This drawing wins Koestler Trust Award 2010

Draft CV – Aly Gynn  (Alyster Gynn)

Arts Council England Award Winner – 2006 (for developing art practices)

Visual Artist, Painter.  Stand Up Comedian.  Live Literature-Slam Poet.  Singer/Songwriter.

Born Cornwall 1961

Guest Speaker and Performances for ESAN (East Suffolk Advocacy Network) and Suffolk NHS Mental Health Conferences/Open Days, 2007 and 2008 (enter quote from John Parr)

Guest Speaker and Performances for the National Autistic Society. Working directly with NAS teams on recent campaigns. ‘Think differently about Autism’ and‘I Exist’.

Speech at No.11 Downing Street, London(2008) for the NAS. Met with the Chancellor,  Alistair Darling,  MPs and NAS Charity Proponents. (enter quote from Alistair Darling and the Johnathan Shaw – Minister for Disabled People)

Contributed to Robin Hammond’s (International Photographer) – UK Exhibition, ‘Think Differently’ – Had portrait taken by Robin and later made a speech at the London  Opening of the National touring Exhibition. Speech followed by a performance of my song ‘Friend of Dorothy’  http://www.myspace.com/shedoesntdomaths

http://www.robinhammond.co.uk

Wrote and Performed ‘Abacus’ (Slam Poem) and gave speech – Houses of Parliament, London. (Audience NAS Campaign Leaders and MPs)

Judged the Prose entries of the National Autistic Society ‘Creativity Competition’ – Made a Speech and presented prizes – London. 2009

(enter quotes from Matthew Downie, Gemma Redgewell and Jane Asher)

Press: Interviews and Portrait Photographs.

Daily Mirror – Miriam Stoppard, East Anglian Daily Times, Cornish and Devon, Bury Free Press, Good To Know Website, NHS Website, NAS Website (blogs) Own Websites and Blogs, BBC Radio Suffolk,  Breakthru Radio – Planet Beet Show, Gaydar Website

Filmed: BBC and ITV Breakfast News with Matthew Downie NAS Campaigns Manager. East Anglian Mental Health Development – Stepping Forward. Personal You Tube-Site now finished. Autism Research Society – Diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome and Volunteer for Research Development. Filmed and Recorded at Numerous Venues Arts  and Festival Performances plus Campaign Conferences throughout East Anglia and London (enter quote from Sarah Holmes – Director, New Wolsey Theatre)

Weekly blogs/diary for the National Autistic Society.

Writing and recording jokes, weekly –  for the ‘Planet Beet’ Radio show- (Norwich)  – Part of Breakthru Radio – World Wide, based in  New York (Indie music and unsigned bands) Show Producer and DJ  ‘Mr. Jason’  Old School Studios, Norwich

Suffolk County Council commissioned Writing and Performance of the Live Literature Poem ‘442’. This work for the Suffolk Racial Harassment Initiative Conference at Leiston High School. ‘442’ was also made into a DVD and contributed to the ‘Let’s Kick it Out Campaign (Racism in Football). (enter quote from Leon Mann-former European Marketing Director) Performance at Ipswich Town Football Club.

Enrolled Nurse (General) Trained at North Devon Hospital and worked at Plymouth City hospitals. –  1982-88

FE Lecturer in Visual Studies, West suffolk college. 1993-1998

Teaching within a Further Education Context, Visual Studies and Fine Art (pre-degree students) Part-time basis with continuing Arts practice

Community support Worker, Suffolk County Council (Social). – 1998-2000

Working in a respite (short break) context within a team. For adult Service Users with Learning Difficulties (including Autistic spectrum Disorders)

FE Lecturer in Learning Support, West Suffolk College, 2000-2003

Teaching and developing the curriculum for Further Education Students with Severe Learning Disabilities. Specialist areas – Art, Music and the Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

Continuing Art Practice while teaching – Painting

Art and Creativity Projects (alongside formal employment) 1994 – 2009: Three Square Meals – writing and poetry. Small World – design and graphics.  Felt pens Have Feelings Too – Painting, Poetry, Music and comedy. Exhibited Paintings

Project of 30 canvasses ‘Sphere of Poetry’ – Completed Painting Works (Still to be exhibited as a complete series and Statement)

Housekeeping, Cleaning and Caretaker jobs for financial stability and Independence (part time)  2005-2008 – Alongside Continuing Arts Professional Development. Brief Time – Employed as a Carer for a NAS Home (Aug-Nov 2008)

Qualifications

BTEC National Diploma Art and Design -Plymouth School of Art and Design 1998-1990

2:1 BA (Hons) degree in fine Art – Falmouth School of Art and Design – 1st  class for Dissertation   1990-1993

Masters Degree Fine Art and Cultural Studies – Norwich School of Art and Design – 1994-96 (

Certificate of Education in Post Compulsory Education Anglia Polytechnic University -1996

The initial certificate in teaching Basic Skills (literacy) City and Guilds – 2002

The initial certificate in teaching Basic skills (numeracy) City and Guilds – 2002

Other Qualifications and skills:

Computer Literacy and Information Technology Stage 1 – OCR – 2002

SchoolSafe Core programme – Suffolk county Council – 2001

Suffolk Social Services – Kerrison Conference and Training Centre : Standard Training Course For Staff Working With Learning Disabilities 1998. Risk: Choices, Independence and Implications 2000. Sexuality and People with Learning Disabilities (Levels 1 and 2)  2000.  recognising and Responding to abuse – policies and procedures 1999.

Instructor in Basic manual Handling – West suffolk College – 2001

Many short course and workshop with Suffolk making art work, Menta and Suffolk Business Link  2003 – 2006

Commissioned poetry and school performance for Suffolk County council – Racial Harassment Initiative (442) – 2005

Many Short Courses and Contribution to “Making Art Work’ Suffolk County Council.

Born Alison Gynn,  name on certificates and exhibitions until 2001. Aly Gynn 2001 – ongoing shortended version of Alyster. Alyster legal name of Artist and chosen Male name since January 2009 – ongoing. Alyster is a Transsexual Man.

Professional Development Update