By Jaya I, Year 10 Journalist Lead

This week I interviewed a member of NHEHS who is appreciated by all and always there to help anyone with a smile on her face. Our unsung hero is Shuk – (second from the left in the photo)-  our wonderfully helpful and dedicated art technician who has now been working at NHEHS for nearly 8 years! Prior to this she worked at two other schools in the borough and originally trained in Woven Textiles which is a specialised degree. Her supporting role in school involves helping in the Art department by preparing the studios and material for lessons, providing technical support to the staff and students during practical activities and project work. If this doesn’t already sound like heaps of responsibilities she also said ‘I manage materials, tools, equipment, stock levels and order all the art materials for the department.’ 

Some of you may not be aware but later this term, NHEHS is hosting the 2026 ‘Masterpiece Art into Fashion!’ charity fashion show which (and I know this from personal experience) can get quite stressful and a bit hectic. Girls in all years are able to enter into the competition and create their own piece to be walked down the runway! After getting a general idea of Shuk’s background and role at Notting Hill I asked her ‘how involved are you in the fashion show? Is it hectic at the moment, does it get quite chaotic?’ To which she responded: ‘I provide technical support for the fashion show and help run the show from behind the scenes. Spring and summer terms are always madly busy (…) There is never a quiet moment in the art department, maybe the last week of summer term when the year is done!’ 

Next, I wanted to get a sense of Shuk’s relationship with art away from school as I think it’s clear to all who have met her that her skilful assistance in the department must stem from a love to create. So I asked her ‘What is your life like in terms of art outside of Notting Hill?’ To which she explained that ‘In [her]spare time [she] loves to practice lots of crafts. Knitting, crochet, sewing [her] own clothes and pottery.’ She even sells her ‘makes’ to local craft fairs to fund her ‘fabulous’ materials for her projects. She went on to explain her fondness for her crafting by saying ‘I just find practising arts and crafts very therapeutic and satisfying.’ 

Finally, here’s some lovely advice from our Unsung Hero for anyone who is currently practising art, is thinking about starting it or potentially considering it as a career:

‘Go for it! We need creative arts people because they are essential for fostering innovation, improving mental health, building community, and driving economic growth. It may be thought as a “soft” subject but really it is highly valued by employers. Creative thinking is key in this tech driven world that demands adaptability.’