My earliest memories are visual: of making drawings; paintings and models. This was of fundamental importance to me even then, and accepted as part of mu identity by others. While praised and encouraged i knew that visual expressions were not taken as seriously by the education system, and on average this remains the case today.

My passion in art led me to study textiles at art college in Belfast in the 1980's, and after an attempt at setting up in business, I became a grammar school teacher.

In a profession where I observed organisation, standardisation and control given priority it confirmed for me the merit in promoting individualism and developing creativity in pupils and teachers. Teaching art provided the most fertile learning ground for the development of thinking skills and resourcefulness.

As Head of Art in St. Mary's University College it has become clear how education requires creative and logical thinkers who will unpick the system and explore how it can be improved in reality and not just on paper, for the benefit of all learners whether they be teachers or pupils.