About Keith Nevens
I am a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for the FESCI Integrated Foundation Year. I have worked in the illustration, graphic design, advertising and print professions for over 30 years. I'm all about 'ideas' and enthusiastic about the creative industry and education. I also champion our involvement with Design and Art Direction.
I have been part of the University since 1996, and have taught across the whole department including editorial and wildlife illustration, graphic design, photoshop, observational and life drawing.
I am Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Advertising and Design via Study Centres, which runs as part of our TNE (Transnational Education) portfolio.
I am an avid sketcher, pencils, charcoal and watercolour being among my specialisms. I'm very proud to be part of the Urban Sketchers Network.
Teaching and supervision
I teach:
Interests
My research interest is around drawing and what it has to offer in a therapeutic sense.
I'm also interested in 'what motivates us'.
Research
My research is based on drawing and its therapeutic powers. We all spend far too long engrossed in social media and gaming, and it is damaging our self-esteem and mental health.
During the drawing sessions that I run, you can sense the levels of private concentration rise, and the environment becomes somewhat meditative, and students comment on how relaxing the sessions are. It's a couple of hours a week 'digital detox', something I want to explore in more depth.
One of my other interests is motivation and how it affects us.
Areas of expertise
- Creative advertising
- Ideas
- Art direction
- Graphic design
- Illustration
- Sketching and drawing
- Watercolour
- Networking
- Motivating
- Professional practice