Workshops & Teaching

I am an experienced workshop facilitator and photography teacher, with a Level 3 Teaching & Training qualification, DBS certification plus safeguarding (cpd registered) and prevent training. Workshop sessions are a key part of my practice and sessions often explore the themes of play, identity and creativity through photography, collaging and decorating or manipulating photo prints. I have also taught technical photography courses at West Herts College, ASCEND and South Hill Park, amongst others.

Workshop commissions include Turner Contemporary, Journeys Festival (Art Reach), West Dean Art & Craft Fair, GRAIN photography hub and Appetite Stoke.

For more information, or to book a session, please get in touch at sam@samivin.com

Polaroid Portraits

Collage Boards

Street Photography

Collage Portraits

Playing with Portraits

Lightpainting

Settling, Stoke-on-Trent

For my collaborative project Settling; Exploring Human Migration in Stoke-on-Trent, I facilitated 20 community workshops during 2017 and 2018, engaging with around 80 people at various locations in Stoke-on-Trent. View a selection of the artwork and photographs created during these sessions at settlingstoke.com/workshops

“Working with Sam Ivin and his Workshops/Exhibitions opened many doors for people to understand and be aware what it is like for Asylum and refugees who suffer from persecution.

His workshops have brought many people together from different cultures who in the past would have not sat together. This in itself was an achievement.”

Sheila Podmore, Director of Burslem Jubilee

Pioneering Places, Ramsgate

Turner Contemporary

Selected from 200 applicants to lead creative photography workshops for Year 7’s at Royal Harbour School. During workshops, they are developing skills and creating artwork in preparation to photograph the 67 primary school children. These primary school children have developed a large public artwork in collaboration with Artist, Conrad Shawcross RA. Find out more here.

“Sam has been involved in a child-led project, sharing his extensive knowledge of photography with the group of students who appointed him. He has a wonderful rapport with the children, his sessions are always fun and full of energy, and he is always well prepared and highly professional. His creativity and enthusiasm have been very inspiring for the children, who are working towards a public exhibition of their work with his support.”

Josephine Martin, Pioneering Places Project Manager Turner Contemporary

Teaching

Images from ASCEND digital photography course and Sketchbetter Photography Club at Alexandra School.

“I have been on a couple of photography classes now with Sam. On the first lesson, he went through the basics of photography and how our camera settings work. Prior to this lesson, I had always used the auto setting on my camera but with Sam’s guidance on that first lesson, my camera has been set to manual ever since with great results. The saying goes “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.  I have to disagree, Sam can.”

Steve, Student at ASCEND

“I have attended a couple of Sam's courses and taken part in his online challenges, all of which have been really enjoyable, encouraging and informative. Sam is a great tutor who really engages with his students"

Andy, Student at ASCEND

Madeley School, Stoke-on-Trent

A full day workshop with Madeley Secondary School, exploring identity, community and portraiture. Activities included an artist talk, Collage Boards, portrait photography and a Playing with Portraits session.

Southsea Skatepark, Portsmouth

Using Polaroids leftover from West Dean, I created a 3 x 1 metre banner in collaboration with riders at Southsea Skatepark for Journeys Festival. I spent a day with riders in the summer of 2018 showing them how to use a Polaroid camera, and helping them write messages to welcome local refugees to the area.

The banner’s slogan, “I’m your friend wherever you go” was taken from one of the rider’s Polaroid cards.

Sam led a polaroid workshop with 11 - 18 year olds at a local skatepark, creating messages of welcome for sanctuary seekers in Portsmouth. Alongside the creative elements of the workshop Sam spent time with the young people, discussing and explaining some of the issues that affect the asylum seeking community. Throughout the day Sam was patient, professional and warm and created a safe space for the young people to reflect and respond to the themes explored.

Claire Woolard, Producer Art Reach Portsmouth

Emerging Artist, West Dean

West Dean Arts & Craft Festival, 2018

I was one of two Emerging Artists at the West Dean Arts & Craft Festival. 200 people took part creating 128 Polaroid Cards, each with a unique Polaroid and message of welcome. Some cards had poignant and beautiful notes, others filled with stickers. The cards were displayed during Refugee Week at Sanctuary, Refugee Charity in Chichester.

“Sam Ivin was a featuring artist in the West Dean Arts & Crafts Festival in 2018. Sam is a lively and engaging leader, bringing thought-provoking ideas into participatory arts that have an impact, both to the participant and the communities he works with. The project was intelligent, creative and relevant. It was a pleasure to work with Sam.”

Tiffany Robinson, Programme Coordinator for Foundation Diploma in Art & Design