My name is Laura Jones. I am a trained secondary art teacher and have also been working as an artist for around 10+ years.
I have always loved art and creating, at school I took GCSEs in art, one a year early, pursued A Level and then a more focused BTEC national diploma in art and design to widen and deepen my knowledge of the arts. After falling even more deeply in love with design during this year I then pursued a three year Bachelors degree in model design and special effects. As a then qualified young person I had the urge to travel and see the world, where I was lucky enough to pursue my love of the arts whilst travelling and teaching English.
I was commissioned to work on canvases and in restaurants and bars around Thailand and Kefalonia and at this point discovered my love of independent design and the freedom that commissioned work gave. I was lucky enough to meet some wonderful people and create work for a variety of tastes and specifications. From mural design, logo design, signage and charity murals, to work in bars and boutiques I have a wide range of experience of working with different media for a range of outcomes and purposes.
In my late twenties I then returned to England to have my now six year old son and whilst he was two I set up my own business to allow me the flexibility to be a stay at home mum.
My business was called ECOlourKIDS and was fairly successful locally, however reached a point that I was no longer able to pursue it due to logistics and the scale of which I would have needed to take my little business to the next step.
I made natural paints and play doughs for babies and ran baby painting sessions. The sessions were a huge hit with lots of little ones getting messy during the fun sensory play.
As you can see from the photo on the left, coffee and sensory play sessions were hugely successful. Here was a local class where mums could enjoy a bonding experience with their child, whilst encouraging the development of sensory skills and fine motor skills.All with the added piece of mind that if a stray painty hand went in a little ones mouth they were totally safe! The paints were dairy and wheat free, so suitable for little ones with allergies and coloured only using natural ingredients found in nature, so no enumbers or hidden nasties that could harm little tums! I did love my little business, but when my son turned 3 it was time to move on.
At this point, I then undertook a PGCE and qualified as a secondary art teacher. Sharing my passion of the arts and knowledge regarding how far this career can take you as well as the plethora of directions it can take you in, has been both a rewarding and exciting experience. Training in an ex private boarding school and continuing to work in a local through school has allowed me to develop strong relationships with young people, and to help them see the arts as a viable, progressive and attractive career choice. I believe where the arts has taken so far in my life is testament to that. I have developed as an artist also during this time, working on various commissions outside of work in my spare time.
So this leads me to now, at this point I am taking a step into the next chapter of my life and my sons life. Relocating back to Greece to continue with my art, to hopefully continue teaching and sharing my passion with people, as well as spreading a little colour here and there with my commissions.
So, onto the next chapter, Parga here we come! Who knows, baby painting may also be back on the agenda again, nothing is off the table with our exciting little adventure.
If you would like to know any more about what has bought me back to Greece, ask me any questions about commissions or services please do feel free to email me at comedownbythebar@gmail.com
Like to see more about teaching and art.... see my next blog.
Happy days
Laura
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