Alys Scott-Hawkins

Visiting TutorMA Animation (Royal College of Art), BA (Hons) Media Production (University of Northumbria)

Overview

I’m an artist-researcher who works with drawing, documentary and moving image, and a specialist in artist support: mentoring and coaching visual artists to plan projects, overcome obstacles and secure funding.

I worked for 13 years as a freelance animation director, producing animated shorts for broadcast TV, charities, the commercial sector and to disseminate academic research. I co-run the AnimatedDocumentary.com blog.

I worked at AUB as a Senior Lecturer in the Animation department, from 2015 - 2018, and continue to teach on both the MA and BA (Hons) Animation courses as a regular Visiting Tutor.

Qualifications

Teaching Qualification

Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (University of Southampton)

Teaching

On the BA (Hons) Animation Production course, I teach drawing in the life room and through group and one-to-one tutorials, as well as giving students feedback on storytelling and project planning as they develop pitches for their graduation films.

On the MA Animation Production course, I teach professional development workshops and supervise students' creative work through group crits and tutorials.

I am a Visiting Academic at the University of Southampton; was previously personal tutor and Professional Development unit leader, BA (Hons) Fine Art at Solent University; and have worked as a Visiting Lecturer at King’s College London, Camberwell College of Art, Central St. Martins College of Art & Design (both University of the Arts London), Kent Institute of Art & Design and Paris College of Art, as well as delivering workshops for BAFTA and the BBC.

Courses

Research

Research Interests and Projects

My research focuses on the processes of making animated documentary films, examining how subjective interpretation of subject matter is created through drawing and animation processes. Autoethnography is the methodology which facilitates both my creative reflection and academic writing.

I have presented my research at three international conferences of the Society for Animation Studies, and published in a peer-reviewed journal. In 2017 I was awarded a two month Research Fellowship, at Arts University Bournemouth.

Awards and Prizes

Notable awards/prizes

Awards

New Media Prize, Southampton City Art Gallery, U.K. 2022
Best Film, Compass of Desire Festival, Bristol, U.K. 2009
Synchro Film Award (€1500), Tricky Women Animation Festival, Vienna, Austria 2003
Second Prize, Experimental (€1500) Eurovideo, Malaga, Spain 2003
Best Experimental Film, BAF! 2000, Bradford Animation Festival, National Museum of
Photography, Film & Television, Bradford, U.K. 2000
Special Commendation, Royal Television Society, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K. 1999

Grants

a-n The Artists Information Company, artist bursary (£1470) 2021
Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice grant, (£10 000) 2021
AAA Artist bursary, Aspex Gallery (£250) 2021
a-n The Artists Information Company, coaching bursary 2019
'a space' Talent Development bursary (£1500) 2014
ViViD Network / EU Interreg Programme ‘2 Seas’ (£8000) 2013
Channel 4 Television / Arts Council animator-in-residence commission (£40 000) 2004