BA (Hons) Commercial Photography (Jan 2025 Start)

Tim Gundry is Assistant Dean for Student Experience, responsible for a number of aspects of the cross university curriculum, including enhancement and retention activities and the ongoing development of our employability and enterprise strategy. After obtaining a 1st class, BA (Hons) Photomedia and Design Communication, a distinction in the Professional Qualifying Exam for the British Institute of Professional Photography, and a PGCE from the University of Plymouth, Tim joined the staff team, (at what was then Plymouth College of Art and Design), in 2006 as a part time lecturer. After teaching across different courses in both FE and HE, Tim eventually became programme leader for our undergraduate photography provision in 2013, leading the writing and validation of BA Hons Commercial Photography degree. In 2016 he was awarded the Association of Photographers Tutor of the Year award, and In 2017 he completed an MA in Photography at the college. Tim moved into a cross University role in 2021, before being appointed as Assistant Dean in 2022. Prior to working in education and photography, Tim had a long career in the commercial sector and creative industries. He worked in marketing, branding and advertising on both client and agency side, and before becoming a freelance photographer in 2000, was a director of a Brighton-based design agency. This commercial background and experience has driven Tim’s approach to graduate employability. Passionate about guiding and supporting students to succeed, Tim now manages our Careers and Enterprise function, creating activities that develop the skills and confidence our students need to pursue successful careers in the creative industries. As a member of the Making Learning research group, Tim’s research interests are concerned with Knowledge Exchange and Employability. In addition to enabling students to achieve their potential, Tim is committed to supporting the continued growth and prosperity of the University. He has worked on numerous working groups and committees including Business Development, Academic Standards & Quality, Student Experience & Engagement, and he is currently a member of the Academic Board. Working to develop strategic partnerships that enhance our curriculum, Tim also works on external projects that seek to create revenue for the University through knowledge exchange funding. He joined the Board of Governors in 2022. Tim’s photographic practice is concerned with using photography to explore the social and cultural histories of the South West and how these become inscribed on the landscape. His work has been published and exhibited nationally in the ‘Landscape Photographer of the Year’ awards, and in 2009 was featured in the ‘What Haunts You?’ exhibition at the Photographers’ Gallery in London. Tim’s work can be seen at: www.timgundry.com Outside of the University, Tim is married to Donna (who also works at the University as the Head of Library Services). They have a young son and time away from work is spent walking, kayaking and body-boarding in their home county of Cornwall.

Jason is an artist, writer and educator with an interest in the detritus, flotsam and jetsam of the everyday. Other areas of interest include landscape, walking, critical writing, comics, Actor Network Theory, poetry and performative practices. Since 2001 he has been walking, collecting and archiving the city of Plymouth; this work has been realised in a number of ways, including published texts, performances (locally, nationally and internationally), installations, and public talks. Jason studied Performance Writing at Dartington College of Arts followed by a Masters by Research in Landscape at the University of Plymouth, and he is currently a doctoral candidate at the Institute of Education, where his research involves speculations on the future of the art school and communities of practice. As one half of Driftingspace and a founding member of the art and architecture group Interchange, Jason explores the possibilities of place, space and critical education as a conduit for transformational learning. He also runs theopenartschool, which includes the ongoing microlecture series #5minutecontext, hosted on his Instagram account @JasonHirons. For years Jason led and coordinated the Contextual Studies modules at Arts University Plymouth, and he currently teaches on the BA (Hons) Illustration, Masters in Art, Masters in Photography, and MFA programmes, and is the Course Leader for Distance Learning at Arts University Plymouth.

Dedicated to teaching both theory and practice since 1999, Mel began teaching at Arts University Plymouth in 2004. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, AUP Teaching Fellow and RSA Fellow. Mel’s skills and experience are consolidated in her role as Assistant Dean and Principal Lecturer, having long since decided that working alongside the next generation of designers and creatives was exactly where she wanted to be. Previously course leader for BA (Hons) Illustration, Mel built a team of dedicated staff to help shape the identity and curriculum of the course, and the Illustration provision at Arts University Plymouth grew from strength to strength Current pedagogic research is focused on play and the role of curiosity in creative learning. Mel has presented papers at conferences across the UK and Europe: Illustr4tio International Conference (‘Illustration as Reparation’ 2019), GLAD Conference (‘Trading Places: Developing a Model for Interdisciplinary Practice’ 2017), HEA Annual Arts and Humanities Conference (‘The Great Editorial Race: the serious business of play’ 2016), ELIA Teachers Conference (‘The Serious Business of Play’ 2015). She is co-author of journal paper ‘Drawing Thinking: Illustration as Pedagogy' with AUP Senior lecturer Jason Hirons. With a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design and MA in Visual Culture from Bath Spa University, in her own practice Mel is obsessed with discarded books and abandoned photographs and seemingly random pieces of ephemera. Through drawing and collage Mel plays with juxtaposition to transform the use, meaning and interpretation of the images she finds and a recurring theme is the plight of lost, broken and damaged things. Website

Amy began her career in 2016 in the sports industry as a graphic designer for the Exeter Chiefs rugby club and Sandy Park Stadium. While at the Chiefs, she led rebranding efforts for parts of Sandy Park stadium and developed a new visual brand for the 2019/20 season. Her work has been showcased to audiences of over 250,000 people through features on BT Sport, and she has also created artwork for England Rugby and the city of Exeter. Additionally, she gained valuable experience collaborating with other well-known sporting brands such as RedBull. Following her successful industry work, Amy pursued a Master of Arts degree in Visual Communication at Arts University Plymouth, graduating with Distinction in November 2021. She then joined Arts University Plymouth in February 2022 as a lecturer for the BA (Hons) Graphic Design course, Distance Learning programs, and as the specialist tutor for MA Visual Communication. Amy has also launched her own project, The Play Method, and is currently working towards a PhD focused on play theory and creative practice.