Our staff
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Nick Priest
Lecturer in Photography
Nick is the Level 5 Coordinator and Level 4 Lecturer on the BA (Hons) Photography course. He has a passion for all areas of photography and his practice has led him into documentary and portrait photography, shooting communities, people, places, and readings in psychogeography and sense of place, which is now where his...
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Robert Sharl
Senior Lecturer
Robert Sharl is a Senior Lecturer in Visual Communications in the School of Visual Communications at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Art, Media and Design. He joined the University in 1999. Robert Sharl is changing the way that industry and the School of Visual Communications collaborate. Instead of having external...
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Aimee Sills
Technician
Aimee joined BCU in March 2023 as a photography technician, supporting students across the photographic studios, processing room and darkroom. Her skillset and main areas of interest encompassing analogue practices including large and medium format, darkroom printing and bookbinding as well as studio practices and digital...
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Timm Sonnenschein
Senior Lecturer and Course Director Visual Communication BIFCA
Timm Sonnenschein is a Senior Lecturer and the Course Director of the Visual Communication programme of our Wuhan based Birmingham Institute of Fashion and Creative Art (BIFCA). Through his professional work as well as his family connections, Timm has extensive knowledge of Chinese culture which he has been able to apply within...
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Ally Standing
Lecturer in Contextual Studies
Ally is a Birmingham-based visual artist and lecturer, with an interdisciplinary practice exploring ideas surrounding the built environment. In her current role, Ally is responsible for the coordination and delivery of Contextual Studies for students across the School of Visual Communication, including students on BA...
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Matt Tromans
Deputy Course Leader MA Visual Communication
An experienced and dynamic creative producer, director and writer with major international feature film credits and a strong track record in critically acclaimed and commercially successful cinema. Matt has worked as a producer in Europe and America, he has an extensive knowledge of film and related industries.
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Emma Turland
Lecturer in Graphic Design (part-time)
As a practising designer, Emma’s commercially successful award-winning professional credits encompass years of leading ideas-driven design and brand projects and teams. As well as running innovation workshops, judging design awards, and mentoring junior creatives, she has worked internationally, producing highly acclaimed work...
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Mike Villiers-Stuart
Senior Lecturer and Course Leader MA Future Media
Mike started his broadcasting career in 1983 as a journalist in cable TV newsrooms and progressed to becoming a news Producer/Director before moving into broadcast TV as a Network Director for Thames Television and Producer for the BBC. At the BBC, in 1990, Mike joined the team responsible for branding and promoting the...
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Helen Wheeler
Course Director BA (Hons) Illustration
Helen Wheeler has been a commercially successful artist for the last 12 years, her work being available in countless high street outlets. She has worked in-house for the UK’s leading greetings card manufacturer, UK Greetings, creating a wide spectrum of products, covering all elements from concept to final production. Clients...
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Kelvin Wong
Animation Lecturer
With over 14 years experience in animation, visualisation and education Kelvin Wong tutors on the Film & Animation pathway in Viscom, supporting both home and international franchises in Hong Kong and Bangkok. The merger and integration of the Animation course within Visual Communication allowed shared practices and...