Drawing teacher

I’m a drawing teacher, focussing on comics and graphic novels, and working with all ages and levels of ability. My experience as a self-employed illustrator informs my approach, prioritising students’ confidence and productivity. While deploying live demonstrations, slides and anecdotes from years of professional experience, students create their own characters and use them to tell stories, exploiting comics’ ability to improve literacy and visual awareness. I worked for many years at SAE Institute London and the University of Teesside and, in Auckland, Whitecliffe College, AUT and schools.

Participants move quickly into practical work and produce a large amount of art. Pens are preferred to pencils to boost productivity and to shift focus away from the ‘finished piece’. Subjects include perspective, comic art, storyboarding, life drawing and character design. I encourage students to value their work and prove that everyone can draw.

References and CV available on request; DBS checked.

“Roger is an asset to Whitecliffe and we are fortunate to have such a professional on our team.” — Lynnemaree Patterson, Whitecliffe.
“Your relaxed professionalism was a breath of fresh air.” — Herb Wiersma, University of Teesside“
The workshops were expertly facilitated and my team and I really enjoyed the experience. The drawing skills have helped us with our creative process, and Roger’s teaching skills and professionalism are excellent.” — Malin Andersson, Samsung Design Europe
“The children really enjoyed your art teaching, as did the teachers.” — Patricia Chantrey, St Joseph’s RC Primary School, London.
“I found it fun and I found it helpful, he made drawing people so easy.” — Pupil at Ballard School, Hampshire.
“I learned more about drawing in this class than I did in two years at art school.” — Eddison Smith, student.

Gallery of students’ artwork from SAE London and Whitecliffe College:

EXPERIENCE

Whitecliffe College, Auckland
2020 — 2022
Certificate in Digital Media and Design. The course focuses on drawing from the imagination—cartooning—and enables participants to visualise their ideas quickly and clearly. Some topics covered include storyboarding, character design, observational drawing and comic art.

Waiheke Island Adult Learning Centre
2018 – current
Illustration, storyboarding and life drawing workshops.

Digital Arts Network, Auckland
September 2018
Cartooning workshop producing quick thumbnail sketches. Helpful in pitches and ideation sessions.

Long Sutton County Primary School, Lincolnshire
September 2016 – current
Official patron of creativity of my old primary school where I give talks.

SAE Institute London
September 2008 – 2017
Worked on the 3D Animation, Game Art, VFX and Film courses, teaching graphic novels, cartooning, creative drawing skills, storyboarding, character design. Modules that I designed include Fundamentals of Drawing, Illustration, Character Design, and Storyboarding.

University of Teesside
March 2007 – 2013
Drawing techniques, storyboarding and comic art on the creative drawing course in the School of Computing. I was on the panel developing the Concept Art MA.

Working with creatives at Digital Arts Network, Samsung Design Europe & Engine Service Design
Specialist art classes for the designers, intended to boost their drawing skills and confidence when drawing for clients. Click here.

Schools
October 2006 – current
Graphic novel drawing workshops which improve story-telling, visual awareness and literacy. Participants create their own characters and use them to tell stories. Advice provided on art materials and a further career in art. Schools I have taught include: Waiheke Primary School, Waiheke Island; Ballard School, Hampshire; Pilgrim’s Way Primary School, Southwark; Longdean School, Hertfordshire; Chestnuts Primary School, Harringay; Wharncliffe Side Primary School, Yorkshire and Haberdasher’s Askes’ Boys School, Elstree.