This page briefly describes my working experiences I have encountered, and the skills and knowledge I feel I have gained from each.
Creative Expressive Therapies
Since beginning my degree at the University of Derby, I have been learning about and implementing the creative expressive model. One of the most important aspects of this course is the workshops which I take part in and run, which focus on promoting the healthy aspects of people, and using my art form to encourage expression and creativity. In my first year of study these workshops were designed for my peers, whereas now that I am in my second year of study, I am working with pupils from SEN schools around Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. I am thoroughly enjoying this experience and finding it so fulfilling – this has confirmed my aspirations to work with children either in mainstream education or children with special educational needs when I graduate.
An important part of planning workshops is completing a risk assessment form, which I am now familiar with and confident in implementing.
One of the most exciting ways that we have use the creative expressive model on the course is within the annual ‘Big Wood’ event. Every autumn we gather in the woods near Derby and create ephemeral sculptures from materials found purely in the environment. This year we worked with the visiting schools in big groups and facilitated their creative experience. There is something about working in the outdoors with your hands which is both relaxing and energising, and Big Wood has taught me the importance of ‘getting away from it all’!
Retail Experience
Over the last few years whilst studying, I have undertaken a few different part time jobs, mostly within the retail sector. Although these jobs are not completely relevant to my chosen career path and studies, they have been truly valuable experience, from which I have developed vital transferable skills. In particular I have found from my experiences working in Retail for over a year (at Next and Asda) have developed my confidence meeting and working with people. Customer service is an essentially important aspect of working in retail, and having received a mystery shopper feedback score of 100% during my time at Asda, I feel that this is something I can say I am skillful at.
Zine Printing Workshop with Rob Ryan
In October 2015 I took part in a workshop with artist Rob Ryan at Yorkshire Sculpture park. This was an exciting opportunity to be a part of a professional production of one of Rob Ryan’s Zines, “Don’t Take My Kindness for Weakness” at Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Here I was taught skills such as screen printing, paper cutting, ink drawing and binding, and pages that I worked on went into the limited edition zines. It was also interesting to witness and take experience from how a professional artist runs a workshop and think about how I can apply the experience to my own facilitation.
Commissioned Paintings
Since leaving 6th form in 2012, I have painted several pieces as commissions. This has been valuable experience for me as I have been able to learn how to work with clients and negotiate decisions about how the painting will look and what materials will be used etc. as well as enable me to develop my own practice outside of college and university.
A lot of this work is very personal and it feels like a huge privileged to be asked to turn a photograph of a beloved family member or pet into a painting. I enjoy having that contact with clients – it is very rewarding to know that my will be treasured by families, and hopefully displayed on their walls for a long time.
Holbrook School C of E Primary School – Work Experience
In the summer of 2014 I spent a week at a local primary school working with the pupils. In this role I volunteered at the school, assisting in arts-based lessons.
This was an important experience for me, not just because of the value of the skills and knowledge I gained, but because working creatively with the children and witnessing their imaginative play was what really reignited my passion for art, which I felt I had lost during my year studying Fine Art.
Derby Live! – Work Experience with Costume Design
In 2011 I worked for two days with Derby LIVE’s costume design department, on the costumes for a production of ‘Taming of the Shrew’.
What I enjoyed most about this experience was working as a part of a big team on a wonderful creative and engaging project. Although this work experience helped me to realise that Costume Design was not the career path for me, it was a fantastic experience to have input on a theatre production, and to get an insight into the work that goes into creating the costumes.
Lydia Atkinson Art 
