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Jamie O'Leary-Leeson
Head of Art at Sheringham High school and 6th Form.
Studied Art Design and Illustration at Anglia Polytechnic University.
"I work mainly with mixed media, focusing on architecture as a starting point for most projects. I enjoy using heavy textures especially on my larger works. A theme that runs throughout my artwork is "The Ruin". I love the freedom of drawing things that have decayed and crumbled. My more recent work also incorporates photography that is used for collage or working over with paint or pen, I love the illusion that this method can create."
Kirsty O'leary-leeson
Originally an illustrator, Kirsty worked in publishing in London for some years before moving back to Norfolk to raise more children than is sensible. She then returned to University and gained a First Class Degree in Fine Art from Norwich University of the Arts, graduating in 2011. Since then she has pursued a career as a professional artist, exhibiting in London, Norwich, Cromer, Kings Lynn and Cambridge. Last year she appeared on the BBC2 programme 'Show Me The Monet' where she successfully competed to take part in a prestigious exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London. She has since organised a follow up exhibition with her fellow tv exhibitors and 'After The Monet' will be showing at The Coningsby Gallery in London from 4th - 9th March. www.afterthemonet.co.uk
At the moment her work is predominantly drawings on gesso primed wood. She was Visual Art Traders Artist of the Month in March 2012 and they wrote of her work "The senses of emotional uncertainty, of time evaporating and of forgotten memories in Kirsty's drawings are made all the more powerful by the beautiful and precise execution of the images".
Kirsty is currently teaching part time at Sheringham High School.
Kerry Smith
Kerry teaches A level Photography at Sheringham High School. Kerry studied BA hons Fine Art at London Metropolitan University.
Kerry teaches A level Photography at Sheringham High School. Kerry studied BA hons Fine Art at London Metropolitan University.
Primarly I am a portrait painter, I take photographs of my sitters
using strong view points and paint them using oil paints on board or
canvas. My painterly style has been influenced by the work of Tai Shan
Schrienberg and I have been very interested in the way Jenny Saville
explores the human figure.
My latest work is a response to the landscape around me. A recent
relocation to Norfolk from living in london for 9 years has led me to
capture the idyllic beaches and skies of the coast but still using the
paintlerly style from my portraiture work. Andy Cairns
Studied Art and Environmental Education at Lancaster University before working in community arts and then further education, teaching across the art and design range but particularly drawing, sculpture and photography. Completed MA in Fine Art at Norwich School of Art and Design in 2004.
Andy has exhibited widely and participated in Norfolk contemporary art exhibitions such as Salthouse and the NCAS biennial show.
"I draw inspiration from the reuse of urban materials, the alchemy of recycling for both practical and spiritual ends. Visually, I like to show the multilayered history of reused materials – their corrosion, reworking and layering over time.
"Recent work draws inspiration from specific locations and reclamations, particularly along the North Norfolk coast. My work is not a literal depiction but an assemblage of fragments from memory and association.
"I have become particularly interested in the patination effects I can create with Iron and Copper water, traditionally used as mordants in natural dyeing, when applied to surfaces and heated. AS well as using on my assemblages and collages, have begun to experiment with them as a drawing medium.
" I use photography primarily as a research tool for inspiring my work, but sometimes incorporate them inn my assemblages to add an extra layer of narrative. Occasionally however, a photograph will stand as a piece of art in its own right."
Gill Cairns
Studied Visual Studies at Norwich School of Art & Design before working in further and adult education teaching art and textiles.
Gill has exhibited her work across the country as well as in various Norfolk galleries.
"Weathered,disintegrating buildings and interiors inspire my collages. I enjoy layering materials to create juxtapositions of surface pattern and texture.
" My textiles work, by contrast, is inspired by nature's colours and textures, exploring 'cycles of life' from disintegration through to regeneration. I work with organic materials such as hand-made paper and felt, incorporating plant materials.
"In my hand-made felt panels the fruit's natural disintegration process has stained and patinated, leaving an impression behind. These lingering traces are a reminder of the richness and bounty of summer and the on-going cycle of decay leading to new growth."
Holly Pearce
My Job role is Teacher of Art at Cromer Academy and I work in with mixed media. Natural themes underpin my work with a sense of atmosphere and a fascination with texture resonating through them. I use plaster, acrylic, wax, poly vinyl acetate and silicone adhesive, ink, oil, paper and anything else I feel appropriate to the pieces. I fluctuate between carefully controlling my media to letting my materials play against each other in unnatural ways.
Stefan Semenczuk
Stefan studied Photographic Technology at Manchester Polytechnic and has a Joint Honours Degree in History of Art, Design and Film from DeMontfort University. He has worked as both a photographer and black and white printer. He set up and taught Photography A level at Sheringham High School and is currently a part-time Photography teacher at Sprowston Community High School. Stefan has taken photographs all his adult life and enjoys portraiture, landscapes and abstracts.
Jim Collin
I trained at Norwich Art School and I have lived in North Norfolk for the last 7 years. I am a full time teacher and I currently work at St Andrews school, Aylmerton, a school for children with Autism and Aspergers.My mediums of choice are painting and block printing and my subject matter is usually taken from nature, either landscapes or flora and fauna.Recent exhibitions Nov 2007 Norfolk and Norwich Art Teachers, St Margaret's church, Norwich Oct 2008 Norfolk and Norwich Art Teachers, St Margaret's church, NorwichOct 2009 Norfolk and Norwich Art Teachers, St Margaret's church, Norwich Jan 2010 Group exhibition, Nicholsen gallery, Holt July 2010 Solo exhibition, Rocket House cafe, Cromer