Pride of Guernsey: 'Far beyond my day job'
'KNOWLEDGE and experience, practical help, encouragement and generosity' are just a few of the attributes for which Adam Stephens has been nominated for our Pride of Guernsey Arts Contribution of the Year Award.
As well as being the head of creative arts at Elizabeth College, he is a sculptor and created and directs The Gate House Gallery, a former porter's lodge at the college.
Born in Hertfordshire, he studied at Brighton and trained to be a teacher at Goldsmith's. He and wife Lou first met in 1990 and taught in Wiltshire for 17 years before coming to Guernsey in 2008. 'We set up The Gate House Gallery in 2013. We've had up to 28 exhibitions there, some involved multiple artists, lots of student shows, visiting and local artists as well as students from schools across the island.
'It's developed, I guess, but it's always been community-based. We've collaborated with schools and various groups as well as the Guernsey Photography Festival. There have been artists in residence. In 2010 it was ceramicist Libby Ballard and we've had Philip Valenta from Germany and Frances Hatch from the UK. Artists from outside Guernsey work in Guernsey and their work is a response to Guernsey. They are giving the island a new perspective.'
On top of all this, Adam runs life drawing classes, both taught and non-taught.
It is said he 'reaches out far beyond his role as head of creative arts at the college' and has brought 'a very important renewed energy to the arts scene in Guernsey'.
