Our Tutors
Shannen McDaid
Shannen always had a passion for art since she could hold a pencil. She took the subject every year in high school, and wanted to become an artist, although, after an intense advanced higher, she eventually figured out that deadlines were not compatible with her passion!
So she decided that she wanted to pursue conservation biology, and is now in her 4th and final year at Edinburgh Napier University. Then a couple of years ago, she worked a season as an educational ranger at a local zoo which made her love teaching!
She kept her creativity alive in her free time over the years, and has realisedthat she can do both - use her art to spread an educational conservation message, as she mainly draws Scottish animals and landscapes. Now as she is coming to the end of her academic career, she thought it was time to start setting herself up for after graduation - and so began tutoring art classes!
Gabbi Anderson
Sewing is Gabbi’s passion, she has been a seamstress almost all of her working life and ran a small one-woman business for 35+ years doing commission work only.
Throughout the years she has taught many different kinds of sewing courses, latterly she worked for Greener Kirkcaldy as their sewing/upcycling tutor. Gabbi has been upcycling/recycling for many, many years with the result that it is now just a part of her life.
She does demos on occasion too, turning tweed skirts into jackets, curtains into coats/costumes/homewares, jeans into home decor, furniture and bags.
With just a little imagination and Gabbi’s wonderful teaching skills she can help students to create their own items and at the same time help us to contribute a little less to landfill.
Dorothy Black
BA Honours Drawing and Painting
Post Graduate Diploma Drawing and Painting with Printmaking
PGCE
Dorothy has over 30 years of teaching experience in the Primary, Secondary and FE sector as well as Additional Support Needs. She also teaches in the wider community with a number of groups. She is an enthusiastic and passionate practitioner of her own work, and derives great pleasure from encouraging others to engage, realise their potential and enjoy their own
creativity.
Website: dorothyblackart.com
Instagram: @dorothyblackart
Gail Cadogan
Ba (Hons) in Woven Textiles
Taught HND level students
Post Grad Diploma in Art Therapy
Worked with adults and children with enduring and acquired mental health conditions.
Studied jewellery and metal smithing, specialising in enamel jewellery.
Gail Cadogan has worked in creative projects and learning environments most of her life. She has her workshop, and runs her gift shop ‘MyCherryPie’ from her premises on Kirkcaldy High Street. Gail is keen to encourage and promote creativity in others to support their mental health and general wellbeing.
Jane Charlton
I’m a textile artist based in central Scotland and my work is mainly inspired by architecture and the urban landscape. My first love is Venetian architecture but I also love modern skyscrapers and industrial wastelands.
I have been teaching workshops to adults and children for many years and am a member of Embroidery and Textile Tutors Scotland. The workshops I deliver are not ‘step-by-step’ where everyone ends up with the same result. You will be shown a range of techniques and encouraged to combine them in your own way and using your own colour palette to create a piece of work unique to you.
You will hopefully go home with many more ideas to progress at your leisure.