I am a Visual Art teacher with a passion for both creativity and Wellbeing. I graduated with honours in my Professional Masters of Education (PME) from Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) and University Limerick (UL). Prior to this, I graduated with honours from Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) and Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) in both a Diploma and Degree in Fine Art. I have also successfully completed three internationally recognised yoga teacher training programmes and completed many extracurricular qualifications such as mountain skills, rock climbing and kayaking. I love learning!

 

Prior to my teaching education, I received numerous awards and exhibited both nationally and internationally. For over a decade I have worked extensively in the community as an artist and as a wellbeing practitioner with the HSE West Pyschriatric Section and with many local, national and European organisations. My work centres around supporting diversity and inclusion through the arts with the elderly, traveller communities, refugees and asylum-seekers, women's groups, DEIS schools and other minority groups. This has given me first-hand experience of the powerful and positive effects that the Visual Arts, when combined with strategies that support wellbeing, can have on the social, emotional, mental and physical development of individuals and groups. It follows that now as a Visual Art teacher, I am passionate about finding ways to integrate cross-curricular and community engagement learning and wellbeing strategies into my lesson plans where possible. 

​

My wide and varied artist-teacher experience has both provided me with a solid foundation in the diverse aspects of the Visual Arts and has served to foster great flexibility and empathy in my teaching style. 

 

I am the Secretary for the Galway Branch of the Art Teacher Association of Ireland (ATAI) and am a volunteer with AWARE.  I am a dyslexia tutor with DAI Dyslexia Association Ireland. Additionally I have my own small business threebillionbeats which delivers art and wellness groups for private and corporate.