Tessa is Callington School of Arts resident Director of Art. She has a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Hornsey College of Art in London, specialising in sculpture and printing and an ATC (Art Teachers Cert.) from Brighton College of Art. Between 1986 and 2006, Tessa taught at Magdalen College School in Oxford, one of the country’s leading independent schools. Her work here included teaching art at both GCSE and A Level and also preparing students for entry to many of the UK’s top art colleges, such as the Courtauld Institute of Art and Central Saint Martins. She has also been actively involved in Adult Education in Oxfordshire, both in teaching, writing and moderating courses for the Open College Network.
Although trained as a sculptor and printmaker Tessa paints in all media. She particular likes drawing, including working from life and is a keen photographer – her photographs are often mistaken for paintings! She also works with photographic silk screen printing and in 2011 acquired an A2 printing press which has expanded the types of printing now available. She also has experience of teaching desktop publishing and working with text and image together. This has led her into her recent text paintings based on the shipping forecast.
Tessa and her husband Peter have travelled extensively throughout Central Asia, including Afghanistan, India and Nepal. They have also lived and worked in Australia for an extended period. More recently they have visited rural Eastern Europe, America and Ethiopia – twenty years after Peter worked there for Oxfam.
Tessa’s interest in Art History is reflected in the school’s extensive art library, which features books running the range of the history of art throughout the world. She is an active member of Drawn to the Valley exhibiting with the group frequently especially during the Open Studios week every year in September. She also hosts the local Look Group organised by Tate St Ives, where local artists meet monthly to discuss art and visit exhibitions.
