By rj2 | Email to a friend | Digg |
Published: Monday 07 Sep 2009
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Richard Jolley was born in Suffolk, in 1964. After 6 years working in accountancy he decided he wanted to work with children from a psychological standpoint. He undertook a degree in psychology at the University of York, UK (1988-1991).

It is there where his interest in children’s drawings began, studying the development of representational drawing for his undergraduate project. He then completed a PhD in children’s drawing and understanding of emotion in pictures at the University of Birmingham, UK (1991-5).

Richard got his first lecturing post in the Department of Psychology at Staffordshire University, UK in 1995, and became senior lecturer in 1999. Since joining the department he has continued and broadened his research interests in the topic of ‘children and pictures’, taking a variety of perspectives including developmental, cognitive, clinical, educational, aesthetic and cross-cultural.

He has published in a wide range of journals and spoken at many conferences. His book, ‘Children and Pictures: Drawing and Understanding’, published in 2009 by Wiley-Blackwell, is the culmination of his research and knowledge of the wider literature, and provides an integrative and holistic account of the child’s pictorial world.

Richard is excited at the prospect of supporting Speight of the Art, particularly as a research advisor to the psychological benefits that children gain from engaging in art activities.