Nick Saunders brings a wealth of teaching and industry experience to his role as Head of Art and Design. When he is not at College, you will find him discovering quirky art spaces in London or dabbling in amateur photography.

Nick’s teaching experience has been primarily in Further Education colleges. He is passionately creative and brings to Esher solid industry experience having worked as an illustrator, animator, designer and brand manager. Nick chose to return to industry at different times of his career to continue to grow his knowledge and stay current in the various creative fields and trades. Nick even had an ‘accidental’ music career in the 2000’s – a fantastic experience that he wouldn’t have missed for the world!

What inspired you to become a teacher?

Before I’d finished my degree, I was undertaking freelance and contract-based illustrative work.

However, when you’re just starting out, this kind of work comes in peaks and troughs, so when a friend who was teaching part-time at Southport College in Merseyside said the school of art were looking for someone to teach drawing and printmaking – I got in touch and ended up staying there for nine years as an associate.

Throughout that time I met teachers/lecturers who were truly inspirational and I know some of that experience has stayed with me. I have friends, now adults, who were students of mine originally, who have said what a difference I made to them, particularly early on in their lives, often where their early education had been less than successful and they had been written off by their schools; my encouragement and belief in them helped to get them where they eventually did, and it is easy to forget that sometimes.

Why have you chosen to work in a Sixth Form College?

All of my teaching experience has been primarily in Further Education colleges on full-time vocational programmes. I was at Exeter College prior to coming to Esher, and I was drawn to the location and easy access of Esher to London galleries, theatres, music venues, etc.

I’m a member of the Tate, the National Portrait Gallery, the BFI and so on, and being able to go up to a Tate late after work or spend weekends exploring galleries and parts of London that you might overlook when you’re visiting from a greater distance, is wonderful.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a teacher?

Helping students to transition from childhood into the adult world. I’ve always found to be a rewarding experience. Being able to do it via the world of art and design, sharing my knowledge, experience, enthusiasm and interests, makes it doubly rewarding.

What’s your favourite topic in your subject’s curriculum to teach?

The phase of the BTEC programme that I enjoy the most is when students begin to drive projects themselves, investigating their own ideas independently.

One-to-ones are often really interesting and exciting as it challenges your own knowledge and understanding of a wide range of art and design practice as you help individual students navigate towards conceptually original and successful outcomes.

What achievement are you most proud of (personal or professional)?

I know it’s probably a cliché to say this, but I am hugely proud of both of my children. My daughter works in a learning support capacity at a sixth form in Merseyside and my son is a very successful professional musician and videographer, but more importantly, they’re just truly lovely people.

For myself, I think spending my whole working life supporting myself and my family via my creative skills is something I take great pride in. I’m also quite proud of my willingness to take risks. In the 2000s, I had an ‘accidental’ music career whilst living in Liverpool (14 years), when I become involved in the music scene there performing and organising songwriter events throughout the city.

Enough people were interested in the songs I was writing/performing to result in one of them being included on a compilation album called The Great Liverpool Acoustic Album that included better known 80s/90s performers such as The Christians, Space, It’s Immaterial, etc., as well as complete nobodies like myself. This in turn led to an offer to record a full album (Resonance | Nick Saunders) and, although by then I had moved to Devon, I decided to say yes because I thought it might be an interesting thing to do, and it was. The record was a low key ‘minor’ success, it got some reasonably good reviews in some of the music press, (Word, Mojo, Record Collector, etc) and I got to tour the country playing gigs, instore shows and radio sessions, and met and worked with some amazing people.

It was an experience that I wouldn’t have missed for the world. I’m certain it was my confidence in my creative ability that enabled me to jump out of a workplace that was very familiar, into a world that was alien and quite daunting at times. But it led me to friendships with some incredibly talented people, and then jump back into the visual work again.

What words of wisdom would you give your 16-year-old self?

Don’t be so hard on yourself. Creative people are often their own worst critic, and it can sometimes hinder or slow you down. When I was younger, I think I used to overthink things and probably put obstacles in my way that needn’t have been there. Over time, as I got older, I learned this and eventually let go of those tendencies. I think I’d reassure my 16-year-old-self not to worry so much and enjoy the risks and uncertainties a creative life can throw at you.

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be?

I have had periods where I wasn’t teaching and every time I went back to industry working professionally as an illustrator, animator, designer, or brand manager. So, I guess that’s most likely what I would be doing.