcome.
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Many Hands, One Creative Community
A whole-school creative project brought together students from Year 1 to Year 13 to brighten the canteen with colour, imagination and personality. The finished installation celebrates the individuality of our students while demonstrating what can be achieved through collaboration across the school community.
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F360: Autonomous Vehicle – Method 2
F360: Autonomous Vehicle – Method 2 — a design and technology project from my earlier teaching in the UAE. The full post includes process photographs, CAD models and video documentation of the build.