Meet the Artist - The Arty Teacher

The past few months have been busy ones at Falcon Mill. As the owner of The Arty Teacher, I spend much of my time creating resources and professional development for art teachers around the world, but I also make sure I leave space to experiment, learn new skills and continue developing my own creative practice.

For those who don't know me, I'm a former Head of Art with nearly 30 years of teaching experience. After leaving the classroom, I founded The Arty Teacher, an online platform that provides art lessons, worksheets, projects and training for teachers internationally. What started as a small website has grown far beyond anything I imagined, and my resources are now used by teachers and students across the globe.

One of the things I enjoy most about working from Falcon Mill is having the freedom to explore new ideas. Recently, much of my attention has been focused on alternative photographic processes, particularly cyanotypes. If you've never come across them before, cyanotypes are one of the earliest forms of photography and are known for their beautiful blue colour. Objects are placed onto specially coated paper and exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet light, producing images that can be both striking and unpredictable.

I first became interested in cyanotypes because they combine science, history and creativity in equal measure. The process feels a little magical, even when you understand exactly how it works. That fascination has led me to develop a series of professional development courses for art teachers, helping them learn the technique and introduce it to their own students.

Alongside this, I have continued creating new teaching resources inspired by a wide range of artistic processes. Recent projects have included drawing lessons based on natural forms, colour theory activities, collage work, observational drawing exercises and creative thinking challenges. Some resources come together quickly, while others sit on my desk for weeks before I am happy with them.

A recurring theme in many of the resources I have been creating is experimentation. Over the years I have seen countless students become anxious about producing the "perfect" piece of artwork. In reality, creativity rarely works like that. Some of the most interesting discoveries happen when things don't go to plan. I think that is one of the reasons I continue to enjoy making art myself; there is always something new to learn, and sometimes the unexpected result turns out to be the best one.

The professional development side of my work has also continued to grow. Teachers from the UK, the United States, Australia and many other countries regularly complete my online courses. Because the courses are self-paced, teachers can fit them around busy schedules and family life. It is always rewarding to hear from someone who has tried a new technique with confidence because of a course they completed, or who has rediscovered their enthusiasm for teaching after trying something different.

I also continue to stay involved in the wider art education community through conferences, presentations and professional discussions. Art education is always changing, and I enjoy sharing ideas with other educators as much as I enjoy teaching them. There is something reassuring about discovering that teachers on the other side of the world are often facing exactly the same challenges as those here in the UK.

Falcon Mill remains an inspiring place to work. There is a real sense of creativity throughout the building, and it is always interesting to see what other artists, makers and businesses are working on. Although much of my work happens online, being surrounded by creative people provides a welcome balance.

Looking ahead, I have plenty of projects planned, including new professional development courses, further exploration of alternative photographic processes and an ever-growing collection of resources for teachers. There is never a shortage of ideas—finding enough time for them is usually the challenge.

It has been a productive few months and I am grateful to be part of the Falcon Mill community. I look forward to seeing where the next few months take me, both creatively and professionally.