University Centre Colchester | School of Visual and Performing Arts

Welcome from Head of School

School of Art

Welcome to the School of Visual and Performing Arts; an inspiring place to study.

Our speciality is the creative arts and our purpose is supporting you in building the foundation for a successful career, through a creative and dynamic educational experience.

Whether you aspire to be an artist, creator, performer or educator – the School of Visual and Performing Arts can help you realise your potential to become a confident, adaptive and creative practitioner. Our community-learning environment combines the academic rigour of a traditional university with dynamic practical and creative components that will support your development and help you pursue your passion in a successful career in the creative and performance industries. With our active partnerships across a variety of arts organisations you will gain real-world employment experiences alongside your studies.

We already have good reason to be proud in terms of our students’ success, and personally I look forward to the day when your achievements contribute to that sense of pride.

We look forward to helping you realise your creative potential.

Mick Stubbs, Head of School

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Courses Offered

Art, Design, Fashion and Textiles

BA (Hons)Fashion and Printed Textiles
BA (Hons)Fine Art

Film, Media and Games

BA (Hons) Computer Games with 3D Modelling and Animation
BA (Hons)Digital Film Production

Music and Performing Arts

BA (Hons)Musical Theatre
BA (Hons) Popular Music:Performance and Production

Val Jacobs is a tutor in Fashion Design on BA Fashion and Printed Textiles. Val has taught in Further and Higher Education in Colchester Institute and at University Centre Colchester.

Prior to her career as a university lecturer, Val has worked extensively in the fashion industry as a stylist, consultant and as an independent designer, selling to Japan and the USA, to stores including; Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Selfridges and Liberty. Val has also experienced working with a number of high street brands including River Island, Topshop and M&S. Her work has appeared in magazines in including Vogue and Harpers and Queen.

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Matthew de Kersaint Giraudeau is Course Leader for BA (Hons) Fine Art. Matthew has taught at universities and alternative art institutions across the country at undergraduate and post graduate level and before joining University Centre Colchester was an Associate Lecturer at Chelsea College of Arts on their Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art.

Matthew is both artist and a teacher, exhibiting work across the country and internationally.

Matthew is currently undertaking a practice based PhD at Kingston School of Art where he is researching direct address in performance and video.

Read staff profile

Stephen Ellison is Course Leader on BA (Hons) Fashion and Printed Textiles. As well as delivering textiles and contextual studies elements of the course, he has academic and administrative responsibility for the programme, facilitating live projects, arranging visiting speakers, exhibitions, shows, study trips and maintaining links with industry and employers.

Stephen has an MA Printed Textiles from the Royal College of Art, London and has worked as a Lecturer at University Centre Colchester since 2020. His understanding of the specialism of Printed Textiles has been acquired through 20 years of experience in the industry, having had a diverse and contrasting career in design, with experience in various print for fashion studios in Stockholm, London and New York.

Stephen currently makes bespoke, hand printed linen products for the home, exclusively made to order.

Read staff profile

Matthew is a Lecturer in Acting for Musical Theatre and Directing. Matthew has experience in teaching acting to primary ages right up to university level, and has previously delivered classes at Birmingham School of Acting & East 15 Acting school.

With over 10 years of industry experience Matthew has dedicated his work on the belief that creativity and artistic expression is a catalyst for change.

Matthew is an experienced practitioner having worked with educational theatre companies such as Rainbow Theatre Co. and continues to practition at the Mercury Theatre Colchester

Read staff profile

Dr. Sean O’Dell is Senior Lecturer in Contextual Studies and Social History in the School of Visual and Performing Arts and teaches a range of modules across the BA (Hons) programmes.

As well as lecturing at University Centre Colchester, Sean has taught at the University of Essex Centre for Local and Regional History.

Sean’s recent research interests have included topics for publication in the book Shaping the Past (University of Hertfordshire Press); the latest volume of the Victoria County History of Essex.

Jason is a lecturer in Music Technology and teaches subjects including composition and production, alongside administrative responsibilities involving module creation.

Jason has extensive experience in education and industry, having spent 20+ years as a peripatetic teacher and composer in film, television and other media.

In addition to film and television, Frederick has also scored television advertisements, promotional trailers, and documentary subjects. He has played on recordings with artists such as Billy Preston, Peter Thomas and Will Young, and has played on soundtrack sessions for film and television.

Read staff profile

Mick is Head of School of Visual and Performing Arts and is responsible for the overall management, planning, curriculum development and artistic direction.

Mick has extensive experience of delivering and heading Art-based programmes in Further and Higher Education settings in the UK, including positions at Leeds School of Art and Stamford College.

His professional work combines the role of artist and educationalist. A lot of Mick’s early work was in film animation and he produced a number of shorts, one of which was selected for the Cambridge Animation Festival. He also worked on the original series of Superted animated cartoons; up to that point at least, the only non-Disney cartoon to make it onto the Disney TV channel. Mick also worked commercially for several years, as a freelance artist, illustrator and sign writer.

Read staff profile

Julien Mery is the Programme Leader for the Digital Film Production degree course at University Centre Colchester. He teaches on the production and technology-based modules.

Julien has worked for over 15 years in the film and education sector in Germany, France, Denmark and the UK. He also works as regular media trainer for the UNHCR in Europe and West Africa.

To date, he has self-produced two feature films and established a regional organisation to help promote and coordinate film production activities across East Anglia. The formal network he established now has over 1500 talent and crew listed which he regularly provides with employment opportunities. As a result, he has supported over 8 feature film productions, along with countless shorts films and TV programmes filming in East Anglia, several of which our students were involved in.

Read staff profile

Dr Mark Pulman is a lecturer in Music and Performing Arts, teaching modules: in Critical Studies in Musical Theatre; Musicianship and Music Teaching in Practice. Mark also works as an accompanist for auditions and performances.

Mark is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and an Associate of the Royal College of Music (ARCM). He is also a former Head of Music in three secondary schools.

His professional life encompasses both popular and classical music performance, and music education. Mark has substantial industry experience with various music companies at senior levels, including Novello & Co Ltd, Warner/Chappell Music, Hal Leonard (USA), and Spartan Press.

Read staff profile

Simon Warne is Course Leader and Lecturer in Musical Theatre. He is the musical director of college choral groups, showcases and other course productions. Before joining University Centre Colchester, Simon combined his role as a lay clerk at Chelmsford Cathedral with working for Essex Music Services’ choral development and peripatetic singing team.

Simon is an experienced choral director and workshop leader, who works with a diverse range of advanced, and community based choirs including regular direction of the Essex County Youth Choirs.

He now combines his knowledge of traditional choral music with an in depth understanding of voice and physiology, through his wide experience of the Estill Model.

Read staff profile

Art Staff

Mick Stubbs

Mick is Head of School of Visual and Performing Arts and is responsible for the overall management, planning, curriculum development and artistic direction.

Mick has extensive experience of delivering and heading Art-based programmes in Further and Higher Education settings in the UK, including positions at Leeds School of Art and Stamford College.

His professional work combines the role of artist and educationalist. A lot of Mick’s early work was in film animation and he produced a number of shorts, one of which was selected for the Cambridge Animation Festival. He also worked on the original series of Superted animated cartoons; up to that point at least, the only non-Disney cartoon to make it onto the Disney TV channel. Mick also worked commercially for several years, as a freelance artist, illustrator and sign writer.

Read staff profile

Alice Baker

Alice Baker is a Lecturer in Computer Games and has taught at University Centre Colchester since September 2021. Alice has an MSc in Games Development from the University of Suffolk, with a focus on 3D art.

Alice has studied game development for the past 5 years, including design, art and programming. Alice’s research interests involve the psychology of game design and designing for emotions in games.

As well as having a passion for game development, Alice has also developed her art skills as a tattoo artist, designing bespoke art from clients’ interests.

Read staff profile

Stephen Ellison

Stephen Ellison is Course Leader on BA (Hons) Fashion and Printed Textiles. As well as delivering textiles and contextual studies elements of the course, he has academic and administrative responsibility for the programme, facilitating live projects, arranging visiting speakers, exhibitions, shows, study trips and maintaining links with industry and employers.

Stephen has an MA Printed Textiles from the Royal College of Art, London and has worked as a Lecturer at University Centre Colchester since 2020. His understanding of the specialism of Printed Textiles has been acquired through 20 years of experience in the industry, having had a diverse and contrasting career in design, with experience in various print for fashion studios in Stockholm, London and New York.

Stephen currently makes bespoke, hand printed linen products for the home, exclusively made to order.

Read staff profile

Sebastian Muravchik

Sebastian Muravchik is Course Leader for BA Music, with a focus on student-led, student-centered learning facilitation, and learning mindsets. Before joining University Centre Colchester, Sebastian taught at Ravensbourne University and London College of Communication.

Sebastian has decades-long experience teaching in music, media production and the creative arts at a wide variety of levels and platforms.

Sebastian is also an active live performer, songwriter and music producer and DJ in electronic music and pop, as well as a composer for film, theatre and other media. Previously he has also worked as a live and recording session guitarist and arranger.

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Sebastian Muravchik

Matthew Giraudeau

Matthew de Kersaint Giraudeau is Course Leader for BA (Hons) Fine Art. Matthew has taught at universities and alternative art institutions across the country at undergraduate and post graduate level and before joining University Centre Colchester was an Associate Lecturer at Chelsea College of Arts on their Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art.

Matthew is both artist and a teacher, exhibiting work across the country and internationally.

Matthew is currently undertaking a practice based PhD at Kingston School of Art where he is researching direct address in performance and video.

Read staff profile

Matthew Jewson

Matthew is a Lecturer in Acting for Musical Theatre and Directing. Matthew has experience in teaching acting to primary ages right up to university level, and has previously delivered classes at Birmingham School of Acting & East 15 Acting school.

With over 10 years of industry experience Matthew has dedicated his work on the belief that creativity and artistic expression is a catalyst for change.

Matthew is an experienced practitioner having worked with educational theatre companies such as Rainbow Theatre Co. and continues to practition at the Mercury Theatre Colchester

Read staff profile

Sarah Sabin

Sarah Sabin is a lecturer in visual arts. Sarah’s experience of teaching combines Higher Education with secondary school and outreach projects. She has taught at Colchester Institute, Colchester Sixth Form College, and a number of adult community colleges.

Sarah has been an artist and educator for over twenty years. Her art work interprets and reimagines sites and their histories, through making, public participation and site specific projects in the public realm.

Sarah also has experience of informal education/ gallery education programmes, including Arts Council England funded initiatives.

Read staff profile

Music Staff

Andy Watson

Andy Watson is a lecturer in Music. Andy has taught at Leeds College of Music, Bretton Hall College of Higher Education, Anglia Polytechnic University, Harlow College, Colchester Institute and University Centre Colchester. Andy is an Associate of the Royal College of Music (ARCM) and a member of the Musicians’ Union and PRS for Music.

His music performance credits include; sessions for Yorkshire TV, Channel 4, Carlton Television, BBC, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera North, as well as seven West End Shows including Les Miserables, Sunset Boulevard and Anything Goes.

Andy has an extensive jazz performance track record, including performances with Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia, Paul Higg’s Pavane, Helen Shapiro and various clubs and festivals.

Read staff profile

Mark Pulman

Dr Mark Pulman is a lecturer in Music and Performing Arts, teaching modules: in Critical Studies in Musical Theatre; Musicianship and Music Teaching in Practice. Mark also works as an accompanist for auditions and performances.

Mark is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and an Associate of the Royal College of Music (ARCM). He is also a former Head of Music in three secondary schools.

His professional life encompasses both popular and classical music performance, and music education. Mark has substantial industry experience with various music companies at senior levels, including Novello & Co Ltd, Warner/Chappell Music, Hal Leonard (USA), and Spartan Press.

Read staff profile

Media Staff

Julien Mery

Julien Mery is the Programme Leader for the Digital Film Production degree course at University Centre Colchester. He teaches on the production and technology-based modules.

Julien has worked for over 15 years in the film and education sector in Germany, France, Denmark and the UK. He also works as regular media trainer for the UNHCR in Europe and West Africa.

To date, he has self-produced two feature films and established a regional organisation to help promote and coordinate film production activities across East Anglia. The formal network he established now has over 1500 talent and crew listed which he regularly provides with employment opportunities. As a result, he has supported over 8 feature film productions, along with countless shorts films and TV programmes filming in East Anglia, several of which our students were involved in.

Read staff profile

Heather Bishop

Heather Bishop is Course Leader for BA Hons Computer Games with 3D Modelling and Animation, specialising in Technical Design, including: Game Design, Programming and Business/Project Management.

Heather’s research interests focus on second-person perspective in video games, which forms the basis of her masters thesis.

As well as having a passion for game development, Heather’s work with Game Anglia has seen her coordinate and execute industry conferences, indie showcases, workshops and more.

Read staff profile

Heather Bishop

Performing Arts Staff

Simon Warne

Simon Warne is Course Leader and Lecturer in Musical Theatre. He is the musical director of college choral groups, showcases and other course productions. Before joining University Centre Colchester, Simon combined his role as a lay clerk at Chelmsford Cathedral with working for Essex Music Services’ choral development and peripatetic singing team.

Simon is an experienced choral director and workshop leader, who works with a diverse range of advanced, and community based choirs including regular direction of the Essex County Youth Choirs.

He now combines his knowledge of traditional choral music with an in depth understanding of voice and physiology, through his wide experience of the Estill Model.

Read staff profile

Mark Pulman

Dr Mark Pulman is a lecturer in Music and Performing Arts, teaching modules: in Critical Studies in Musical Theatre; Musicianship and Music Teaching in Practice. Mark also works as an accompanist for auditions and performances.

Mark is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and an Associate of the Royal College of Music (ARCM). He is also a former Head of Music in three secondary schools.

His professional life encompasses both popular and classical music performance, and music education. Mark has substantial industry experience with various music companies at senior levels, including Novello & Co Ltd, Warner/Chappell Music, Hal Leonard (USA), and Spartan Press.

Read staff profile

Jason Frederick

Jason is a lecturer in Music Technology and teaches subjects including composition and production, alongside administrative responsibilities involving module creation.

Jason has extensive experience in education and industry, having spent 20+ years as a peripatetic teacher and composer in film, television and other media.

In addition to film and television, Frederick has also scored television advertisements, promotional trailers, and documentary subjects. He has played on recordings with artists such as Billy Preston, Peter Thomas and Will Young, and has played on soundtrack sessions for film and television.

Read staff profile

Staff List - Music, Media & Performing Arts

Music:

Andy Watson  – Pop, Jazz, Guitar

Jason Frederick – Film Music

Janice Fletcher – Music Education

Rachel James – Film Music, Conducting, Music Education, Cello

Plus visiting guests and industry professionals

Performing Arts:

Simon Warne – Voice

Collette Coleman – Dance

Sarah-Rose Dunn – Tap

Heidi Fletcher – Voice

Plus visiting agents, actors and industry professionals

Media – Digital Film Production:

Julien Mery – Film Production Skills (Film Suffolk)

Amy Feeley – Directing and Script Writing

Jon Saward – Film Production Skills

Andy Darbyshire – Experimental Cinema

Nick Woolgar – Post-Production

Richard Johns – Guest lecturer (directing)

Plus visiting guest lecturers, producers, directors

School of Media – Computer Games with 3D Modelling and Animation:

Heather Bishop – Games design and development, 3D modelling (Game Anglia)

Tom Wenman – Games design and development, 3D modelling

Philip Cheung – Coding and Programming

Dr Steve Huckle – Guest Lecturer

Mark Backler – Guest Lecturer

Dan Collier – Guest Lecturer

Accompanists:

Dr Mark Pulman

Barbara Cutter

Instrumental and Vocal Staff

Simon Warne – Voice

Heidi Fletcher – Voice

Nova Hughes – Voice

Emmy Urquhart – Voice

Carnell Cook – Voice

Steve Smith – Guitar, Bass, Banjo, Mandolin

AJ Kemp – Guitar

Chris Allard – Guitar

Andy Watson – Guitar

Beth Spendlove – Violin / Viola

Mary Pells – Cello

Rachel James – Cello

Martin Hathaway – Flute, Clarinet, Sax, Jazz Piano

French Horn – Chris Street

Lower Brass – by arrangement

Caroline Finlay – Piano

Jamie Trowell – Drums

Michael Allen – Percussion

University Centre Colchester - What our students say

Ashley - BA (Hons) Fashion and Printed Textiles

“We were encouraged to push our own creative limits to develop our identity as designers and this really enabled us to graduate with the wealth of knowledge that we would need to succeed in the industry.”

Ashley - BA (Hons) Fashion and Printed Textiles

Josh - BA (Hons) Digital Film Production

“Julien our tutor is amazing, he helps us get hands on experience in the industry with professionals. It’s very accessible and the only University to do a digital film course nearby. I enjoy how practical the course is.”

Josh - BA (Hons) Digital Film Production

Lizzie - BA (Hons) Musical Theatre

“I chose to study here after a friend of mine had attended in previous years and I knew how much she loved it and what she got from her degree. I loved the environment that there was around campus and how friendly people were.”

Lizzie - BA (Hons) Musical Theatre

Lucy - BA (Hons) Fine Art

“The tutors have been such a great help during the degree. They are all practising artists themselves and have given us the confidence to take risks, have fun and eventually establish a developed, professional fine art practice.”

Lucy - BA (Hons) Fine Art

Luke - BA (Hons) Popular Music

“I like the small intimate classes as it allows me to have more tutorial support and means that I am more than just a number. Teachers care about our physical and mental health just as much as out academic progress.”

Luke - BA (Hons) Popular Music

Olivia - BA (Hons) Fine Art

“I chose to study here due to the location and facilities. There is a wide range of art workshops and tools available to use. The disability support offered is great and I enjoy the small class sizes to allow for feedback and personal tutoring.”

Olivia - BA (Hons) Fine Art

Phoebe - BA (Hons) Musical Theatre

“The thing I enjoyed most about studying here was the opportunities. I was never judged for what I wanted to do, I was supported. The dance classes were always my favourite, I could show off and be applauded for learning new things.”

Phoebe - BA (Hons) Musical Theatre

Sam - BA (Hons) Musical Theatre

“My degree helped me learn about my singing voice for the first time and become the performer I am today. I have since been in the West End cast of Dirty Dancing playing Billy Kostecki and Specs in the Disney Musical.”

Sam - BA (Hons) Musical Theatre

Samantha - BA (Hons) Fine Art

“It was important to me to be local to home as a mature student with a family. The course has a diversity of age ranges and backgrounds, this has created an environment which makes it fascinating to learn in.”

Samantha - BA (Hons) Fine Art