Meet Our Team
Our tutors come from all walks of life, from professional educators to passionate enthusiasts and hobbyists. Makers, creatives, designers and skilled class facilitators are all part of our learning community.
Meet the class of 2024!
Art Tutors
Yesim Gozukara
Watercolour
"I simply love and aspire to paint bold, dynamic, expressive and contemporary paintings using watercolours. I am particularly drawn to paint the organic design elements of nature. Exploring pigment qualities has been my most recent passion. Granulating paints have allowed me to create fascinating textures, add depth and dimension to my paintings. Watercolour, with its inherited challenges, surprises, spontaneity and its versatility, is a magical medium, it keeps inspiring, nurturing and thriving the creativity in my work."
swathi madike
oil painting
Swathi is a classically trained artist and works primarily in oil paint. She attended formal training at Studio Escalier, France, Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney and the Florence Academy of Art, Italy.
Since then she has participated in group exhibitions including the A.M.E Bale and was recently awarded the Norma Bull Prize 2021.
Swathi enjoys teaching, sharing ideas and techniques. It brings her a lot of joy and fulfilment seeing the enthusiasm and pure creativity of students.
Linda Finch
Pastels
“I’ve spent many years working with fellow creative people in a high paced Design Studio and now am enjoying slowing down and exploring the wonderful medium of pastel. I encourage my students to relax, have a go, and not be intimidated with the blank paper in front of them. Composition ideas, simplifying values, using fresh vibrant colour, mark making and gaining more confidence and understanding in use of materials, are some of the things we explore in our paintings each week.”
Craig Rawlings
Acrylics, Mixed Media & abstract art
“I have always had an interest in pathways of marks across all surfaces and mediums. Life Drawing has always been a foundation for all my art making. Acrylic being a favourite, for its durability and quick results. I love mixing mediums, though respect the rules of principles and elements of design, love breaking them just to see what happens. When it comes to helping others see and develop their own Art this is where I sit best. Joy and contentment ensue.”
Andrea Sinclair
mixed media
Andrea Sinclair has been a finalist in several art prizes in Australia a most recently she won the inaugural National Emerging Art Prize in 2021. She was also the winner of Best Gippsland Landscape in the John Leslie Art Prize 2018 and has been a finalist in both the Doug Moran Portrait Prize and in the Darling Portrait Prize in the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Andrea has made Melbourne her home since the 1990’s. She has been painting full time since receiving her MFA in 2018 from RMIT and is passionate about sharing art and creativity with anyone who wants to learn.
Alan Rawady
Watercolour
“I have spent my entire professional working life as a graphic artist, illustrator, watercolourist and painting tutor. My teaching and painting philosophy is that watercolour is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences in life, and that drawing is the foundation of all art.”
It Hao Pheh
Drawing & Watercolour
“My paintings are a reflection of my appreciation and influence from what I learned and gained from the past 40 years. My works are mainly watercolour and charcoal drawing, even though I graduated in oil in Malaysia and hold a Bachelor Degree in Fine Art, Mixed Medium in UK. The basis of art in dots, lines and form are always fascinating in my creativity and imagination.”
JUNKO AZUKAWA
JAPANESE INK
Junko Azukawa grew up in Toyama, Japan at the base of the central Japanese Alps, a region famous for the natural beauty of its landscape.
She started learning traditional Japanese calligraphy - Shodo at the age of five and has experienced the vast possibilities that calligraphy and Japanese ink painting.
Junko is committed to sharing her Japanese culture in Australia. Together with a lifelong study of traditional calligraphy and ink painting, Junko has found peace and appreciation deep within and loves sharing with her audience the intimate relationship between mother nature and human nature through her brush.
mARK WHITAKER watercolour
“Having always drawn and painted as a child growing up in the UK, I left school at 16 to start a 2 year art foundation course, where I tried everything! I went on to complete a 4 year BA(Hons) Degree in Fashion Design. This is where I discovered my love of colour, shape, form and texture. Although I enjoyed design, my real passion at college was for fashion illustration, textile design and life-drawing. This means that over the last 30 years I have always looked for what's new, current trends, ways to experiment and break rules, but above all to have fun creating.”
pETA mCDONALD
Drawing
Drawing encourages us to pause, observe, and truly look at the world around us. To capture the essence of a natural object, we must first study it closely.
With a background in Biological Science and 20 years of teaching experience, I explore the wonders of the natural world, paying close attention to its details through a scientific lens. I find great joy in sharing what I’ve learned, guiding my students to discover the beauty of nature through coloured pencil illustration.
Whether you are a beginner or looking to refine your technique, I’m excited to support you on your creative journey.
sARJIT mANKU
Drawing
Using nothing but a crochet hook and a ball of yarn, Sarjit Manku teaches her students how to master trendy new skills while exploring patterns, colors, and the satisfaction of personal achievement.
Known for her relaxed yet professional approach, Sarjit inspires her students with creative ways to transform their yarn projects into something both beautiful and practical. Passionate about handmade crafts, she generously donates most of her creations to friends and various charities.
The Clay Room
lish barraud
A wax technician specialising in ceramics, moulds, casting and texture.
Barraud studied Fine Art at RMIT University, she has produced casting for artists showing in the Venice Biennale during her time working at a foundry in London.
Barraud is an artist with formal training in painting and drawing, having developed her skills through dedicated study. However, what sets her apart is the additional expertise she gained in ceramics, a craft she learned directly from her father, the highly esteemed Arnoud Barraud.
Gillian Martin
“My work is an exploration of balance and harmony with clay and color making wheel thrown functional ware. Influences from architecture, the environment and abstract expressionism are infused into my pottery and there are qualities, techniques and marks used in the creation of the form that underpin the concept of handmade in a simplified manner.”
Richard tomaino
"I'm a multidisciplinary sculptor specialising in ceramics. With a professional background in Automotive design sculpture, I aim to create shapes and forms that aspire towards clean crisp aesthetics, finding the beauty in the simple yet difficult to attain.
My philosophy is that beauty should belong to everyone. By teaching all my skills to willing students and creating inspiring yet functional artworks, this is my way of expressing that philosophy"
sTEVEN mCCLURE
“After my BA Fine Art at RMIT, I made homewares and started teaching ceramics at Centre for Adult Education in 2005. My classes are unstructured and focus on what individual students want to do. While my strengths are in Handbuilding, Sculpture and Decoration I am able to provide foundation skills in wheel work too. I love students to bring ideas for projects. Equally I can make suggestions to best suit individual ability “
Jennifer PATTINSON
Jennifer is an emerging ceramicist and tutor inspired by the natural world and human-animal encounters in the urban landscape. She works primarily on the wheel, incorporating hand building and slip casting techniques. Jennifer has a keen interest in the material properties of clay and glaze and is drawn to porcelain for its delicacy and translucency. She began her journey in ceramics at school and continued her education at RMIT University, completing her Bachelor of Fine Art (Ceramics) in 2022.
Language Tutors
Vanessa Rocher
French
“I find there is much more to French than learning vocab and crazy grammar rules. For me, it's also about trying to convey a love for the language, the culture. My artistic background definitely influences my choice of topics but I believe it is important to give a historical or political context, to provide an understanding of what it is like to be French today.”
Delphine Barber
French
“Bonjour! As a native French speaker, I love to teach French and always feel honoured when people take the time to learn my mother tongue when Europe is so far from Australia. I take pleasure in showing that despite the many intricacies of the French language, there are regular patterns and a simple logic that can be used to express oneself. Au plaisir de vous rencontrer bientôt!”
Mikami Hiro
Japanese
“I believe that learning a language should be fun and interesting, and like a journey should be enjoyed along the way with others, talking, laughing, and having fun learning together.”
Hiro was born and raised in Odawara on the coast of Kanagawa, an area with rich history, good food, and near the natural beauty of Hakone and Mt. Fuji.
The international visitors intrigued her and drove her love of travel and languages from an early age. Hiro is a trained language teacher, an anime enthusiast, a foodie and a coffee lover.
Wellness Instructors
Flip Shelton
Yoga
Flip Shelton has been a student of yoga for over 20 years and loves that wherever she has lived in the world and whatever job she has had, whatever relationship status she’s been in (and out of!), yoga has been the one constant. She believes that yoga adapts to the student, not the other way around. Flip also loves cross fit and cooking.
Flip has completed a 350 Hour Yoga Teacher training; 80 Hour Meditation teacher Training, 50-hour Yin Anatomy Course as well as a short course in Mindful Breath and Movement for Children and Youth and a Nutritional Psychiatry Workshop.
Libby chapman
mat Pilates
After practicing both Mat and Reformer Pilates for several years I decided that I wanted to spread the word and great vibes about these amazing movements. The difference it has made to both my body and mind has been so enlightening, I am stronger and leaner and happier and calm.
Pilates has allowed me to exercise within my means yet challenges me to think outside the square.
A quote from Joseph Pilates “change happens through movement and movement heals”
Anna Yeow
Qigong / Tai Chi
“I started taking up tai chi and qigong seriously in 1995 and wanted to share with others the health benefits of tai chi so started teaching at community centres, retirement villages and aged care homes.
Tai Chi and qigong practices have not only given me good mental and physical health but it has also been very rewarding to see my students improve their overall health and wellbeing.”
Tina TsaY
Yoga
“Yoga has been a part of my life for 8 years. I have explored both Hatha and Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga styles. I primarily teach classical Hatha and incorporate meditation and pranayama (breathing exercises) into my class. Practicing yoga allows the fluid movements to connect with the breath and increase the awareness of the mind. I seek to help others thrive in life by nurturing the body, mind and soul through yoga. My hope is that you step off the mat feeling revitalized and balanced.”
sarah gerfast
pilates
“I'm a certified Pilates Instructor dedicated to helping others achieve their fitness goals. Pilates for me means that I can spend time with people and share my passion for health and wellbeing.
I’m interested in emphasising core strength, flexibility, and muscle awareness to create workouts for all levels in pilates, an approachable style to ensure a challenging yet enjoyable session.”
Interested in teaching at CCC?
If you would like to share your knowledge with others and are interested in running a class or program, please email:
programs@camberwellcc.org.au
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