Canning Arts Group runs a variety of different classes and has a group of talented individuals tutoring various arts and craft courses here
Pottery Tutors
REBECCA TESTER
Adult's Pottery
Rebecca is Canning Art’s Group Pottery and Kiln Manager and currently teaches all levels of ceramics.
Rebecca has always been creative and her fine art studies introduced her to clay in 1980s. After building a home, traveling and having a family she has returned to her love of clay and is passionate to share with others.
She enjoys making vessels, creating unique sculptures and throwing wide feature bowls. Rebecca is always exploring with new decoration and glaze techniques to express herself and chooses what to apply to what vessel to enhance the finished piece.
CHRIS ELLIOTT
Adult's Pottery
Chris completed her technical training with 2 years Studio Pottery at Kalgoorlie College with Bela Kotai. She became involved with teaching in schools throughout WA with the visual art foundation and teaching adults and children at CAG.
Chris spent 6 months potting – teaching workshops as a Member of South Australia Studio Potters in Adelaide. Along the way, Chris has taught pottery to juvenile offenders at Marin County Special School in the U.S.A., at Selby Street Quadriplegics, to juvenile offenders in Banksia Prison, the Institute for the Blind and various classes for the Disabled here at CAG.
Chris is experienced in Raku, Pit, Gas, Electric and Salt Firing and has many years experience in all aspects of pottery.
MELISSA ELLERO
Adult and Children's Pottery
Melissa Ellero is a passionate ceramicist that started potting at ANU-School of Art in Canberra in her early 20’s. Trained in traditional, contemporary, and production practices in formal and studio settings, Mel has studied under traditional and master potters (Western and Japanese). Since relocating to Western Australia, Mel has continued her practice and professional development with advanced study under master potters Greg Crowe, Warrick Palmateer, and Bela Kotai. Mel is inspired by the natural raw beauty of Western Australia and the subtlety of repetition and evolving form. Working from her home studio in Stoneville she continues to engage with the wider ceramics community and teaching institutions, expanding her private practice to commission based projects, and wholesales her functional wares. She has exhibited in various group and invited exhibitions. She works in a range of medium with a broad knowledge of diverse practices within the arts, crafts & design – primarily in ceramics. Melissa is a devoted mother to two primary school aged children who continue to inspire and teach her about the transformative power of education and creative expression.
NARELLE FULLWOOD
Adult and Children's Pottery
"I love the texture and feel of clay between my fingers, especially on the wheel."
Narelle is a ceramic artist and classroom teacher with a diploma in Visual Arts from the Australian National University's Canberra School of Art. She has participated in many group exhibitions both in Australia and overseas and also a few solo ceramic shows. In the past, as well as teaching in primary schools, Narelle has taught pottery for both children and adults from her shed studio and is now encouraging Canning Art students to enjoy this wonderful medium
Photo by Andrea Winter
Art Tutors
BRIDGET SEATON
Children's Art
Bridget Seaton holds a Fine Art degree from Cardiff University in Wales (UK) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (UK). She moved from the UK to Australia to pursue her love of the bush, the subject matter that inspires her as a painter and printmaker. Bridget frequently explores the Australian bush and uses her photographs, memories and sketches as reference for her work. Working predominantly in ink, acrylic and monoprint she interprets the landscape through mark making techniques.
Bridget exhibits locally and is developing links with regional art communities. She is a member of the Printmakers Association of Western Australia and participates in their group exhibitions and collaborative projects. Bridget enjoys sharing her skills teaching art within the wider Perth community. She teaches painting, printmaking and bookbinding to adults and is passionate about teaching children how to discover and enjoy visual art in its many forms.
CHAYA WARUSAPPERUMA
Children's Art
Chaya is a qualified teacher and currently teaches in the Perth Sinhala Language School in Leeming as well as working as a Teacher's assistant in government scheme schools in WA. She was a graduate teacher in Sri Lanka and has over ten years of working experience in a leading senior school in Sri Lanka. Chaya holds a Bachelor Degree, post graduate Education Diploma and Masters in Mass Media and completed her tertiary education in Sri Lanka.
In 2012 she moved to Perth WA, with her family under the skill migration scheme. Chaya teaches year 7 students and has also continued with her career development by attending programmes and completed cert III & IV in education supports. She conducted Art & Craft workshop for children in the ARTSFUN program during the school holidays. Chaya enjoys Painting & Drawing in her leisure time
MAIMUNAH ABDULLAH
Adult's art - Watercolour
Maimunah Abdullah is a potter and a painter and has been a member of Canning Arts Group since 1997. She has been exploring many creative pursuits for a number of years and brings this experience to her students
MAUREEN LIPA
Adult's Art
As an artist, I seek to authentically express my emotions and 'Joie de Vivre" in each work. I wait with anticipation for the moment when my awareness of the physical art of art making recedes to be taken over by the energy of the creative process. It is a mystery that defies explanation and remains delightfully magical.
I find such joy in inspiring others to discover their inner artist. The one that comes out to play with no expectations; that insists on being curious and thrives on adventure. That artist resides in all of us and simply needs the time and space to make an appearance. What are YOU waiting for?
MICHELLE CULNANE
Children's Art and Art of Person with a Disability
Michelle Culnane’s love of art developed after she won the Year 12 Art Award. She then went on to Complete a Diploma in Art and Design at Central Tafe. After completing her studies, Michelle was invited to teach at Tafe and enjoyed her teaching time there.
She has completed various design works on commission and participated in exhibitions at the Crafts Council of Western Australia, Perth Galleries and other private galleries.
Michelle has been teaching at the Canning Art Centre for several years and says that teaching art is the most fulfilling and rewarding role she has ever done. Michelle has taken many other drawing and craft classes to keep things fresh and interesting. She believes this is how we keep motivated and pass on new and exciting ideas to the students.
MIGARA RAMANAYAKE
Children's Art
From an early age Migara had a strong ambition to draw and paint. He continued to draw throughout his early childhood then went on study fine art. He completed a BA of Fine Art at Curtin University Western Australia.
Migara uses pencils, coloured pencils and charcoal to create his realistic drawings.
PETA ZELLER
Adults's Art - Acrylic
Peta Zeller is an award winning, Perth based, gallery represented, professional artist, working with multiple media.
Peta has been painting since 2009, in Oils and Acrylics singularly, and more recently with Mixed media creating both representational and abstract artworks.
Teaching painting has become an integral part of Peta’s painting practice and she loves seeing “Newbies” develop their own personal style and love of being creative.
TIM WILSON
Children's Art
Tim Wilson was born in Margaret River, W.A. He has a B.A. in Fine Art (1989) and has been a qualified art teacher for 15 years.
Tim is an award-winning pastel artist who has recently begun teaching to adults.
He taught numerous children's classes as well in the art of cartooning since 1997, at P.E.A.C or community centres.
As an artist participating in the pub blackboard art craze in the 1990s, he has a special love for this medium.
Are You Interested in Teaching Art?
CAG is always on the lookout for people who are wanting to teach art classes - both term classes for Adults and Children and during the school holidays.
We are always interested in different disciplines and mediums - not just painting and pottery!
If you are interested in teaching, please contact the Coordinator
Canning Arts Group, 72 Riley Road, RIVERTON WA 6148 | Phone 0484 554 977 | Email office@canningartswa.org.au