
Our People
Professor Paul Fieldsend-Danks
Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive, Professor of Fine Arts Education
<p dir="ltr">Professor Paul Fieldsend-Danks is an artist educator and the first Vice-Chancellor of Arts University Plymouth, having led the institution through its transition to university status.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He is an RSA Fellow, and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, with over 28 years of experience in UK higher education. He holds a professorship in Fine Arts Education and has held senior academic roles at several UK universities, with affiliations including Norwich University of the Arts and the Universitat de Barcelona. Paul is an active contributor to the creative sector, having joined the UK Council of <a href="https://www.wearecreative.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Creative UK</a> in 2023 and being elected Chair of GuildHE Creative (formerly UKADIA) in 2024. He holds non-executive roles on the Plymouth Growth Board and as Interim Chair of Destination Plymouth.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At the core of Paul's work is the philosophy of the artist-teacher. He sees artistic practice and teaching as fluid, interconnected processes. For him, the studio is a space of "not knowing," where curiosity and exploration are key. He believes that the act of making art is fundamentally a form of learning, and that teaching is a continuation of this creative journey. His approach is informed by a rich tradition of artistic thought, drawing inspiration from figures like Richard Hamilton and Roger Ackling.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Paul's artwork has been exhibited internationally, with works shown in the UK, Australia, Germany, Japan, and Spain, and is held in both public and private collections. He shares his expertise through his role on the editorial board of the international journal Drawing: Research, Theory, Practice. He also regularly contributes to academic peer reviews for publications such as Making Futures and The Journal of Visual Arts Practice. In 2024, he co-founded the Young Person’s Art Competition at The Box, Plymouth.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)<br />Fellow Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures & Commerce (FRSA)<br />Land2 Landscape Research Group (UK), University of Leeds<br />Plymouth Growth Board<br /></p>
<p>Drawing theory and practice; Drawing in an expanded field; Landscape and place-oriented practice; Perspectives in Art & Design pedagogy.</p>
<p><strong>Publications<br /></strong></p>
<p>2020 Fieldsend-Danks, P., ‘Drawing-in-situ: material encounters with place’, Drawing Research Theory and Practice, Journal, Intellect/ Issue 5.1. ISSN 2057-0384, Online ISSN 2057-0392, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1386/drtp_00024_7">https://doi.org/10.1386/drtp_0...</a><br /><br />2019 Embury, G; Mercier, A; Regan, C; Ward, L. ‘Drawing at Art School’, Drawing Research Document 2, University of the West of England <br /><a href="http://www.uwedrawingresearch.com">http://www.uwedrawingresearch....</a><br /><br />2019 Fieldsend-Danks, P. (ed.) ‘Drawing learning’, Drawing Research Theory and Practice, Journal, Intellect/ Guest Editor Issue 4.2. ISSN 2057-0384, Online ISSN 2057-0392. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1386/drtp_00001_2">https://doi.org/10.1386/drtp_0...</a><br /><br />2016 Fieldsend-Danks, P. (2016), ‘The Dialogues project: Students as partners in developing research-engaged learning’, Art, Design & Communication in Higher Education, 15: 1, pp. 89–102, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1386/adch.15.1.89_1">https://doi.org/10.1386/adch.1...</a><br /><br />2014 Harty, D. (ed.) Drawology, Exhibition catalogue ISBN. 978-0-9576009-7-3, <a href="https://issuu.com/deborahharty/docs/drawology">https://issuu.com/deborahharty...</a><br /><br />2014 Fieldsend-Danks, P. (ed.) (2014) Drawing in-situ (Guest Editor), Tracey Journal/ ISSN. 1742-3570. Drawing In-situ.<br /><br />2010 Jerwood Drawing Prize 2010, Jerwood Visual Arts ISBN. 978-0-9563570-1-4<br /><br />2009 All over the place: Drawing space, drawing place, Land2, Caseroom Press, Lincoln. ISBN. 978-1-905821-14-3</p>
<p dir="ltr"><br /><strong>Papers<br /><br /></strong>2019 Fieldsend-Danks, P. (2019), ‘Drawing Learning/ learning drawing’, paper, Drawing research symposium, University of the West of England. UWE Drawing research. </p>
<p dir="ltr">2017 Brown, M., Fieldsend-Danks, P., Sims, E. (2017) ‘Trading places: developing a disruptive model for interdisciplinary practice’, paper, in ‘Exploring Territories: The Changing Landscape of Art & Design Higher Education’, GLAD Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2016 Fieldsend-Danks, P. (2016), ‘Crossing Territories: developing a framework for interdisciplinary practice in postgraduate teaching’, paper: Arts without borders conference, Helsinki University of the Arts, Finland.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2015 Fieldsend-Danks, P. (2015), ‘Students as partners: integrating undergraduate and postgraduate students in curriculum design’, paper for 7th ELIA (The European League of Institutes of the Arts) Teachers’ Academy, ENACT: Learning in/through the Arts, Tilburg, The Netherlands.<strong><br /></strong><strong><br />Exhibitions<br /><br /></strong>2019 Zwischen Ausgängen – Pending Issues, Galerie Weisser Elefant, Berlin, Germany.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2019 Anonymous Drawings Archive, Kunsthaus Kannen Museum for Outsider Art and Contemporary Art, Münster, Germany.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2016 Constellation, Undercroft, Norwich, in collaboration with Piet Zwart Institute, Rotterdam.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2016 Imagined Landscapes, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2015 Anonymous Drawings 2015, Galerie Nord Berlin Germany (touring 2015-16: Galerie ARTQ13 Rome Italy/ Galerie GEYSO20, Braunschweig, Germany).</p>
<p dir="ltr">2014 Space Place and Negotiated Territories, Norwich University of the Arts.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2014 Drawology II, Lanchester Gallery, Coventry University.<br /><br /><strong>Curated Projects<br /><br /></strong>2018 Factory Settings, Plymouth College of Art at Tate Exchange, Tate Modern, London.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2016 HxBxP: Project artist: James Quinn (PhD candidate) in ‘Le Accademie di Belle Arti si mostrano’, Corso Federico II, 33, L’Aquila, Italy.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2016 Constellation, Undercroft, Norwich, in collaboration with Piet Zwart Institute, Rotterdam (co-curated with Dr Judith Stewart).</p>
<p dir="ltr">2014 Afteryears: British Art 1946-52, Gallery at NUA, Norwich: works selected from the Arts Council Collection, MA Curation show (co-producer with Professor Neil Powell).<br /><br /><strong>Editorial<br /><br /></strong>2021 Peer reviewer, Pedagogies: An International Journal, Routledge.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2020- Peer reviewer, Journal of Visual Art Practice, Routledge.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2020 Editorial review: Field, S., Scenographic Design Drawing: Performative Drawing in an Expanded Field, Bloomsbury Publishing (sleeve quotation). </p>
<p dir="ltr">2020 - Peer Reviewer, Making Futures Journal, Arts University Plymouth.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2014 - Editorial Board: Drawing Research Theory and Practice, Journal, Intellect.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2015 Editorial review: Schenk, P., Drawing in the Design Process: Characterising Industrial and Educational Practice, Intellect Books (sleeve quotation).</p>
<p dir="ltr">2015 - Peer reviewer: Drawing Research Theory and Practice, Journal, Intellect Books .</p>
<p dir="ltr">2011 Editorial review (article): Tormey, J. The afterthought of drawing: 6 Hypotheses, pp.</p>
<p dir="ltr">241-258, in. Gansterer, N. Drawing a Hypothesis: Figures of Thought, Springer Wien, New York.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2007-14 Co-editor: TRACEY: peer reviewer for international journal of drawing visualisation and research, Loughborough University, (2007-2014).<br /></p>
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