An experienced Head of Art & Photography and an exam board moderator, I’m available to teach all artistic and photographic disciplines. Many of my students gain multiple unconditional offers and outst

I have worked with Mel for the past two years and I have been really impressed with her style of teaching.
Mel is a dedicated, respected member of staff here at Rendcomb College. Her end of year GCSE and A Level exhibitions showcase the high standards she sets in her art lessons and I am always blown away with the pieces the students have designed under her guidance.
Mel is an inspiration to me as a teacher and I believe you can consider yourself lucky to have a teacher like Mel.
Mel is an artist in her own right and her knowledge and understanding of art history and the art industry as a whole is exceptional.
I wholeheartedly recommend Mel here as a private tutor to further your artistic capabilities.

Mel Holness was my A Level photography teacher from 2008 - 10. Mel’s experience in a wide range of creative practices and contextual, historical understanding of the subject underpinned our studies. Mel’s lessons were fundamental in my foundation as a practicing photographer. Not only was I expertly guided through the exam process but I was also introduced to the wider world of art and photography I treasure so dearly.
Mel’s seasoned experience in teaching, particularly within the framework of exams was second to none. Our studies were exciting, interesting, dynamic and most importantly fun.
I received 100% in my A2 modules and was graded as one of the best students in the country from my exam board that year. This was down to the intense work and dedication Mel and I put into those projects. It wouldn’t have been possible without her guidance and skills. I was also able to go straight to BA degree level with an unconditional offer under Mel’s portfolio mentoring. I have been working as a photographer ever since!

Mel’s classroom and lessons are still with me even over a decade after being her pupil. Having taught me as a teenager she instilled in me a strong sense of creative curiosity, bravery and love of the art, design and photography world. Generous with her time, spirit and enthusiasm she is that special type of teacher whose influence has never left me. Her knowledge and passion for photography was infectious with my peers; those of us still in contact often reminisce fondly about our time in her class. Many of us in design, curation, fashion and art careers now credit ‘Miss Holness’ for guiding us individually to art movements, disciplines and techniques that excited and inspired us.

It brings me great pleasure to be writing this recommendation for Melanie Holness, who taught me Art and Photography at Brighton College, where I attended from 2007 - 2012, for both GCSE and A-level.
Melanie brought so much joy and charisma to our lessons and the working environment that she facilitated, as well as the utmost professionalism, skill, knowledge and passion, and I am filled with so many wonderful memories as a result of this. She fundamentally impacted my drive to study and work as a professional artist, teaching me how to print photographically in the darkroom, which are memories I will never forget, and how to present my work in a professional and articulate manner. She taught me how to write succinctly about my work through context driven essays, which is a crucial element when studying art or photography, and she encouraged me to reach my full potential, implementing the highest possible standards and consistently infiltrating our working relationship with genuine care and consideration. She truly saw and honoured the creative drive I felt within myself and helped me solidify my own ambitions around practicing art and photography for the rest of my life. She taught me the fundamentals of photography, which are skills that I use now every single day, and provided a solid educational foundation that I feel so grateful to have, including introducing me academically to so many different artists and photographers who have inspired and influenced my practice.
Melanie is one of the most highly knowledgeable teachers I have ever had when it comes to art and photography and she has demonstrated true commitment to teaching her craft. Without my experience of having been taught by her, I would not have gone on to do so well with my own career as an artist, which included attending both Central Saint Martins for a Foundation, where I left with Distinction, and The Slade School of Fine Art for a BA in Fine Art, where I left with a First. I have since gone on to exhibit my own work a galleries internationally and have began a solid career as an artist and photographer. I could not recommend her more highly to anybody looking to further their creative skills, especially around GCSE and A-level, or anyone in general who wishes to explore the creative arts. If you are thinking of exploring this further for yourself, then Melanie is the person to work with. I could not feel more grateful for having been her student.

Mel is a consummate professional and a fabulous teacher. She puts her student's interests absolutely at the centre of everything she does. Truly inspirational in her approach, it is little wonder that she has supported student to achieve exceptional outcomes for over two decades.

With experience of leading departments at some of the UK's top independent schools, as well as experience working with exam boards she has expert insight in what it takes for students achieve the highest outcomes.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Mel as a tutor for Art and Photography students at any level as with her support they are significantly more likely to fulfil their potential and achieve excellent exam outcomes, not to mention develop a life long love and appreciation for the subject as a result of her infectious passion.