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Jayne Taylor - The Open College of the Arts

To find out more details about the transfer to The Open University see A New Chapter for OCA.

Jayne Taylor

I am a photographic artist living and working in London. My staged-documentary portraits and stereoscopic tableaux spring from a fascination with the connections between space, place, identity and community. Iā€™m fond of working with old cameras and techniques, and also enjoy bookbinding, collage, filmmaking and sound recording.

I have an MA with Distinction in Photographic Studies from the University of Westminster – where I was fortunate to study under the guidance of Dr David Bate & Professor Mitra Tabrizian – and a BA (1st Class Hons) in Photographic Arts. My arts education, from Foundation level onwards, was completely undertaken as a mature student while working fulltime (in my previous career in the music industry), so I have a good level of empathy for students juggling the challenges of creative study with the demands of practical life.

Alongside tutoring, I am currently Unit Leader for Foundations in Photography at OCA ā€“ a brilliant portfolio-building course for anyone looking to grow in confidence and creativity as a photographer, whether for personal development or as a step towards a degree. I also lead regular study events for OCASA (OCA Student Association) in London and the Thames Valley region and (online) for students based in Europe.

My current research interest is the therapeutic value of creative arts practice and its wider potential within community settings. As part of this research, I design and facilitate creative workshops for a national charity, using photography to engage and connect people recovering from mental health difficulties. I am also a long-term Arts Mentor for prison arts charity The Koestler Trust ā€“ through the work of which I was first introduced to Open College of the Arts. I joined OCA in 2014 and am proud to be associated with this unique institution and its ethos of widening access to creative education.

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