Anna Tonks has been an integral part of Concord’s Art team since 2006. In 2022 she changed direction and left the College to pursue a Masters Degree in Therapeutic Art, returning to Concord later to pursue a hybrid career combining art lessons at Concord, adult teaching and placements in primary and secondary schools.

She is now leaving for good, heading down to Devon with her husband for a new challenge. We caught up with her in the Art Department to say goodbye.

Q) How will you remember your time at Concord?

A) It’s been a joy. I’ve always felt very supported and seen by the team here and the students are fantastic. Returning after starting my Masters degree worked well and meant I could tie up all the loose ends and things I had hoped to do.

Q) How is your career outside Concord in therapeutic art going?

A) It’s very rewarding, I’m helping children with mental health needs to process their emotions with art therapy. Sometimes we talk while we create art, sometimes the children just want to sit quietly. Sometimes children can feel worse before they get better as they start to confront things that are troubling them. It is fantastic to be able to help them.

Q) What are your plans for your new life in Devon?

A) I have new role as a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Practitioner in Plymouth. CAMHS are NHS services that support young people with their mental health. It won’t be a teaching role, it’s purely therapeutic. It will also be nice to do more art, I enjoy ceramics, print making and pastel work and hopefully I’ll have more time for that too.

Read Anna's previous interview HERE