Deputy Course Leader

Shefali is a Lecturer at our School of Art as well as Deputy Course Leader and Final Major Project Supervisor for our online MA Illustration programme. 

Originally from an arts background in character illustration and special effects / prosthetics design for screen and stage, Shefali’s recent work has centred around public projects with connections to figurative drawing, film, and performance. 

Her rich background in teaching illustration and storytelling includes work with community groups, schools, and community arts projects. Her experience also includes teaching professional printmaking in colleges and technical workshops. 

In addition to her academic work and illustration practice, Shefali runs Pudding Press, an independent micro publishing company she founded in 2014. 

Four of Shefali's career highlights

  • Having been able to actually sign a new author to her tiny publishing company

  • Discovering co-collaborative working while doing a picture book with young author Nmeso Okolo for Hackney Libraries and the Ministry of Stories

  • The first Refresh Art Award show

  • Getting to work on a community arts project in the home of public art and investigating part of her heritage with Milton Keynes Hindu Association

A little advice?

Follow the things that you really care about and trust that there will be a way to make it work. Keep questioning that process because it is easy to be side-tracked. Be flexible. Try to help other artists rather than compete with them. Value what we do and don’t be pressurised in to working on other people’s commercial projects for free. Pay your dues. Learn some technical skills and try to improve every day.