About

I currently work as a postdoctoral researcher in higher education fine art pedagogy at University of the Arts Helsinki, Finland. My research here examines how the Master of Fine Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts prepares students to become professional artists and how this term is understood by staff and students.

In 2024 I completed my Doctorate of Education at the Institute of Education, University College London. My thesis investigated how artistic professionalism was presented to and understood by students on a BA Fine Art programme in London and the factors that shaped whether students planned to pursue careers as artists after their degree.

Alongside my doctorate I worked as a postgraduate teaching assistant on MA Art Education, Culture and Practice at the Institute of Education, University College London and as a professional practice and contextual studies lecturer in BA Fine Art at Arts University Bournemouth. Prior to this I worked as a researcher in arts education and pedagogy for various organisations including The Higher Education Academy, The Council for Higher Education in Art and Design, The Glasgow School of Art, a-n, the Contemporary Visual Arts Network, and The Arts Society. In 2016 I became an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

I am the Founding Director of Q-Art (2008-2018), an events and publishing organisation that shares approaches to teaching art across higher education institutions with the aim of helping more students thrive in the sector. Q-Art has published books and organised symposia on topics including art crits, the BA fine art curriculum, professional practice, the commercial gallery sector, and foundation art and design. I set Q-Art up whilst a BA Fine Art student at Goldsmiths, University of London.

My research and teaching focuses on art education’s role in the production of contemporary artists.