A bit about Amanda N

I am an award-winning visual artist who has taught visual art practice and theory higher education full-time at University art schools in New Zealand, Auckland; Lancaster University, Lancaster Institute of Contemporary Art, UK; The Royal Academy of Art Sweden, I am currently teaching GCSE Art at a private school in London. Drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, video, textile, costume, and installation are a few of the areas I work in. I am also able to cater to any discipline based on student need. I am good at helping students at all levels from high school to postgraduate. I can advise on university entry folio and interviews A level GCSE and everything from year 7. My lessons are student-driven, and situation responsive, I will spend the first lesson getting to know the student, and understanding their needs and expectations, weaknesses, and desires. I will then tailor my lesson plans to suit the situation. Because I am so broad in my skills and expertise I can listen and cater to student needs. I know the UK education system well at the high school and University levels which helps. I first began with one-to-one tutorials in my first University Fine Art teaching post. The group critique and the one-to-one tutorial are seminal parts of being an art lecturer teacher and artist. While at art school in 1990 my peer group would offer tutorials to each other, formally I have been in Fine Arts at the University level since 2002. I have been teaching Art and Design at a high school Fine Art, at all levels since 2020. I have been interviewing and selecting art students for University since 2002. I love to see the students grow and learn, and be able to master techniques and understandings they thought they would not be capable of. I also feel happy to be able to offer my skills, expertise, and insights to feed into this process. I am an artist and I believe in art above all else so I love to see other artists who actually love art progress in their journeys. My teaching style and pedagogy is response-based and student-led. I cater to the needs of the specific student whilst remaining aware of the system they are aiming to achieve within. For example, If the student identifies they have a weakness in an area such as the process material for GCSE, I can help with that. Or if they need technical teaching I can focus on that or If they need help in all areas I can create holistic teaching. I love to see results in the student's confidence and sense of achievement. This comes through significant overcoming of obstacles. For example, I love to see the students' responses when they achieve a 9 in Fine Arts GCSE. This is a significant step for the artist's journey when the learner can see they can become an artist. This is the first national qualification that paves the way for a lifelong journey of learning and making. Students love that I am approachable and relaxed, but at the same time have great skills and expertise along with insights into the system, not just one but many. Because I have taught in Australasia, the EU, and the UK. My artist references are internationally diverse and inclusive. Having come from a colonized country with an indigenous living culture opens the students' minds to other ways of thinking visualizing, and making. My students have gone on to education programs at the RCA, have exhibited at The Venice Biennale, and Documenta, and have gone into jobs at the Royal Academy, White Cube, and more. I have a Bachelor's in Fine Art Sculpture from Canterbury School of Fine Art Canterbury University; A PgDip and a Master's degree in Intermedia from Auckland University Fine Art School; Ph.D. Chelsea Colledge, University of the Arts London 'Costume in Art Education and Institution', I have completed a course in Higher Education teaching and Ph.D. supervision at Lancaster University, I have been a fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK since 2008. I am a visual artist, therefore my main interest outside of teaching is making visual art and exhibiting my work. I like walking my miniature Italian greyhound and my saluki/whippet cross in the heath. I like to spend time with my children and watch my teenage daughter perform ballet. I also design and make textiles and garments. I am also a trained chef, so I like to cook. I run and do yoga. I teach AQA, GCSE, and A-level, foundation, and can give advice on folio and workbooks/reflexive journals/ for all levels including theory, history, and annotation. I am also able to conduct mock interviews for students applying to University Art and Design courses. I can also research other systems and levels and give advice and instructions accordingly. I give private tutoring for Undergraduate and postgraduate Art and Design Students.