Lesley is a researcher, textile artist and educator within Higher Education Art & Design. Interests include collaborative practice and community arts and health, supported by a Bachelor of Design from the University of Dundee, a Masters from the Royal College of Art and Post Graduate qualifications in Learning and Teaching, and Occupational Therapy. She has directed extensive social-community artist-in-residencies and projects within Widening Participation. Doctorate research at Staffordshire University focuses on investigating pedagogies of reflective practice to support employability within the creative industries.
Research and art practice encompass design and fine art ideologies. As a freelance practitioner Lesley has created bespoke hand-felted fashion accessories for export and commercial retail in Japan and UK stores, exhibited in UK galleries and worked collaboratively with diverse communities making large-scale works for public display and intervention.
http://www.art.mmu.ac.uk/profile/lraven
