Dr Matthew Isherwood

Dr Matthew Isherwood is a Lecturer in Creativity and Arts Education at the University of Exeter, where he also serves as Co-Director of the MA Creativity and Arts Education programme. His teaching combines theory, methodology, and creative practice across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with a strong focus on helping students translate academic ideas into practical, real-world educational contexts through arts-led, creative, and ethically dialogic approaches.

Dr Isherwood’s research explores how learning is shaped through aesthetic experience—how people develop sensitivity, awareness, and understanding through encounters with art, others, and the wider social world. His work is influenced by the educational philosophy of Maxine Greene, particularly her idea of becoming more awake and attentive to everyday experiences, more open to difference, and more engaged with possibilities that must first be imagined to become real. This informs his commitment to education as a process of cultivating creativity, critical thinking, empathy, and reflective awareness—capacities that are increasingly important in contemporary global society.

His current research and creative practice sit at the intersections of aesthetic education, arts-based inquiry, dialogue, and transdisciplinary learning. Through artmaking, object-based inquiry, and collaborative projects, he supports students in developing creative confidence, emotional awareness, and adaptive thinking. His work also addresses contemporary challenges such as student wellbeing, anxiety, and uncertainty, helping learners build resilience and imaginative problem-solving skills.

Dr Isherwood’s teaching and research contribute to wider international conversations about creative pedagogy, ethical education, and the role of the arts in preparing young people for complex futures. He is particularly committed to creating inclusive learning environments where students are encouraged to explore new perspectives, develop their own voices, and connect creative practice with meaningful educational and professional pathways.

Qualifications:

Ph.D, Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy, University of British Columbia

Master of Arts, Art Education, Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy, University of British Columbia