Johnny Smeaton

<p>A digital specialist and self-confessed nerd, Johnny is driven by a desire to narrow the distinction between science and the arts. A BSc in Digital Art &amp; Technology and a career as a web programmer have led to his interest in data and generative art - using code as a paintbrush - and in computer games both as products of design and as learning tools.</p> <p>Always with one ear to the ground, he enjoys problem-solving indie games and discussing cutting edge technological developments.</p> <p>"I love that our students are encouraged to explore and not to play it safe. When things go wrong here it's an opportunity to learn rather than a failure and that makes for progressive and exciting ideas. Having learnt from my time in industry and my creative practice I'm an advocate of collaboration and flexibility so seeing groups click creatively and develop professionally is a real joy. It's great to see the widespread adoption of contemporary communication technology and online tools at the university too. There's an exhilarating energy about the place."</p> <p dir="ltr">Johnny was appointed as Head of Pre-Degree at Arts University Plymouth in 2026, after teaching at Arts University Plymouth since 2016, first as Lecturer in Graphics, Illustration &amp; Game Arts and, since 2021, as Subject Leader for the same area. Over the past decade, Johnny has worked directly with pre-degree students as they build confidence, develop creative portfolios and prepare for their next steps in education and the creative industries. He also completed his MA Creative Education: Making Learning at Arts University Plymouth in 2020, strengthening his work as a reflective educator and creative education leader. <br /></p>