Who we are...
Hannah Pearson
Manager/owner
Zaneta Gullet
After-School Club Manager
Hi, my name is Zaneta and I am the After-School Club Manager and I also teach at our after-school and holiday clubs. I have worked with KAA since March 2023.
At KAA I really enjoy meeting lots of children and getting to know them, and also encouraging them to be positive about themselves, their work and others. I have had the pleasure and enjoyed working with Children the majority of my adult working life, and love all the creative activities we do here. I am an experienced baker, having run my own business for a while creating cakes for special occasions, and especially love teaching the cooking classes at KAA.
Hi, my name is Zaneta and I am the After-School Club Manager and I also teach at our after-school and holiday clubs. I have worked with KAA since March 2023.
At KAA I really enjoy meeting lots of children and getting to know them, and also encouraging them to be positive about themselves, their work and others. I have had the pleasure and enjoyed working with Children the majority of my adult working life, and love all the creative activities we do here. I am an experienced baker, having run my own business for a while creating cakes for special occasions, and especially love teaching the cooking classes at KAA.
Olivia Barrett
Art Teacher.
Olivia studied Illustration at University and has worked with Kids Arts Academy since her days at University.
She is a now a fully qualified primary school teacher, as well as one of our art teachers and we are lucky enough to have Olivia working with us at our school holiday clubs as one of our art teachers 🙂
Olivia studied Illustration at University and has worked with Kids Arts Academy since her days at University.
She is a now a fully qualified primary school teacher, as well as one of our art teachers and we are lucky enough to have Olivia working with us at our school holiday clubs as one of our art teachers 🙂
Anne Briggs
Art & Cooking Teacher
Anne worked as a Primary School teacher for many years, and we are now lucky enough to have her working as part of our team. Anne is a very gifted artist ( and far too modest) and is an amazing cook too so she shares her skills with us and the children over the school holidays at our holiday clubs.
Chris Mitchel
Animation Teacher.
Hi, I am Chris 🙂 I’ve worked at KAA since 2019 at a few different after school club locations, and also at our holiday clubs as the Animation Teacher. I also work at Westways Primary School in term time.
Hi, I am Chris 🙂 I’ve worked at KAA since 2019 at a few different after school club locations, and also at our holiday clubs as the Animation Teacher. I also work at Westways Primary School in term time.
The thing I most love about working at KAA is the lovely atmosphere and lovely kids!
At our holiday clubs I really enjoy the modelling and craft activities, but all the activities are fun, it’s always surprising what the kids can come up with!
I am currently working on an animation game ‘Language Adventure’ which you can see via the link below.
Beverley Gray
Art & Animation Teacher
Hi, my name is Bev. I’ve worked at KAA since 2018. I have been a Teaching Assistant for 20 years and previously the art and craft tutor at Hobbycraft. Things I like most about working at Kids Arts Academy are that I love to see the children using their imagination, develop new skills and grow in confidence whatever their age. I have really enjoyed teaching here. My favourite activity is teaching the children to model using fimo clay.
Hi, my name is Bev. I’ve worked at KAA since 2018. I have been a Teaching Assistant for 20 years and previously the art and craft tutor at Hobbycraft. Things I like most about working at Kids Arts Academy are that I love to see the children using their imagination, develop new skills and grow in confidence whatever their age. I have really enjoyed teaching here. My favourite activity is teaching the children to model using fimo clay.
During term times I also teach at our after school art club on Tuesdays at our Botanical Road venue, and during the school holidays I teach in the art and animation classes. During term time I also work at Sharrowvale School as a Teaching Assistant.
Eden Taylor
Creative Activities Assistant.
Hi my name is Eden and I have been working at Kids Arts Academy since 2019. I actually attended KAA as a child from Year 3 onwards, both at Lydgate Junior school at the after school art club, and at the holiday clubs too.
I am now studying Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University. I also love sports and am Captain of the Hallam Uni Hockey Team.
One of the things I enjoy most at Kids Arts Academy is when the children are really proud of their work and say how excited they are to show their parents at the end of the day. I especially like the clay activities here! They are very messy but very fun!
Xiao Wang
Creative Activities Assistant.
Hi, my name is Xiao.
I have worked with children for more than 35 years 🙂 I was a school teacher in China and now work at Lydgate Infant School as lunchtime supervisor and the preschool and after school club.
I’ve worked at KAA since 2021, and my daughter attended the Holiday Clubs when she was at Primary School.
We are a lovely team of professionals, and KAA has created an enjoyable, supportive and safe place for the children.
I really enjoy all the activities we do, and seeing the children happy and settled.
Maimoona Irshad
Creative Activities Assistant.
Hi, my name is Maimoona and I am a Creative Activities Assistant at Kids Arts Academy.
I was a teacher in Pakistan and so have lots of experience dealing with children. I started working at KAA in 2024 and really enjoy helping the children in all the creative activities here, but especially the painting in the art groups. During term time I also work at Dobcroft Infant School as lunchtime supervisor and also occasionally as a Teaching Assistant.
Hi, my name is Maimoona and I am a Creative Activities Assistant at Kids Arts Academy.
I was a teacher in Pakistan and so have lots of experience dealing with children. I started working at KAA in 2024 and really enjoy helping the children in all the creative activities here, but especially the painting in the art groups. During term time I also work at Dobcroft Infant School as lunchtime supervisor and also occasionally as a Teaching Assistant.
Mia Shaw
Art and Animation Teacher.
My name is Mia Shaw. I’m a practicing artist originally from the north-east and a recent Fine Art graduate from Goldsmiths University of London.
I work in an ever-expanding list of mediums, including painting, illustration, sculpture, puppetry, collage, film, and performance. My primary areas of interest include community work, archiving, focusing on local history education, play, and story telling through art. I have lots of experience not only exhibiting my own work but also hosting art-based events. I also have experience working with children from a variety of backgrounds and ages. Through mentoring programmes, volunteer work, and running children’s art workshops in galleries.
I like working at Kids Arts Academy because I love watching children’s ideas flourish and just giving them the space to express themselves. I also enjoy creating the learning tools which are used in our lessons!
My favourite things to teach at Kids Arts ACademy are any of the sculpture based lessons. It’s great fun to get messy!! My favourite clay based lesson was the elephant clay pot! I also love teaching the animation classes at KAA.
Razia Nasim
Creative Activities Assistant.
Hi my name is Razia. I have worked with Kids Arts Academy since 2022. I also works at Lydgate Infants after school club during term time.
Hi my name is Razia. I have worked with Kids Arts Academy since 2022. I also works at Lydgate Infants after school club during term time.
Jemimah Nex
Creative Activities Assistant –
Hi, my name is Jemimah. I am currently studying History and Politics in Birmingham but am from Sheffield and so work at the Kids Arts Academy holiday clubs during the school holidays. I have got lots of experience working with children, and over the last few years I have worked with children in Singapore, Vietnam and the UK.
Hi, my name is Jemimah. I am currently studying History and Politics in Birmingham but am from Sheffield and so work at the Kids Arts Academy holiday clubs during the school holidays. I have got lots of experience working with children, and over the last few years I have worked with children in Singapore, Vietnam and the UK.
Hannah Pearson
Founder & Director
Hannah trained as a primary school teacher at Sheffield Hallam University with a special interest in creativity in education and in her teaching life worked to enhance the curriculum through her role as whole school subject co-ordinator for Art and Design. Hannah has also worked as a freelance artist specialising in designing and making contemporary stained glass panels, working to commission and also selling her work in craft shops and galleries around the country.
It was after writing a scheme of work for Art and Design for an educational publishing company that Hannah made the decision to set up the Kids Arts Academy in Sheffield in 2008.
Since establishing the Kids Arts Academy it has run every school holiday and also at the after school clubs during term time. Hannah has also delivered whole school art projects in different Primary schools in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire to create collaborative pieces of art to different themes.
Hannah’s mum is a retired cookery teacher with 40 years’ experience and so Hannah was baking and cooking from an early age. Hannah is one of the Paediatric First Aiders and also the Kids Arts Academy Safeguarding Officer.
Some of Hannah's work..
