S H E L A G H M C C A R T H Y
bookbinder artist creative educator
Freelance Facilitator and Creative Workshop Practitioner
Reliable, friendly, empathic, with excellent communication, critical thinking abilities, and 20 years experience of formulating, planning and delivering high standard creative learning sessions for a range of learners.
My workshops are
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flexible, adaptable and formulated to meet diverse needs
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accessible and inclusive , all participants feel welcomed and comfortable
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designed to prompt critical thinking skills and encourage self-directed and collaborative investigation
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provide a relevant connection with the space in which they are run
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engender person-centred, memorable, evocative, creative learning experiences for all participants
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popular and well attended with excellent feedback from both participants and project commissioners
Education
BA (Hons) Fine Art, Byam Shaw School of Art, Central Saint Martins, London
PTLLS (preparing to teach in the life-long learning sector) NVQ level 4
Diploma in Fine Bookbinding, Brighton Polytechnic
Background
I regularly work in a variety of learning environments in the cultural sector and in the wider community, including; The Westway Trust, Bethlem Museum of the Mind, Central Saint Martins, Westminster University, Lincoln University, The Guardian Education Centre, the British Museum, Wandsworth Museum, Battersea Arts Centre, The English Folk Song and Dance Society, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Tate, The Museum of Childhood, Great Ormond Street Hospital, and The British Library.
As a freelance artist educator I have been contracted to run creative learning sessions for: marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable groups; pupil referral units; youth groups; poets; librarians; refugees; supplementary schools; adults with mental health needs; adults and children with physical and learning needs; undergraduates; and adult vocational learners. I am currently delivering creative learning sessions in prisons around England.
What participants make and say:
‘The attention to detail and the care with which participants were involved at their own level was remarkable’. Adult learner, Bookbinding masterclass, The British Library, 2017
"I know they want you back!’ Alice Mayers,
Creative Programmes Manager, The Westway Trust., 2017
I was Initially commissioned to work with the Eritrean Parents and Children’s Association by the Westway Trust, for a workshop centred around migration, but the brief changed after our first meeting. The 14 year old leader of the participant group had seen a book on my website and asked if we could produce a similar binding for a project she wanted to organise to mark the loss of their friends in the Grenfell fire.
'The session made me feel responsible, caring, happy and confident’, HMP inmate, on-going outreach project for Digital Learning at The British Library in partnership with award winning StoryBook Dads charity, Making Pop-Up Books, 2019
Work History
Freelance Specialist Creative Educator
2007 - 2019 The British Library, London
Produced high quality creative educational workshops for the British Library’s Learning team, including original workshops for their Core School’s programme.
Instructed on average over 3000 participants per year:
Make a Book
Play on Words
Bones to Bytes, what is writing?
Established and continue to maintain productive working relationships with the British Library’s
Adult Learning programme
Access & Community programme
Digital Learning programme
Late events programme
Ongoing National project with The British Library in partnership Storybook Dads
Pop Up books in Prisons
HMP Channings Wood 2018
HMP Kirkham 2019
HMP Featherstone 2019
HMP Standford Hill 2019
HMP New Hall 2019
HMP Sudbury 2019
HMP Drake Hall 2019
HMP Channings Wood 2019
Commissioned workshops/residencies
The British Library 2015, 16, 17, 18, 19 - ongoing
Bookbinding masterclasses
Pop Up Books & Paper Engineering
Experimental Printmaking and Bookbinding
Pastepapers & Suminagashi
The British Library and Riba, and Liam O’Connor
Bookbinding for Walking the City Summer School 2019
The British Library, Regent’s High London, & Adisa The Verbaliser
Friendship Books 2019
In partnership with The British Library
Make a Book for Adults with additional needs 2019, ongoing
The British Library and Guardian Centre for Education
CPD events for teachers attending Nate & Literacy Conferences between 2007 - 2018
Play on Words workshops
Make a Book workshops
Rotherham Riverside Library Bansky Project, community workshops and installation work with Adrian Barron.
Supported by ROAR, Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance and The Arts Council, 2018
Bethlem Museum of the Mind
Tate Exchange: The Artist’s Spectrum 2018
Portrait Workshop 2018
The WestWay Trust 2018
Museum of Childhood, V&A 2017, 18
EFDSS 2016, 17, 18, 19 May in a Day
Dulwich Picture Gallery 2016
Vanessa Bell. Bookbinding & Printmaking workshops for local secondary schools
Wandsworth Museum 2015
Mapping Wandsworth’s Stories
Community workshops and installation piece.
The London Metropolitan Archive Cy Grant. Paper Marionettes 2016
Wandsworth Museum Ghost in the Machine pop ups 2015
Battersea Arts Centre Sheepscapes 2015
National Army Museum 2015
Peoples’ Centre for Change 2012 -2014
Weekly drop in workshops for adults with additional needs
British Library 2007 - 2019 various.
Bookbinding workshops for Fine Art undergraduates at CSM 20 11 - 2012
2010 - 2012 Westminster University: Visiting Lecturer in Visual Culture
2007 - 2008 Studio Assistant to the artist Jo Volley
2000 - 2005, 2017 ongoing Studio Assistant to the artist Tess Jaray
2003 - 2004 Mick Jones Productions: collection collating and archiving.
1999 - 2001 Cloth of Gold: Artist-educator and project designer, Inspiration Africa (Horniman Museum)
1988 - 1992 The Photographers’ Gallery: Bookshop Deputy Manager
References
Ria Bartlett Lead Producer: Onsite Learning Team
The British Library 96 Euston Road LONDON NW1 2DB +44 (0)20 7412 7315 ria.bartlett@bl.uk
Dr Aviva Dautch Lead Producer
Bethlem Museum of the Mind, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3BX
Tess Jaray RA
Islington, London
