Sinéad Mc Dermott – fully qualified Art and Design teacher with over twenty years teaching experience – owner of The Art And Design Factory and NI’s leading art school – is a practising artist and educator, who is passionate to share her love of Art and Design with all ages and abilities, through her teaching.
Sinéad qualified with a B.A in Fashion and Textiles in 1996, followed by an M.A in Applied Arts in 1998 and then gained her PGCE in Art and Design Education in 1999.
With over 20 years of teaching experience, Sinéad embeds the national curriculum into all lessons and workshops. She encourages children in a nurturing and caring teaching style that makes them feel at ease, helps them to relax and produce their best work.
Sinead has recently launched a digital, educational resource called ‘Art Time, Let’s Shine ‘ to ensure that Art and Design remains on the curriculum at KS1 and 2. The portal consists of 40 pre recorded art lessons that enables all teachers to share high quality Art lessons with their pupils at a click of a button. All lessons are linked to the curriculum with cross curricular links for reinforced learning.
Throughout her career in Art, Sinéad has exhibited in numerous art exhibitions ranging from The RDS Dublin, The Barbican, Mall Galleries and New Designers in London, and several times at The Royal Ulster Academy and The Naughton Gallery at Queens University, Belfast.
Having undertaken numerous private and public commissions her work can be viewed in the lecture theatre of the Royal Maternity Hospital.
Sinéad has been a past president of the Association of Art and Design Education (AADE) and served on the working committee of this consortium for many years.
The Art and
Design Factory Ltd.
In 2018 Sinéad started her own business ‘The Art and Design Factory’ after she hosted her sons birthday party in the Ulster Museum. Parents of children that attended the party were amazed by the standard of the work their children produced in such a short time during this new type of party.
Parents continued to encourage Sinéad to offer more Art based party’s and classes so ‘The Art and Design Factory’ was created.
In such a short time the business has grown and Sinéad absolutely adores being her own boss. The Art and Design Factory offers a wide variety of workshops and classes to all ages and abilities in Annadale, Art Studio, online or onsite.
These lessons range from Shared Ed Art and Design lessons for Primary pupils which are delivered online and face to face, seasonal art camps during school holidays, weekly art lessons for children aged 6+ , 11+, bespoke and arty birthday parties for children.
In 2021 she created her digital, educational Art portal to ensure children at Primary School level can have access to art lessons.
Adults can also take part in the creative fun too. Well being art lessons are on offer for inservice training days for teachers or for staff team building days for corporates. Adults also can learn to paint in her studio or in a social environment by enjoying a glass of wine at one of Sinead’s ‘Paint and Drink’ classes. The Paint and Drink classes are perfect for groups of friends to celebrate special occassions or as part of a corporate event.
Sinéad also offers corporate team building workshops to assist with relaxation and mental wellbeing. To date she has worked with some of the globes biggest brands including Citibank, All State and Liberty IT as well as multiple local businesses.
Craft classes and family art workshops are also on offer so everyone can participate and have fun.
Ethos of The Art and Design Factory
As Belfast’s leading Art School, The Art and Design Factory’s core belief is that Art and Design should be accessible to all regardless of age or ability. Through working with their hands and engaging the mind the individual can relax and create pieces very personal and unique.
Participants will gain confidence as their skills improve and gain a sense of achievement and pride. By expressing themselves in a nurturing and encouraging environment all can unwind and enter the “art zone” where the individual becomes lost in their own little world. This trance like state is similar to mindful mediation boosting mental health and providing the individual with a deeper sense of wellbeing.