Teachers in the Spotlight: Donald Short

Teachers in the Spotlight: Donald Short

Donald Short is the Head of Art at Dulwich International High School Suzhou. Donald is American by birth and studied Fine Art and Painting at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts, London. Before coming to Dulwich, he worked at Magdalen College School, Oxford, one of England's top academic schools. Prior to his teaching career, he served as a television and film researcher, as well as a part-time journalist for the Times Education Supplement. In 2007, he completed an MA in Fine Art at the Arts University College, Bournemouth. Outside his role as artist and teacher, he has an interest in architectural history and gives walking lectures in Oxford on behalf of E-Architecture, an important online forum for architects. More recently he has contributed essays on art and architecture to the online journal, 'Culture On The Offensive.'

"As an art teacher, my philosophy as a teacher of art is based on my belief that it is, in essence, an academic subject, not a practical subject. Art is, therefore, a discipline and, as such, must be subject to a rigorous approach, which we instil in our pupils at Dulwich."

Don came to China by chance but has no regrets. He said that it is a fascinating country to live and work in. He is delighted to have shaped such a successful department, which has doubled in size since he began, and he is naturally delighted with the success of our pupils in gaining places at some of the UK and USA's top art colleges, including the Parsons School of Art and Design, New York School of Visual Arts, Rhode Island School of Art, University of the Arts London and Goldsmiths College, University of London.