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Karla Vink L4

Karla Vink

Toi Kaiako & Creativity Kaiako (Level 4)

Karla was a graphic designer and illustrator with more than 10 years’ experience in the creative industry.
Originally from Taranaki, she moved to Wellington to explore the fine art side of her creativity and completed her Honours Diploma at TLC.
As a student, she loved the freedom to try new things, make mistakes, and learn not just from tutors but from her peers.

Now a Creativity Kaiako, she feels privileged to be part of her students’ journeys and to encourage them to put their ideas into action. In her own practice, Karla enjoys experimenting across different mediums, with drawing and painting currently at the heart of her work.

k.vink@tlc.ac.nz

Dan W

Dan Wilkinson

Toi Kaiako - Onsite Drawing

Dip Art & Creativity (Hons), Cert VCD

Teaching art is something Dan loves to do. He has spent a third of his life passing on artistic and creative knowledge and enjoys watching students progress and develop at their own pace. Dan likes to create an environment where students can express who they are, as well as what they see and feel.

He encourages a balance of working intuitively and developing skills that help to create works that are aesthetically pleasing. Dan's own work mirrors his teaching style; he is constantly evolving as he explores surface and media to satisfy his creative needs. Most of his work is driven by his love and passion for the environment he is surrounded by - Wellington's harbour, and the west and south coast.

d.wilkinson@tlc.ac.nz

Emma Kitson

Emma Kitson

Toi Kaiako - Onsite Printmaking

BFA (Fine Arts), BDes (Industrial Design)

Emma Kitson, Kai Tahu, Kati Mamoe and Waitaha, is an Artist, Designer, Educator and Curator who resides in Te Whanganui a Tara (Wellington).

Born in Rangiora, her whakapapa traces its roots to the small island of Whenua Hou west of Rakiura (Stewart Island) at the southern end of Aotearoa.

Kitson graduated from the Dunedin School of Art in 1996. She then worked at Otago Museum, leading to employment at many museums and art galleries in New Zealand and Australia.

After studying Industrial Design at Massey University in the early 2000s, she focused mainly on her design work. Becoming a mother in 2012 was a catalyst for Kitson to return to making art; she found printmaking to be the most accessible option.

Joining Paemanu Ngāi Tahu Contemporary Visual Arts collective in 2014, she has contributed to their major exhibitions at CoCA, Dunedin Public Art Gallery and the Asia Pacific Triennale 11. She is also a member of Toi Whakaata - Maori Print Collective.

Emma has a passion for hands on education and shares her love of accessible printmaking techniques through workshops which cater to a wide range of ages.

e.kitson@tlc.ac.nz

Simon

Simon Hurley

Toi Kaiako (Mixed Media) & Toi Technician (Printmaking)

Simon has been part of The Learning Connexion team for the past three years. With a strong background in art, particularly 3D - he began his creative journey studying Craft Design at Whitireia Polytechnic straight out of school and later went on to study art and design at E.I.T. in Hawke’s Bay.

Simon is passionate about found object sculpture and enjoys repurposing discarded or overlooked materials. He thrives on the challenge of combining objects in unexpected ways, with a keen eye for composition, colour, and interactivity.

He believes art should be fun and accessible, and he holds a strong belief that everyone is inherently creative. With the right encouragement and environment, creativity can truly flourish.

s.hurley@tlc.ac.nz

Nikkie Gibson3

Nikkie Gibson

Toi Kaiako - Onsite Jewellery

Nikkie is an award-winning contemporary jeweller with over 20 years of experience. Her work is inspired by the organic forms of Art Nouveau and the rigid, structured aesthetics of industrial and mechanical objects.
Passionate about craftsmanship and creativity, Nikkie is dedicated to helping students discover the art of jewellery making, no matter their skill level.

n.gibson@tlc.ac.nz

Nicky Roesink 2a

Nicky Roesink

Toi Kaiako - Onsite Ceramics

Nicky has been working with clay for over 10 years. What began as a hobby soon developed into a deep passion, leading her to study ceramics at The Learning Connexion. There, she discovered the freedom of form and surface treatment that continues to inspire her creative practice today.

After completing her studies, she became the Ceramic Studio Technician at TLC and has spent the past two years teaching as a ceramics tutor. She played a key role in organising the 40th anniversary exhibition of the Gear Homestead Woolshed Potters at Pātaka Gallery and Museum in Porirua, and regularly teaches ceramic weekend workshops at TLC.

As a tutor, Nicky is known for her supportive and encouraging teaching style. She enjoys working with students at all levels, guiding them to explore what’s possible with clay and helping them grow creatively during their time at TLC.

Her own work is diverse, ranging from functional ware to large sculptural forms and smaller decorative pieces. She works intuitively, often beginning with a broad idea and allowing the clay to guide the process, an approach that embraces unpredictability and celebrates creative freedom.

n.roesink@tlc.ac.nz

AlanP web

Alan Poole

Toi Kaiako - Digital Art and Design & Creativity Kaiako (Distance Delivery)

BA (Hons), MA, Dip Art and Creativity (Hons)

As well as tutoring at TLC, Alan also works as a freelance illustrator. He has worked on a variety of projects, both in print media and in the digital domain in the form of web-based interactive digital products.

When tutoring students, Alan prefers to discuss with them what their project is and to offer advice and techniques that will help them bring their project to fruition. He believes that this focus on a student’s personal goals motivates them to explore their own creative ideas further, ensuring they don't lose what it is that makes their work unique and novel, especially in a commercial context.

a.poole@tlc.ac.nz

Justine T

Justine Turnbull

Toi Kaiako - Painting

MFA

Justine is a neo-romantic painter and graduated with an MFA from Dunedin School of Art. She lives in Wellington with her two beautiful children. Justine is a Painting Creativity Kaiako at the Learning Connexion. You can view her work at www.justine-turnbull-art.com

j.turnbull@tlc.ac.nz

Naomi

Naomi Hamlin

Kids Holiday Programme & Kids Term class Toi Kaiako

Naomi brings a wealth of teaching experience from her years working in primary and intermediate schools, along with a genuine passion for nurturing creativity in tamariki. Her warm and encouraging approach helps young artists feel confident to explore, experiment, and express themselves through a variety of creative activities.

Having completed her Level 5 Diploma in Creativity at The Learning Connexion, Naomi combines her classroom expertise with her own creative journey. She’s excited to share this passion with the next generation through our kids’ art programmes, fostering imagination, curiosity, and a love for making art.

n.hamlin@tlc.ac.nz

Sophie pic 2021 1

Sophie Saunders

Creativity Kaiako - Advanced Diploma Coordinator

MFA (Hons)

Having had a loose and arty upbringing with a musician father and potter mother, plus a rather rigorous art school education, Sophie has always had the tendency to question things and look for the higher purpose behind everything. She has exhibited widely over 25 years and has taught at various institutions for the last 16 years.

Always endeavouring to be true to herself, Sophie currently adheres mercilessly to a rather pared-down subject matter in her painting in a desire to get to the nitty gritty. Her view in her teaching and painting is that whatever feels right, one must follow it, leaving all else aside. This is the key to beginning to be what we really are.

s.saunders@tlc.ac.nz

Suzy Costello

Suzy Costello

Creativity Kaiako - Distance Delivery

Suzy enjoys both printmaking and sculpture and at the core of her art practice is place and space. Inspiration is easy to find living on the eastern edge of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, surrounded by beech-forested hills, the sea and family!
 
Mentoring distance delivery students across Aotearoa feels like a privilege for Suzy as she is invited to share in another person’s artistic processes, ideas and the act of creating. It is very personal and satisfying and broadens each of our own outlooks.

s.costello@tlc.ac.nz

Dennis Poole image

Dennis Poole

Creativity Kaiako - Distance Delivery

Dennis Poole is an experienced illustrator and designer who ran a successful illustration business, producing work for educational publishers and international clients.

Specialising in visual literacy, illustration and design, Dennis has a strong understanding of visual storytelling and metaphor. He also knows the illustration process, working from initial concept sketches through to the final artwork. His commercial experience spans character design, maps, diagrams, backdrops, and digital illustrations in a range of styles to meet diverse client needs.

Dennis also has experience in acrylic painting and drawing.

As a Creativity Kaiako, Dennis shares his industry knowledge and creative process, emphasising the importance of clear communication, adaptability, and delivering professional, high-quality work.

d.poole@tlc.ac.nz

Alayna Flighty2

Alayna Flighty

Creativity Kaiako - Distance Delivery

Alayna has been captivated by the world of art and creativity from a young age. She believes that everyone has an inner artist waiting to be discovered and nurtured, and she is passionate about inspiring - and being inspired by - the creative journeys of others.

Alayna's artistic process is guided by fluidity and intuition. Drawing inspiration from the world around her and the everyday moments shared with others, Alayna approaches each piece with curiosity and openness, allowing marks and colours to flow naturally from within onto the canvas.

a.flighty@tlc.ac.nz

Jo Grove photo
Marie Lotz 1

Marie Lotz

Creativity Kaiako - Distance Delivery

Advanced Diploma in Art & Creativity (Level 7)

Marie works in the space between drawing, painting, and textile art, frequently sparked by poetry or the world around her. She enjoys blending elements to create layered, tactile works that satisfies her creatively.

m.lotz@tlc.ac.nz

Mel Ford

Mel Ford

Toi Technician - Ceramics

BFA - Bachelor of Fine Arts

Mel Ford is a ceramic artist whose work explores the utility, history, and transformation of everyday ceramic objects, both handmade and found. A graduate of the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1989, her creative practice often engages with discarded or overlooked items, giving them new context and meaning through thoughtful reimagining.

Mel has been a regular contributor to the prestigious Portage Ceramic Awards for over a decade, receiving a Merit Award, Honourable Mention, and the Medalta Artists Residency in recognition of her work. Her ceramics have been featured in major exhibitions, including Slip Cast – A Survey of Contemporary NZ Ceramics at The Dowse Art Museum, and her work is held in several notable collections, including a commissioned piece for The Quartz Museum in Whanganui.

Mel has been a dedicated Creativity Kaiako at The Learning Connexion for many years, where she has supported countless students on their creative journeys. She now takes on the role of Toi Kaiako, continuing to share her depth of knowledge, experience, and passion for ceramics with students across all levels.

m.ford@tlc.ac.nz