.My name is Michelle and I am the online Art and Wellbeing tutor for Colora Art. My journey started many years ago where I have always had a passion for art and I studied to achieve a Distinction in Advanced GNVQ in Art and Design followed by a Distinction in a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design with a Certificate in Art and Craft studies specialising in Life Drawing and photography. This then took me on to studying Decorative Artefacts at De Montfort University.

I have 18 years’ experience working in Education, 10 of those years I trained and studied completing my Level 3 NVQ and Level 3 Diploma in Teaching and Support work in Schools, while working closely and teaching children in small groups with various levels of SEN specialising in children with ASD and behaviour.

 Alongside this, I also spent 2 years working in a Family Counselling Service where I gained my Level 2 qualification in Child Attachment, Separation and Loss and a Certificate in Understanding Child Bereavement. This allowed me to give emotional support to children affected by trauma through art and play.

I then trained with a Psychology Service to gain my Emotional literacy Certificate where I planned and taught my own sessions and then went on to gain a Level 2 Diploma in Understanding Children and Young Peoples Mental Health to support them in articulating their emotions.

As I had a passion for Art and emotional therapy, I decided to put the two together and studied for my Certificate in Art therapy so I could help children to express themselves and become a more confident individual. There is something magical about seeing a child proud of themselves and what they have achieved even if the progress is small because that progress maybe massive to them.

For 8 years I was teaching whole classes in mainstream education after gaining my Higher Level 4 TQ where I planned and taught a variety of subjects focusing mainly on Art, PE and Music in EYFS, KS1 and KS2..

As a parent of a child who suffers with SEN and severe anxiety, who was in mainstream school, I saw first-hand the heartbreak and toll it took on her mental health and the whole family which is why we made the decision to home educate our children. My experience with working closely with children and understanding what they need to thrive allows me to provide a safe and calm environment online in the comfort of their own home. There are no high expectations or pressure to be a certain way; they can just be themselves whilst expressing themselves through Art and having fun!

I look forward to meeting you and going on this creative journey together!

My mission

To provide non - pressured therapeutic online Art and Wellbeing sessions as 1.1 or in small low cost groups for Home Educated, flexi schooled and schooled children, including those who aren’t currently in school.

Children will have the chance to enhance their creativity and imagination by learning new art skills while using different materials and discovering Artists along the way. Wellbeing lessons will provide insight into emotions and how to understand and manage them through being creative.