Owner and Creative Director

Alison has been running art classes for over 12 years, and loves it! She’s full of creative ideas and enjoys managing our courses and events. She also teaches in some of our classes and workshops, and loves to support others in starting their own art class business.

Favourite things: Live music, filmmaking, ready salted crisps and post-it notes.

Head Tutor

Kate is a Qualified Teacher who has been teaching art for many years, originally in high schools and now in our adult art classes and workshops. She loves seeing the penny drop and is brilliant at explaining things in a clear but fun way. She’s also our fabulous Tutor Trainer.

Favourite things: Being outdoors, wild swimming, musicals and Thai food.

Art Consultant and Tutor

Kaz is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to art and art history. She’s also our go-to expert for all things relating to colour theory. A fine artist and printmaker, she loves to wander around galleries in her spare time, or be outdoors enjoying nature in the sunshine!

Favourite things: Bees, trees, anything yellow, and fancy neck ties.

Tutor & Marketing Manager

Emma teaches, as well as being invaluable behind the scenes. She loves painting large scale flowers in oils, and always brings joy to our day with her cheery approach and artistic brilliance! She also loves pattern design. Visit Emma's Website to see her work.

Favourite things: The smell of basil, sunshine on water and Pantone 310.

Tutor

Kate has been working as an artist, designer and teacher for the past 11 years. She specialises in abstract and semi-abstract painting in acrylics and oils as well as textile art. Kate loves teaching, and is particularly interested in the mental health benefits of art making. 

Favourite things: Live music, outdoor swimming and spending (possibly too) many hours a week in the gym. 

Operations & Customer Service Manager

Michael is fantastic at admin and a thoroughly lovely chap! He supports the tutors and students from behind the scenes, helping ensure everyone has the materials and information they need for our courses and workshops to run smoothly.

Favourite things: table tennis, swimming in the sea, and a full English!

Assistant Tutor

Julie has a background in interior design and soft furnishings. After enjoying our classes for six years she is excited to pass on the techniques she has mastered. Her own work, in acrylics and watercolour, leans towards Surrealism. And she’s great fun to be around!

Favourite things: Singing and bed! Turquoise. Grayson Perry & Jonas Peterson.

Art Assistant

Vicky specialises in textile design and loves contemporary art. By day, she works as an art technician in a prestigious secondary school and in her spare time is studying Art Therapy. She is fantastically efficient, a lovely human being, and a talented artist.

Favourite things: Prosecco and Gustav Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’.

AFL Academy Tutor & SEN Specialist

Diane has 30 years teaching people with special needs. Specialising in mosaics, her work is a feature in reception at NESCOT. She’s also run her own cake business, dabbled in stained glass, willow weaving, and blacksmithing! An adoring grandmother, she loves cooking for people and her garden.

Favourite things : Bruce Springsteen, red wine, wild open spaces, abstract art & yarn.

AFL Academy Tutor and First Aider

Louisa has 20 years of experience teaching young people and adults. She has experience as a teacher, professional face painter and has run private workshops. Having taught computers and media studies encouraging learners to be creative - she is a firm believer we can all be artists.

Favourite things – Elvis, dancing, time with her grandchild & being outside in nature.

AFL Academy Tutor & First Aider

Ginny's artistic journey began with her childhood in India. Dedicated to fostering artistic engagement in the future generations, she has a wealth of experience in local schools and the wider commuity. In 2020 she was shortlisted among the top 20 artists for Surrey Artist of the Year.

Favourite Things : Long meditative walks, cooking and gardening.

Guest Tutor

A former Stage Designer, Louise previously ran a company specialising in face and body painting. She’s now enjoying fine art, and loves bringing her skills and experience to her teaching. She’s pursuing a degree in Art History, and takes care of 3 chickens!

Favourite things : SciFi, chocolate, knitting, the sea, and a good G&T!

Assistant Tutor

Sue has spent much of her working life training teachers in art education, and working with schools to provide inspiring art projects for children. She loves to experiment with a range of media and is always excited to share the joy and satisfaction that art can bring. 

Favourite things:  nature and wildlife gardening, laughing, hygge, my daughters, my dog, playing with messy art stuff and checking out exhibitions. 

AFL Academy Tutor

Emma has a Fine Art degree and teaches in a primary school. Nature is her inspiration, she loves wildlife, walking and spending time in Brighton, Devon and Cornwall. She has recently been painting seascapes and landscapes in water mixable oils. 

Emma loves sharing her knowledge of art mediums and relishes the freedom of creating fluid art in acrylic paint, acrylic ink and alcohol inks. 

Favourite things : reading, gardening and spending time by the sea.