susan coles
Susan is an artist educator who is based in North East England, and works nationally and internationally. Susan has been drawing since she could hold a crayon in her hand. After a successful career in secondary art education and eventually as an Advanced Skills Teacher, she became an independent visual art and Arts/Creativity adviser and consultant.
She has many roles and that currently includes the joyful role of being a Trustee of AccessArt. Some other roles are: Vice President of InSEA (International Society of Education through Art, the official UNESCO organisation for visual art education globally), Chair of governors Brighton Avenue Primary School, Secretary to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Art Craft Design Education, founder of NEATEN North East Art Teacher Educator Network, honorary fellow of NSEAD popular keynote speaker, visiting Professor University of Sunderland, member of several Arts advisory boards, networker, critical friend, and champion and activist for art education.
Susan works across schools, colleges, universities, Initial Teacher Education, in museums and galleries, runs CPD for local authorities, Trusts and AccessArt, and keeps a healthy presence via social media as @theartcriminal. Susan also helped set up Sketchbook Circle and takes part in this annual artist teacher exchange every year. She has often said that “art gave me my voice” and it has.
Find out more at Susan’s LinkedIn.
chris owen
Chris Owen studied History of Art at the University of Cambridge, and supervised undergraduate students in the History of Art department at Cambridge, before embarking on a career teaching in art schools within further and higher education. Chris taught for 11 years at Swindon College in Wiltshire, before joining Leeds College of Art & Design, where he first led the Historical and Critical Studies Department before becoming Assistant Principal. In 2007, he moved to the University of Derby as Assistant Dean and Head of the School of Art & Design. He joined Anglia Ruskin as Head of the Cambridge School of Art in 2011, a post from which he retired in 2019. Chris possesses a Masters degree in Education (MEd). His research interests are in the history of British Art, and the pedagogy of Art and Design Education. Chris’ book, Drawing in the Dark: Henry Moore’s Coalmining Commission, was published by Lund Humphries, in 2022.
Anne Morten
Anne Morten, a recently retired headteacher with thirty five years’ teaching experience in a variety of schools, at home and abroad, joined the Board of Trustees in October 2020.
She started her teacher training and career at the Institute of Education in Singapore. She continued her teaching career and education when she moved to Liverpool in the eighties, gaining her Post Graduate in Education from University of Liverpool and Diploma in Education from the University of Manchester. Her first headship was in St Helens in 2004, followed by a second in Cambridge in 2010. Since retiring in 2020, Anne became a governor in a primary school.
Although her degree is in Mathematics and the Arts do not feature prominently in her personal education, she has championed Arts education in the schools she taught in. She saw how children’s lives could be transformed (and their outlook broadened) through the Arts, with children growing in confidence and self-esteem and, crucially, taking an active part in their own learning.
She ensured high quality arts provision in the schools she taught in by skilling the teachers through a comprehensive professional development programme. The opportunities and learning experiences in Art were continually monitored and evaluated. This included working closely with several external organisations, such as Museums, Art Galleries, Theatres and Orchestras. Engagement in local and national projects, such as ‘Take One Picture’, Heritage Project and Artsmark further deepened the children’s understanding and developed their skills. She has always found it rewarding to see excitement for learning as the children’s cultural capital develops.
Outside the classroom, Anne likes travel, hiking, history and drama.
Kate williams
Kate Williams works as a consultant specialising in providing business support to charities.
Kate trained as a musician at Bath Spa University College and has a degree in Music: Sound and Image.
She has been a venue manager and programmer for small scale venues across the UK, run a rural touring scheme, and was Commercial and Sales Manager at Corn Exchange Newbury before relocating to South Wales to be the General Manager for Theatre producers Theatr na nÓg.
Having previously been a trustee she is now providing regular finance and fundraising support to People Speak Up, a social, mental-health, arts and wellbeing charity and financial management for Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services.
Kate is a reiki practitioner, keen crafter, enjoying knitting and sewing and occasionally dabbles in painting and photography.
Kate first became involved with AccessArt as the Membership Administrator and is delighted to be able to continue her involvement now as a trustee.
AccessArt Founders
Paula Briggs
Sheila Ceccarelli
