CV
I hold an Enhanced Disclosure DBS Certificate - to work with children and adults.
CURRENT ROLE
Since leaving full time school teaching in Aug 25 I am currently re-investing time and energy in my own long running self employment business AllSensesArt.
Freelance Artist and Creative Facilitator
Sheffield, Yorkshire
Regularly supporting at the Burngreave Dementia Cafe
Other recent creative sessions have included workshops for children, families and carers at The LEVEL Centre, Derbyshire.
EDUCATION
2017-18 PGCE (Distinction) Design & Technology Sheffield Hallam University
2006 BA (Hons. 1st Class) Manchester Metropolitan University
2009 PTTLS Preparation to Teach in Lifelong Learning, University of Wolverhampton
VISITING TUTOR EXPERIENCE
2016 Art Foundation Students John Leggott College, Scunthorpe
2014-15 Art Foundation and Access to Art and Design Students -Sheffield College
2010 Foundation Course (3D) - Manchester Metropolitan University
2009 Fine Art Foundation Course - Solihull College and -Bedford College
SELECTED TRAINING
2025 Gold level Dementia Stars training programme (Enrichment for the Elderly)
2024 Safe Guarding: Keeping Children Safe in Education Part1
2024 Health and Safety in Education (Hays)
2024 Trauma informed practice in Education (2 hour introductory course)
2023 Education Endowment Foundation : Five a Day principle (focus on Explicit Instruction and Scaffolding)
2023 Makaton Level 1
2022 Carol Gray Social Stories 10.3 (6 hour webinar)
2021 Understanding Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace NCFE Cache Level 2 Certificate 2021 Becoming a Sensory Detective-understanding and recognising characteristics of SPD in children and adults ( Sensory Specticle).
7 hours
2020 Good Practice in Autism Education University of Bath (20 hours over 4 weeks www.futurelearn.com)
2020- 2024 weekly in-house training from visiting Sensory Occupational Therapist
2019 SEND Conference (National Education Union) : Development Language Disorder (DLS) and Dyslexia sessions
2014 Creative Dementia Conference, Oxford (Creative Dementia Arts Network)
2011 Imagine a Difference: Visioning Day for practitioners wanting to explore creativity in relation to Dementia (Praxis Arts and Health network West Midlands)
2009 Working Parts: Training for artists to work with children with disabilities (5 days)
2008 PMLD: Introduction to working with children severe and multiple physical disabilities and learning difficulties. (Creative Partnerships) Yeoman Park School, Mansfield (12 weeks)
RESEARCH www.kirstyesmith.co.uk
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Sep 24- August 2025
Special Needs Teacher
- Forest View, Rotherham (Hilltop Special School NEXUS MAT)
(Autism, non-verbal / non-speaking, Sensory Processing Difficulties and Severe Learning Difficulties)
Managing a team of four staff.
Curriculum focus is on Preparation for Adulthood and completing modules for ASDAN Personal Progress1 award
Mar 24- Aug 24
Special Needs Teacher
- Robert Ogden Specialist Autism School, Archdale Special School and Forest View (Hilltop Special School)
Jan 20- Jan 24
Special Needs Teacher
- North Ridge Community School, Doncaster (NEXUS MAT)
(Autism, non-verbal / non-speaking, Sensory Processing Difficulties and Severe Learning Difficulties)
Managing a team of five staff
Additional responsibility: Creative Curriculum (Art and Music) Subject Lead
Sep '18- Dec 2020
Supply SEND Teacher (KS2 to Post 16 Students)
- North Ridge Community School, Doncaster (NEXUS MAT)
- Becton School, all Sheffield Sites (NEXUS MAT)
- Seven Hills Special School, Sheffield
- Talbot Specialist School, Sheffield
Subjects taught include: Phonics , English, Maths, Food Technology, Independent Living Skills, PSHE, Art, Science, and PE
Jul ’18 Kelford Special School, Rotherham (NEXUS MAT)
Visiting artist providing Sensory Arts Activities KS2, 3 & 4
Jan ’18- Jun ’18 Sheffield Park Academy (Teaching Placement 2 PGCE)
Planning, Teaching and Marking Y7, Y8, Y9 Textiles lessons.
Team Taught Y10 and Y11 BTEC Level2 (Creative Art and Design –Textiles)
Supporting Y12 BTEC Level3 Art and Design
Mar ’18 Penistone Grammar School (6th Form Teaching Placement PGCE -4 days)
Team Taught Y13 A Level Textiles (final making stages of final A2 Product)
Supporting Y10 Design Technology (Resistant Materials)
Supporting Y13 A Level Art
Sep ’17- Dec ’17 Hope Valley College (Teaching Placement 1 PGCE)
Planning, Teaching and Marking Y7, Y8, Y9 Textiles lessons
Team Taught Y8 Art
Team Taught Y11 GCSE Textiles
Mar '15 - Nov '16 Textiles Teacher Brantwood Specialist School, (Ruskin Mill Trust) Sheffield
Students aged 8-16
Autistic students, high levels of anxiety, some with Trauma (adverse early life experiences)Some with PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance)
Prepared bespoke creative projects which engaged these complex students.
Some students were working at GCSE level.
• Holistic approach to learning with Maths, English, History, Geography and Science embedded.
• The Feb 2016 OFSTED report gave specific praise for my teaching and Assessment for Learning recorded communication in students’ workbooks.
FREELANCE ARTIST EXPERIENCE- AllSensesArt
2025
- Burngreave Dementia Cafe
- The LEVEL Centre, Rowsley Derbyshire.
2016
- 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, N. Lincolnshire ‘Make an Alien’ children's sessions
2015
- Bilston Craft Gallery, West Midlands – Children’s Felted Treasure Bags
- Bilston Craft Gallery, West Midlands - Felted Easter Eggs and Chicks
2014
- Bilston Craft Gallery, West Midlands -Felted Mini-Beasts
- Hodge Hill Girls' School, Birmingham - Felted Pictures and Felted Flower Brooches. Y10 students
- Cherry Orchard Primary School, Worcester - Felted Rainforest Creatures and Insects. Y3 pupils
- Marshlands Special School, Stafford. 'Alien Mini-Beasts' KS2 pupils
2013
- Hobbycraft, Tamworth, West Midlands - Knitting Demonstrations and Finger Knitting Lessons for Children
- Beech Street Primary School, Eccles, Manchester - Paul Klee inspired Felted Portraits Y4 and Monet’s Waterlilies Inspired Wall Hanging KS1
- House of Fairytales at Croft Castle, Herefordshire - craft activities for children and families 'Time Will Tell' exhibition (Meadow Arts)
- Lichfield and Burntwood Libraries - Children's wet felted Easter Chicks
- Derbyshire Schools Library Service - Ilkeston and Ormiston Academy. 'Dear SLS' project
- Crich Tramway Museum, Derbyshire - Wet-Felted Flowers adult workshop
- Hobbycraft, Tamworth, West Midlands - Felted Butterflies children's activity
- Bilston Craft Gallery - Wet-Felted Purses children's workshop
- Mencap Family Fun Day, Dudley, West Midlands - A variety of felting activities for children and young people with Special Needs
2012
- Birmingham Children's Hospital - Creative sessions with Young People in Mental Health wards and CAMHS Centre
- St Chad's Arts and Crafts Group, Wolverhampton - Felted Beads and Jewellery
- Bilston Craft Gallery, West Midlands - Felted Pictures: drawing with fibres
- Fuse Community Arts Festival, Lichfield Staffordshire - Felted Snakes and Jewellery
- St Dominic's Independent School, Wolverhampton - Hundertwasser inspired Textiles Y7 and Felted Portraits Y10
- Pupil Referral Unit, Burton Upon Trent - Creative Felting Sessions
- Hen Party Creative Activity, Derbyshire - Felted Portraits
- Libraries Adult Learners Week, Norton Canes, Staffordshire - Felted Purses.
- Cherry Orchard School, Worcester - Australian Themed Felted Pictures. KS1
- Oakdene Day Centre, Burntwood, Staffordshire - Felted Pictures (session for people living with Dementia)
- The Spark, Lichfield - Workshop 1 : Hand Felted Beads and Jewellery, 2: Hand Felted flower brooches, Workshop 3 : Hand felted Christmas Decorations
- Norton Canes Library, Staffordshire. - Felted Flower Brooches
- Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Youth Art Forum - weekly sessions- Vessels and felted design pieces.
- Felted Bags. Masterclass felting workshop Lichfield, Staffordshire
- Borderland Voices (Mental Health Group), Leek Staffordshire - Wet Felting
- The Bridge Centre Short Stay School (Pupil Referral Unit) Lichfield. KS4 enrichment sessions
- The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery and St Mark's Primary School Stoke on Trent - Y4 5 days Felted Roman socks
- Lichfield Embroiderers' Guild. Textile presentation
- Felted Cushions. Masterclass felting workshop
- Penn Hospital, Wolverhampton. Arts and Health project: Working with older people living with Dementia (7 wks.) Taking inspiration from Polish Papercuts and Baskets in the museum collection, the participants made wet-felted: Flower Brooches, Pictures, Table Mats and Vessels.
- Lichfield and Burton on Trent libraries - Felted Mini-beasts taster felt-making sessions (Family Learning Month activities).
2011
- Borderland Voices and ReThink (Mental Health groups) - Felted landscapes inspired by Staffordshire Peakland scenery. Part of a nurture trip to the Staffordshire Peak. 'A Breath of Fresh Air' (a project part funded by Ecominds and the Peak Park’s Sustainable Development Fund)
- START (Stafford Art Festival) - Mini Beasts drop-in family creative craft sessions
- Felted Handbag Masterclass, Lichfield
- The Spark, Lichfield. Wet-Felted Flower Brooches (adult workshop)
- Bilston Craft Gallery - Fun Felted Doughnuts, children's art workshops
- Walton Hall Special School, Stafford - Felting sessions for summer holiday club (children with multiple learning difficulties and disabilities).
- Centre for the Child, Birmingham Children's Library - Drop-in felted mini-beasts family session
- St Dominic's Independent School, Wolverhampton - Hundertwasser inspired Textiles Y7
- Nuno felt making for adults Masterclass, Lichfield, Staffordshire.
- Felted Flower Corsage workshop for Hen Party, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.
- Bilston Craft Gallery, Wolverhampton Museums & Art Gallery - Fantastic Felted pictures. Children's holiday workshop
- West Midlands Quakers - Easter Felt making activities for families and children.
- Bridal Felted flowers Masterclass, Lichfield, Staffordshire
- G8Way: Children's Disability Service, Stafford & Wolverhampton - Aim Higher Spring Party - art activities for children with disabilities and Special Needs
- Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton - Activity Day for SEN children and their families
- G8Way: Children's Disability Service, Tamworth Children's Centre - Aim Higher Fun Day for children with disabilities and Special Needs
2010
- G8Way: Children's Disability Service, Cannock Children's Centre - Felting activities with children with Special Needs
- Art Nation (Audiences Central) Arts Council England Art Outreach Project, Mander Shopping Centre, Wolverhampton - Felted Christmas Stockings, Santas, Angels and other hand-made decorations.
- Rolleston on Dove Women's Institute - Christmas Stocking Workshop. 3D felting with a resist
- Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery - Introduction to Felt-making: Flowers, purses & beads. Adult day course
- The Friary School, Lichfield, Staffordshire - Felt making Y12 Young Enterprise Project-Christmas stockings & decorations
- Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Burntwood Library and Uttoxeter Library - Halloween themed Spooky Mini-Beasts activities.
- Bilston Craft Gallery, Wolverhampton Museums & Art Gallery - 2 half day sessions with Blind and Partially Sighted Adults - Felted purses and table mats
- Fishcross Primary School, Alloa- Felting enrichment session for teaching and support staff. Felted Doughnuts.
- Walton Hall Special School, Stafford - felted wall-hanging for the multi-sensory room KS3
- 52 Weeks of Art: Erasmus Darwin Sculpture and Textiles Project - 8 half day sessions with groups of adults and children from various community groups. Work exhibited as part of 'Life the Universe & Darwin' community exhibition.
- Birmingham Children's Hospital - Felted Wall-hangings. Wellbeing Summer Project with young patients -Ward 7
- Midlands Art Centre (mac), Birmingham - Textiles Tutor for weekly adult Soft Jewellery classes. (20-week contract).
- St James C of E School, Derby - Mini-beasts and their habitat. Y2
- St Dominic's Independent School, Wolverhampton - Hundertwasser inspired Textiles Y7
- Walsall Museum, Walsall, West Midlands - Mini-Beasts; children's holiday art activities.
- Bilston Craft Gallery, Wolverhampton Museums & Art Gallery - Felt a Coat for your Teddy Bear (children's workshop)
- Northfield Quaker Pre-school, Birmingham - Mini-beasts and their habitats.
- Tamworth & Glascote Libraries, Tamworth, Staffs - Felted Flower Corsages. Adult Learners Week Activities.
- St Chad's Art Circle, Wolverhampton - Outreach project for Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Six-week course teaching a variety of art & textile techniques. Adult learners.
- Walsall Museum, Walsall, West Midlands - Easter Bunny Glove Puppets. Seamless felting workshop
- Chasewater Innovation Centre, Burntwood, Staffordshire - Felt a coat for your Teddy Bear and Make your own Felted Mini-Beast sessions (children's workshops)
- Wolverhampton Museum & Art Gallery, Wolverhampton - Sculptural felt (Donuts and coffee cups): Masterclass linked to 'POP' Jan Haworth exhibition.
2009
- Wolverhampton Museum & Art Gallery, Wolverhampton - Sculptural Felt (Donuts and coffee cups): Adult Masterclass linked to 'POP' Jan Haworth exhibition.
- Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham - Felt making Demonstrations in the 'How Art is Made' gallery
- Solihull Arts Complex, Solihull, West Midlands - Children's Saturday Art Club.
- Forest Oak Special School, Solihull, West Midlands - Sculptural felt: working with felt & found objects. Y5 pupils
- Hazel Oak Junior School, Solihull, West Midlands - Sculptural felt: working with felt & found objects. Y5 & 6 pupils
- Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham - Textural Felting 'Taking Time: Craft & the Slow Revolution' workshop
- Tamworth Library, Tamworth, Staffs - Felted Mini-beasts Environment Day activity
- RSA Academy, Tipton, West Midlands – Creative Felt making Day: Jewellery & Bags
- South London Home Educating Families Group, London - Sculptural felt: working with felt & found objects.
- Krasif Aid, Aldridge, West Midlands - Nuno felt making for adults. One day course.
- Chasewater Innovation Centre, Burntwood, Staffordshire - Felted Jewellery, holiday craft activities for teenagers.
- Birmingham Children's Hospital - Four half day creative felt making sessions working with young people in mental health wards. Project managed by PlayTrain. Work exhibited at ArtsFest, Birmingham.
- League Family Camp. John's Lee Wood, Leicestershire - Felted Flowers. Felting session for family groups; adults & children.
- Walsall Creative Development Team: Disability Arts, West Midlands - Felting activities during consultation day with young people from Walsall Youth Forum
- Children's Centre, Burton upon Trent - Felted Flower corsages. Enrichment session for carers & parents of children with Autism.
- Lichfield Artists’ Studios, Lichfield Staffs - Nuno felt making for adults. One day course.
- Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery - Make your own hand felted Mini-Beast Workshop (an Insect Week activity.)
- Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke on Trent - Mini-beasts on Safari. Workshop linked to gallery exhibition.
- Uplands Junior School, Wolverhampton - Textile Bird Project for school Arts Week. Y6
- Krasif Aid, Aldridge, West Midlands - Bags & 3D Felt making. Adult day course.
- Bilston Craft Gallery, Wolverhampton Museums & Art Galleries - Hand Felted Jewellery. Family workshops.
- Brockencote Hall, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire - Textile Corsages. Adult workshop.
- Penn Hall Special School, Wolverhampton - Sensory Snakes - Sensory Lesson
- Bilston Craft Gallery, Wolverhampton Museums & Art Galleries - Hand Felted Easter Bunny Glove Puppets. Family workshops.
- Home Start, East Staffordshire Borough Council, Burton upon Trent - Spring Family Tree. Creative workshop for families.
- Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre. Workshops (Bob & Roberta Smith solo show)
Modern Day Mottos & Common Sense with Attitude. Recycled materials and textiles.
- Phoenix Nursery School, Wolverhampton - Mini-beasts. Wolverhampton Art Gallery partnership project.
2008
- Christchurch C of E Nursery School, Wolverhampton - Mini-beasts. Wolverhampton Art Gallery partnership project.
- Birmingham Children's Hospital (project managed by PlayTrain) - 'All About Me' worked with young people in Mental Health wards and Birmingham CAMHS Centre to make felted pictures and wall-hangings (these were exhibited as part of ArtsFest 08).
- Bilston Craft Gallery, Wolverhampton Museums & Art Gallery - Felted Bags Made over Stones. Family workshops.
- Burntwood Wakes Festival & Burntwood Art Festival, Lichfield District Council - Felted Bags Made Over Stones and Magic Ball Felted Mini Beasts.
- Wirksworth Junior School, Wirksworth, Derbyshire - Felted Firebird Sculpture and Window display project for Wirksworth Festival. Y2 & 3 pupils
- Model Village Primary School, Shirebrook, Derbyshire. Y5 and Y6 1 day per week full school year - Final large projects: Superhero Wall hanging & Nuno Felted Den
- Hey-Diddle-Diddle Pre-School Nursery, Chorley, Staffordshire - Felted Dream Bouncers.
- Burton-upon-Trent Library, East Staffordshire Borough Council - Magic Felted Balls. Family workshop.
- Making Space, Lichfield District Council. (Mental health support centres for adults.) Felt making with a Christmas Theme. 2 half-day workshops.
2007
- Doctor Johnson Museum, Lichfield - Big Draw Activities, Lichfield District Council- Experimental printmaking.
- Borrowwood Junior School, Derby. Interactive Sensory Weather Pod. Felt making with Y3 & 4 Five half day sessions.
2006
- Whittington Girl Guides, Staffordshire. Textile Jewellery.
- Lichfield Cathedral. All Saints' Fair. 'Make your own Halo'. Mixed Media - Early Years drop-in session
2003
Chadsmead Primary School, Lichfield - Make your own felted snake. Y3 & Y4 pupils
2001-2008
League Family Camp. John's Lee Wood, Leicestershire - Summer Holiday workshops Felt making, jewellery from recycled materials and poi making. Half-day and two-day workshops (children from 2yrs to adults).