Creative Industries Day

3 February 2023

This week Latymer Upper School’s Art Department arranged for five highly respected practitioners within the Creative Industries sector to come into School to give talks and run workshops for our Year 9 pupils.

“We felt it was important for our students to hear from professionals who have gone on to enjoy careers in the Creative Industries,” said Head of Art, Mr Mumby. “I’m so grateful to each of them for coming in and sharing their expertise and insight with our students.”

Pupils heard from four former Latymer Art and Design Students: Oli Brenner (Class of 2013) who after achieving a First-Class degree at Cambridge is now an architect; Jocie Juritz (Class of 2010), successful animator, illustrator and footwear designer; Naomi Serene (Class of 2002), make-up and prosthetics artist who works in TV, theatre and Film (her winning sculpture in the Millennium Art Competition now resides at Wood Lane) and Oliver Pearch (Class of 2008) a highly sought-after fashion photographer and filmmaker. Alongside our alumni was Latymer Parent and graphic designer Alan Aboud, one of the best-known creative directors in the fashion, beauty and retail industries. They each gave illustrated talks about their careers, their jobs and their passions for what they do.

After an introduction about the size and importance of the Creatives industries in the UK economy, Mr Mumby then talked about the broader values of studying art in many career areas, how Art engenders communication, critical thinking, collaboration and of course creativity. This was followed by an inspiring talk from Chris Couch, Head of Careers, on how creativity was becoming the most sought after quality by employers.

In the afternoon students opted in to one of five specialist workshops led by each of our creatives, with five specialist design briefs, which were both a lot of fun and very creative.

“It’s been really interesting teaching them,” said Naomi Serene, “I’ve always found it really inspiring to hear from other people about their careers and I hope that I’ve enlightened the students about the world of art and the many opportunities out there in the Creative Industries.”

Our thanks to our alumni – Oli Brenner, Jocie Juritz, Naomi Serene and Oliver Pearch – and former parent, Alan Aboud, David Mumby and Georgia Rodger in the Art Department, for organising such an incredible experience for our students.