Hi, I’m Krista, a Scarborough-based artist and educator with a passion for translating ideas into visually engaging communication. I have completed an Honours BA in English with minors in Studio Art and Film & Literature at the University of Toronto, and I bring hands-on experience in graphic design, art instruction, and program coordination through roles in admissions, ESL teaching, and community art studios. I thrive in collaborative, fast-paced environments and enjoy developing engaging posters, presentations, and classroom activities. I love helping learners express themselves through art and language, and I’m committed to organization, teamwork, and creative problem-solving across mediums and audiences.…

Krista McGillion

Hi, I’m Krista, a Scarborough-based artist and educator with a passion for translating ideas into visually engaging communication. I have completed an Honours BA in English with minors in Studio Art and Film & Literature at the University of Toronto, and I bring hands-on experience in graphic design, art instruction, and program coordination through roles in admissions, ESL teaching, and community art studios. I thrive in collaborative, fast-paced environments and enjoy developing engaging posters, presentations, and classroom activities. I love helping learners express themselves through art and language, and I’m committed to organization, teamwork, and creative problem-solving across mediums and audiences.…

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Krista, a Scarborough-based artist and educator with a passion for translating ideas into visually engaging communication. I have completed an Honours BA in English with minors in Studio Art and Film & Literature at the University of Toronto, and I bring hands-on experience in graphic design, art instruction, and program coordination through roles in admissions, ESL teaching, and community art studios.

I thrive in collaborative, fast-paced environments and enjoy developing engaging posters, presentations, and classroom activities. I love helping learners express themselves through art and language, and I’m committed to organization, teamwork, and creative problem-solving across mediums and audiences.

See more

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Admissions Advisor at WISE Consulting
March 1, 2026 - Present
Creating graphics for promotional posters; Managing social media; Drafting and sending emails in large groups; Travelling Canada-wide promoting for specific Universities; Creating schedules and timelines for myself and others; Working collaboratively to critique current drafts of emails, presentations, and graphics.
ESL High School Teacher at Urban International School
September 1, 2025 - April 30, 2026
Preparing students for the IELTS; Teaching lessons fit for each student’s learning level; Practicing speaking English in an open environment; Grading and providing feedback for coursework submitted online via Schoology; Maintaining and controlling a classroom of students aged 13-18.
Art Instructor at 4Cats Art Studio
December 1, 2023 - October 31, 2025
Assisting children ages 5-12 with artistic skills and conducting workshops for various age groups; Opening and closing duties consisting of cleaning the studio, preparing and organizing materials; Answering questions on the phone and in person; Time managing lessons and birthday celebrations; Presenting information about a variety of artists through slideshows and lesson plans.
Sales Associate at Spencer’s Gifts
August 1, 2022 - December 31, 2023
Kept the floor organized and clean while the store was open; Practiced continuous product knowledge to assist customers; Processed cash, debit, credit, and gift card payments on POS system; Maintained the cleanliness of the store, restocked inventory, and balanced the till.
Picker at The Hillman Group
May 1, 2022 - August 31, 2022
Packed boxes with assorted items; Cleaned up working area (putting items back in their place).
Server in the Bakery at Metro
June 1, 2021 - October 31, 2021
Served customers from the counter; Decorated various cakes in different styles; Reduced product prices; Kept the bakery area clean and stocked throughout the day.
Content Creator (Online) at Zyp Art Gallery
March 1, 2022 - February 28, 2023
My artwork is featured on the Zyp Gallery website. My artwork can encapsulate the emotions and ideas of articles in visual form.
Assistant to the Teacher at Freehand School of Art
August 1, 2018 - Present
I moved from watching over the children to assisting in the creation of crafts; Moved from helping the younger age group to the older age group.

Education

Honours Bachelor of Arts at University of Toronto
September 1, 2021 - June 30, 2025
Ontario Secondary School Diploma at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts
September 1, 2017 - June 30, 2021

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Education, Media & Entertainment, Retail, Professional Services
    paper Aster Ellington

    Prologue:
    Aster Ellington wasn’t not afraid of change. She spent her weekdays hiding in her room only to be dragged out to a party hosted by one of the most popular girls in town by a friend she barely knew. Those hours she spent drinking away, letting the harsh, hot liquid spill against the acid in her stomach were some of the best moments she can recall from her seventeen years of life so far. Aster could say that she knew a lot, enough to get her into a good college for a good career to land her an okay future, one she was never too sure of. Despite this small fluctuation in her personality, she never stopped trying. Well, when it came to most things. The one thing Aster Ellington thought she could withhold in her life on a pedestal of colourful flowers and marble, is the very thing that would one day tear her apart. And she knew it.

    I remember the day she left. The day the only person besides my own faithful friend of ten years I could trust for longer than eight minutes before deciding that the relationship wasn’t fit for my taste. Yes, I remember her clothes, her hair, the makeup she wore that slowly stripped down her cheeks as she waved goodbye and didn’t even stop for a second hug like she usually did.