Recommended Creative Learning Artists
Below is an introduction to some of the artists we are using to deliver the Creative Learning Programme in Hertfordshire schools. They are all highly skilled and experienced artists. For more information on any of these artists please contact: Suzanne Rider, Arts Education Development Officer on 01438 202806 or by email: suzanne.rider@hertscc.gov.uk.
Adesola Akinleye
Adesola is a Creative Practitioner specializing in working with movement, and dance across the curriculum. She has worked with EYFS to Key Stage 4 and special schools using movement skills as well as working with film, and computer programmes. Her work places experiential learning centrally and is child led, preferring not to define a project without initial consultation with the school and the pupils to afford a greater level of ownership for all involved.
Andy D’Cruz
Andy is a practising visual artist exhibiting in galleries as well as using public spaces like cafes, beaches, and churches to make surprising and innovative audio works. These have included talking tables, whispering books, and singing suggestion boxes.
He has worked with nursery, primary, secondary and special needs schools using a number of techniques and art forms engaging a whole school community in a creative journey. Schools have explored favourite songs and lyrics to support music, hidden ‘whispers’ to support literacy, made concrete relief casting to celebrate pride and undertaken creative consultations to inform change (new building projects and mergers)
These projects have involved the school community at large, teachers, cleaners, dinner ladies, senior management teams and of course pupils, in a sharing and celebration of their voice, opinion and experience, all contributing to whole school learning.
Anji Archer
Anji is a mixed media visual arts practitioner specialising in 3d, sculpture and textiles. She has worked extensively in arts education programmes ranging from cross curriculum-based subjects to partnership and community cohesion projects.
She has worked with children from pre-school age to year 13 and trained with Hertfordshire County Council as a locally qualified youth worker specialising in youth arts.
In the past, Anji has worked for the Tate Galleries facilitating Art History and Contemporary practice workshops for schools as well as being a Creative Agent for the Royal Opera House as part of their Creative Partnership programme.
Danya Miller
Danya is a performer, presenter, storyteller, workshop leader and theatre producer. I work with stories, drama, songs, rhymes, riddles, games, dance and craft activities cross-curriculum and as a healing and restorative practice.
Storytelling with children:
• Helps to build literacy skills
• Impacts on children’s ability to create stories
• Develops concentration, love of language, joy of movement
• Directly impacts on listening and stillness
• Strengthens the imagination muscles
• Aids confidence and team building
'Danya is dramatic, energetic, creative and original. I have heard her tell stories which
made me laugh and cry, sometimes both at once.'Roi Gal-Or – Storyteller and course leader at The School of Storytelling.
Jo Howe
Jo is a Creative Practitioner specializing in working with children and young people with special educational needs. Her priority is to enable the personal voice and as much independent choice and action as possible.
Jo employs a wide variety of skills including stop motion and digital animation, photography, mark making and creative journaling.
Her child led approach prefers not to define a project without initial consultation with the school and the pupils to afford a greater level of ownership for all involved.
Justin Allder
Justin is a filmmaker and educator with a background in the performing arts. He has a history of producing films and developing innovative creative projects for a range of audiences.
He studied film at university in Canada and later graduated from the School of Physical Theatre. He started his career in film and television as a professional actor, working for over ten years with the BBC, ITV Channel 4, CTV and CBS. During this time he also taught GCSE drama and worked as an associate artist at many of London’s leading theatre companies.
Drawing on his extensive knowledge and experience in the field, Justin now runs a production company which produces film and education projects and provides consultation and training services for the voluntary, arts and education sectors.
He promotes student led learning and has specialist knowledge of approaches to working with marginalised and at risk people and those with Special Educational Needs. Recent clients include the Royal Opera House, Cabinet War Rooms, the Royal Academy of Arts and Oval House Theatre.
Leo Smith
Leo is an Installation artist who works with video and film, painting, narrative and text, printmaking, drawing, textiles, light and projection. He works closely with schools when devising and developing projects to ensure what is undertaken meets the needs and interests of staff and students.
Projects for Hertfordshire schools undertaken with Creative Partnerships include a science, literacy and video project; collaborating with a forest school practitioner on shelter design and building; creative writing and shadow puppet workshops; a text, photography and dance collaboration and a collaboration with another artist and teacher to develop creative approaches to working within a PNI school, employing computer design, video, photography and a lot of play.
Within education Leo has worked with junior, secondary, colleges and universities. He has also been employed in galleries, community based projects and within children's care homes.
Natasha Rehman
Natasha is a visual community artist and has been working on projects in schools for 10 years. She has worked with children and adults of all ages and abilities and has devoted her arts practice to encouraging and supporting children, young people and adults within the arts.
Recent projects have included creating an aluminium fish sculpture with a school in Wheathampstead, creating a painted Perspex chandelier with a school in Harpenden, working as an artist in residence for 2 primary schools in Hertfordshire, leading art sessions for children from Reception to Year 6 and working as an artist in residence for a secondary school where her role was to link visual art and science.
Quirky Pictures
Quirky Pictures is the collective talent of award winning animators Shaun Clark and Kim Noce. With over five years experience of teaching animation workshops to people aged from 7-70, Shaun and Kim have formed Quirky Pictures to teach animation through innovative practices and techniques.
Shaun and Kim have led many Creative Partnership projects combining animation with literacy, mathematics, and languages. They use a number of fun and interesting techniques, which interweave within the students curriculum development providing them with key skills, confidence and enjoyment!
Vicky Wilson
Vicky is a poet, non-fiction writer, journalist and publisher. Like all writers, Vicky is excited by words, stories, communication and self-expression. Her aim is to inspire others to put their experience of the world into words, and sometimes to record it in more permanent forms. As a trained teacher she believes learning should take risks, engage with students’ interests and encourage them to explore for themselves.
She has worked in primary and secondary schools, with parents, teachers and other adults. Projects include storytelling, story-writing, poetry, reporting, and creating books, newspapers and magazines.