Art Life - University for the Creative Arts

About the authorGillian Wilson studied fora combined BA Honoursdegree in Graphic Designwith English Literature,the first person in herfamily to get a degree. Shebegan working as a graphicdesigner and ran her owndesign business for over 20years. She started teachingat the Kent Institute of Artand Design in 1997 andcompleted a Masters degreein Education in 2001.In addition to her teachingrole, Gill then took a role asa full-time Study Skills Coordinatoruntil 2007, when shewas appointed as the Accessand Outreach Co-ordinator atthe University’s Canterburycampus, continuing to teachfor two days a week.In 2007, Gill received UCATeaching and LearningResearch Funding for herwork on making employabilityand academic skills explicitthrough working practice. Gillhas worked to develop workrelated learning opportunitiesfor students to enable themto understand the importanceof communication skills inthe context of art and designpractice through her workwith Turner Contemporary.Gill shared a UCA TeachingExcellence Award with NationalDiploma Course Leader, NeilBottle for their work withTurner Contemporary in 2007.Gill was awarded a UCATeaching Fellowship in 2008 tosupport her work on studentwriting, which has formed thebasis of her current doctoralresearch which focuses on therelationship of academic writingto art and design practice inthe context of an increasinglydiverse student body.Gill is an expert on the newCreative and Media Diploma,and has been working withthe Specialist Schools andAcademies Trust and theLearning and Skills Networkin providing support forpractitioners who are planningdelivery of the new diploma.She also produces materialsGill (right) in the studio withstudent, Lauren Fordefor practitioners for educationalpublishers, Pearson. Gill isworking to develop linksbetween the AdvancedDiploma in Creative and Mediaand progression to HE and isa key member of Kent CountyCouncil’s Creative and MediaSupport Network which aims tofacilitate progression activitiesand agreements.Gill has recently been awardeda National Teaching Fellowshipfrom the Art, Design and MediaSubject Centre at the HigherEducation Academy to undertakecreative writing workshops forstudents with dyslexia.Gill believes that it is crucial for allstudents to feel that they are animportant part of our academiccommunity of practice. Thiscontinues to be central to herpractice in education.