I'm extremely passionate about my subject, so alongside my art practice I have worked as an Art educator for ten years, devising and delivering holistic and educational workshops and classes for children starting at age three and up.
I also regularly run adult level workshops. These have taken place in both formal and informal settings and have included a wide range of ability levels. My background in textiles and illustration has provided me with a diverse set of skills which enable me to plan and deliver engaging and insightful sessions via a wide range of media and processes.
I’m particularly interested in projects which focus around memory, inner-child healing and overcoming creative blocks.
Up-to-date DBS
Public Liability Insurance
Qualifications
MA Illustration – Kingston University (2016 - 2017)
BA (Hons) Surface Pattern Design with 1st Class Honours – University of Wales, Trinity Saint David (2006 - 2009)
PTLLS Level 3 Award in Training and Education (2015)
Certifications and CPD
Mindfulness training with Tim Segeller (2024)
Trained to deliver Arts Award at Bronze and Silver levels (2022)
Teach Like a Champion training with Doug Lemov (2021)
Art therapy for self healing Art Therapy Now (2021)
Drawing and mindfulness - City Lit (2020)
Advanced training in safeguarding - Paradigm Trust (2020)
Trained in delivery of creative workshops for blind and partially sighted participants - Cooltan Arts (2017)
Trained in mindfulness and delivering mindful art workshops - Rosetta Art Centre (2016)
Testimonials
- Parents’ feedback from online art classes held through Our Little Uni.
Veronica has a wonderful, mindful approach to leading workshops, her work with our carer’s art group created such a safe and welcoming space for adults with caring responsibilities to come together and create art mindfully. The group really appreciated her careful, thoughtful approach. Veronica also worked closely with older adults in our day centre, again providing mindful, fun and engaging workshops which were really valued by everyone who attended.. - Hazel East, former education Co-ordinator, Holborn Community Association).
Veronica joined the Grand Junction team to plan and deliver our Summer Art Class in 2023, a course that was targeted at people in the community who experience isolation. She quickly built a rapport with all learners, and skilfully engaged the full class in creative activities and discussions. She developed a curriculum rooted in applicable art practices, that was accessible for learners with little experience, allowing them to express themselves and their stories through the arts. She also arranged and lead a study visit to the National Portrait Gallery. Many of the learners reported on increased confidence and wellbeing at the end of the course and confirmed that they had developed new skills and developed social connections. Most of the learners continued on creative courses with Grand Junction, inspired by the Summer Art Class. Throughout the project, Veronica was a joy to work with, and an inspiring source of positive energy. I would highly recommend Veronica as a tutor for creative courses and can confirm that her warm and caring personality along with her community experience makes her highly competent for working with groups of vulnerable learners. - Ana Tuhus, Heritage Coordinator, Grand Junction, W2
Veronica has worked with FREEDOM2 for a number of years as a freelance creative facilitator. She has led our FREEDOM2 Create programme in secondary schools in East London with girls aged between 12 years and 16 years old. Our Freedom 2 Create programme covers important topics such as healthy relationships and boundaries. Veronica was able to lead these sessions with empathy and sensitivity which is vital. I have enjoyed working with Veronica and have valued her input as an artist. -Mel Manning, founder, FREEDOM 2.
I had the pleasure of working with Veronica a few years ago and we have kept in touch. We collaborated on a large- scale public art project which I had been asked to lead on as well as train supporting artists to deliver workshop sessions. It was great working with Veronica as she delivered some great workshops and her talent and unique style created some fabulous outcomes. – Sarah Pimenta, creative education specialist and Artist at Social Fabric.
Each part of the project involved different skills, the tutor was very experienced in planning and delivery – Member of teaching staff at St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre.
Thank you, Veronica for teaching us all that wonderful Art! You are the best art teacher we could hope for – Arjan, student, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
Veronica ran Arts Award Discover at a local school as an after- school club and also during school time. The work that the students produced with her was innovative, imaginative and well researched and developed. It was also new to all the pupils she worked with. Veronica went beyond my expectations and worked really hard on this project which helped twenty-two young people to gain an Arts Award qualification. We also ran a very popular stall at Bermondsey Carnival together with her hand drawn wallpaper and Veronica ran very popular school holiday workshops over the summer months in our community garden based on her beautiful drawings. – Bridget Virden, former education manger, CGP Gallery.
Teaching and Workshops
Adult education and holistic workshops
In 2021 I was awarded an Arts Council England grant, enabling me to create a body of work to explore and raise awareness of Narcissistic abuse.
The grant gave me funding to deliver a series of workshops across the London boroughs of Newham and Greenwich to abuse sufferers, young people who are at high risk of being abused and to adults who are in recovery/shelters.
During workshops participants were asked to illustrate metaphors for how they felt whilst in a toxic relationship, how they envisage the future looking and illustrations to appease their ‘inner-child’.
The adorned patches have been made into weighted blankets, acting as a metaphor for the depth of internal conflict for those experiencing psychological abuse - the restrictive nature of a narcissistic relationship but also the warmth and comfort that remaining within a the confines of the relationship can bring. The rocking chair is representative of the home (the place where victims are often most unsafe…behind closed doors).
Further information on the project can be found here.
Six week applied-art and mixed-media course for ESOL learners at Grand Junction, W2.
‘Experimental illustration, textures and printmaking’ evening classes at Poplar Union.
Art and textile workshops for the Madge Gill Project
Weekly textile classes for adults experiencing mental health difficulties for charity Cooltan Arts.
Holistic art workshops for adults with caring responsibilities at Holborn Community Association.
Textile workshops focused on memories for elderly learners attending the 'Art, knit and Chat' (over 50’s group) through SPLASH ARTS
Children and Family workshops
Interactive Art event; Debut Contemporary Gallery and the James Wigg Practice. Participants painted wallpaper adorned with my illustrations to raise funds for charities Breast Cancer Now and Beating Bowel Cancer.
This was a personal project supported by Paperchase and Farrow & Ball (Notting Hill Showroom).
Holistic workshops focused on self-love and boundaries for young females in East London secondary schools through Freedom2UK .
Thematic workshops for the Museum of London family festivals.
I currently work as the ‘Room 13’ Artist in Residence at Old Ford Primary School. I devise and deliver extra curricular art sessions for children in KS1, KS2 and and the SEN provision.
Additionally engaging carer’s in art activities and delivering CPD sessions to teaching staff.
Commissioned by Rosetta Art Centre to write their ‘Art Superstars’ programme. The programme is used as a learning in a variety of SEND schools throughout Newham.
Sessions can be viewed here
Thematic, drop-in family workshops for SPLASH Arts during the school holiday period.
Devised the syllabus and taught on the ‘Art Stars’ visual art Saturday school programme (for children age 7-12) at Rosetta Art Centre for eight years.
Taught Art for two academic years to students attending Oasis Academy in Silvertown.