I am Martha Hardy, an art educator, illustrator and project leader working across Ethiopia and the UK. I design and deliver teacher and student training, coordinate international school partnerships, and create artworks for exhibitions. My practice blends art education with community engagement, documentation, and climate-change focused programs, with a particular focus on early years and refugee education. I document programmes through photography, interviews, and case studies to share impact and learning with global partners.

Martha Hardy

PRO

I am Martha Hardy, an art educator, illustrator and project leader working across Ethiopia and the UK. I design and deliver teacher and student training, coordinate international school partnerships, and create artworks for exhibitions. My practice blends art education with community engagement, documentation, and climate-change focused programs, with a particular focus on early years and refugee education. I document programmes through photography, interviews, and case studies to share impact and learning with global partners.

Next availability:
December 10, 2025

I am Martha Hardy, an art educator, illustrator and project leader working across Ethiopia and the UK. I design and deliver teacher and student training, coordinate international school partnerships, and create artworks for exhibitions. My practice blends art education with community engagement, documentation, and climate-change focused programs, with a particular focus on early years and refugee education. I document programmes through photography, interviews, and case studies to share impact and learning with global partners.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Lead Art Teacher EYFS – Y5 at LIONHEART INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY, ADDIS ABABA
January 1, 2015 - November 7, 2025
Designing and adapting Pearson and Core Standards curriculums for international learners using a Project-Based Learning approach; delivering Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum for EYFS.
Lead Art Teacher EYFS – Y1 at HEAD TO TOE INTERNATIONAL EARLY YEARS CENTRE, ADDIS ABABA
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2015
Delivering HighScope curriculum integrated with Reggio Emilia approach.
Artist Partner and Project Leader at EFFRA EARLY YEARS CENTRE, LONDON
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2008
Leading arts education action research projects supported by Centre for British Teachers and Creative Arts Research Awards.
Project Leader at CENTRE FOR BRITISH TEACHERS ACTION ZONE, LONDON
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2008
Undergraduate art student and early years placement scheme.
Project Leader at EARLY YEARS CLUSTER SCHOOLS, LONDON
January 1, 2005 - January 1, 2005
Co-ordinating projects with professional artists in EYFS settings.
Artist Facilitator and Project Leader at BRITISH COUNCIL, ETHIOPIA and THAMES FESTIVAL TRUST, UK
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
Rivers of the World and River of Hope Arts Education and Climate Change Projects; designing projects, writing and delivering teacher and student training modules; coordinating activities and supporting international school partnerships connecting Ethiopia and UK; designing artwork for international exhibitions; delivering arts exhibitions and events.
Arts Education Facilitator at BRITISH COUNCIL, ETHIOPIA
January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2019
Arts Education Facilitator, Creative Education Training for Refugee Camp Schools in Western Ethiopia; writing and delivering creative education teacher training modules including visual arts and storytelling.
Project Documentation at BRITISH COUNCIL, ETHIOPIA
January 1, 2015 - November 7, 2025
Documentation for British Council Sub-Saharan Africa and Ethiopia; photography, interviews, case studies and report writing for British Council projects and programmes: River of Hope, Rivers of the World, World Voice, TeachingEnglish and TeachingEnglish Africa, School Connects, Connecting Classrooms (including Core Skills).
Freelance Illustrator at Self-employed / Various publishers
January 1, 2020 - November 7, 2025
Cover, internal and poster illustrations for publishers and organisations specialising in education and training including: Oxford University Press, Macmillan Education, Scholastic Education, Leicester City Council, Lambeth Education Authority, Practical Action Publishing, The Brooke Charity, Hart Mcleod, John Brown Media.
Project Leader, Creative Partnerships at Early Years Cluster Schools, London
January 1, 2005 - January 1, 2005
Co-ordinating projects with professional artists in EYFS settings.
Documentation at British Council, Ethiopia
January 1, 2015 - November 18, 2025
Documentation for British Council Sub-Saharan Africa and Ethiopia; photography, interviews, case studies and report writing for British Council projects and programmes: River of Hope, Rivers of the World, World Voice, TeachingEnglish and TeachingEnglish Africa, School Connects, Connecting Classrooms (including Core Skills).
Lead Art Teacher EYFS – Y5 at ART TEACHING LIONART INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY, ADDIS ABABA
January 1, 2015 - November 18, 2025
Designing and adapting Pearson and Core Standards curriculums for international learners using PBL approach; Delivering Reggio Emilia inspired curriculum for EYFS.
Illustration Teaching at CfBT / Centre for British Teachers
January 1, 2007 - November 18, 2025
Short term training role - writing and delivering Illustration modules for artists in Addis Ababa for an education project funded by The European Union.
Freelance Illustrator at Various publishers and organisations (education and training)
January 1, 2020 - November 18, 2025
Illustrating cover, internal and poster illustrations for publishers and organisations including: Oxford University Press, Macmillan Education, Scholastic Education, Leicester City Council, Lambeth Education Authority, Practical Action Publishing, The Brooke Charity, Hart Mcleod, John Brown Media.
Artist Facilitator and Project Leader at British Council, Ethiopia and Thames Festival Trust, UK
January 1, 2015 - November 19, 2025
Led Rivers of the World and River of Hope Arts Education and Climate Change Projects; designed projects, wrote and delivered teacher and student training modules; coordinated activities and supported international school partnerships connecting Ethiopia and the UK; designed artwork for international exhibitions; delivered arts exhibitions and events.
Arts Education Facilitator at British Council, Ethiopia
December 31, 2019 - December 31, 2019
Wrote and delivered creative education teacher training modules including visual arts and storytelling for refugee camp schools in Western Ethiopia.
Project Leader at Centre for British Teachers Action Zone, London
December 31, 2008 - December 31, 2008
Led undergraduate art student and early years placement schemes; supported arts education projects.
Artist Partner and Project Leader at EFFRA Early Years Centre, London
December 31, 2008 - December 31, 2008
Led arts education action research projects supported by Centre for British Teachers and Creative Arts Research Awards.
Lead Art Teacher EYFS – Y5 at LionArt_Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
January 1, 2015 - November 19, 2025
Designed and adapted Pearson and Core Standards curriculums for international learners using project-based learning; delivered Reggio Emilia inspired curriculum for EYFS.
Lead Art Teacher EYFS – Y1 at Head To Toe International Early Years Centre, Addis Ababa
December 31, 2015 - December 31, 2015
Delivered HighScope curriculum integrated with Reggio Emilia approach.
Illustration – Teaching Illustration at Centre for British Teachers (CfBT)
December 31, 2007 - December 31, 2007
Short term training role - writing and delivering Illustration modules for artists in Addis Ababa for an education project funded by The European Union.
Illustrator at Various publishers and organisations
January 1, 2020 - November 19, 2025
Illustrating cover, internal and poster illustrations for publishers and organisations specializing in education and training including Oxford University Press, Macmillan Education, Scholastic Education, Leicester City Council, Lambeth Education Authority, Practical Action Publishing, The Brooke Charity, Hart Mcleod, John Brown Media.
Project Documentation at British Council, Ethiopia
January 1, 2015 - November 19, 2025
Documentation for British Council Sub-Saharan Africa and Ethiopia; photography, interviews, case studies and report writing for British Council projects and programmes: River of Hope, Rivers of the World, World Voice, TeachingEnglish and TeachingEnglish Africa, School Connects, Connecting Classrooms (including Core Skills).

Education

2:1 Hons Degree, Visual Communication Design: Illustration at Middlesex University, London
January 11, 2030 - November 7, 2025
Fine Art Foundation Diploma at University of the Arts London, Chelsea College of Arts
January 11, 2030 - November 7, 2025
2:1 Hons Degree, Visual Communication Design: Illustration at Middlesex University, London
January 11, 2030 - November 18, 2025
Fine Art Foundation Diploma at University of the Arts London, Chelsea College of Arts
January 11, 2030 - November 18, 2025
2:1 Hons Degree in Visual Communication Design: Illustration at Middlesex University, London
January 11, 2030 - November 19, 2025
Fine Art Foundation Diploma at University of the Arts London, Chelsea College of Arts
January 11, 2030 - November 19, 2025

Qualifications

Pearson Education training
January 11, 2030 - November 7, 2025
British Council Thames Festival Trust Fine Art Skills
January 11, 2030 - November 7, 2025
Pearson Education
January 11, 2030 - November 19, 2025
British Council Thames Festival Trust Fine Art Skills
January 11, 2030 - November 19, 2025

Industry Experience

Education, Media & Entertainment, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services
    uniE621 Illustration samples
    Illustrating children’s books, educational textbooks, training manuals, posters, booklets for private clients and publishers such as Oxford University Press, Scholastic and Nelson Thornes. Work ranges from full colour covers and internal illustrations to black and white vignettes. My work is hand drawn before being converted to digital images.
    paper Arts Education Facilitator at BRITISH COUNCIL, ETHIOPIA

    Arts Education Facilitator at BRITISH COUNCIL, ETHIOPIA
    January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2019
    Arts Education Facilitator, Creative Education Training for Refugee Camp Schools in Western Ethiopia; writing and delivering creative education teacher training modules including visual arts and storytelling.

    paper Project Documentation at BRITISH COUNCIL, ETHIOPIA

    Project Documentation at BRITISH COUNCIL, ETHIOPIA
    January 1, 2015 - November 7, 2025
    Documentation for British Council Sub-Saharan Africa and Ethiopia; photography, interviews, case studies and report writing for British Council projects and programmes: River of Hope, Rivers of the World, World Voice, TeachingEnglish and TeachingEnglish Africa, School Connects, Connecting Classrooms (including Core Skills).
    https://www.twine.net/signin
    https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Freelance Illustrator

    Freelance Illustrator - marious publishers and organisations
    January 1, 2020 - November 7, 2025
    Cover, internal and poster illustrations for publishers and organisations specialising in education and training including: Oxford University Press, Macmillan Education, Scholastic Education, Leicester City Council, Lambeth Education Authority, Practical Action Publishing, The Brooke Charity, Hart Mcleod, John Brown Media.