After years of writing community news stories, I will be focusing on the art and design world as well. I am going back to my roots! I am going back to basics!
My aim is to share various hacks I have used as a teacher of art and of music in a an outstanding inner London school and at a school for children with autism. I must say that these time for me was one of the most fun times in my career.
I will be sharing some of my ideas and different activities that kept the children interested, excited and asking for more. I will also look into art history and links to general history but I will mostly be sharing my hacks and tricks and how to videos to keep you all entertained. And, remember art is for everyone. So, even if you think you cannot draw or paint you can try some crafts!
Image copyrightJO HALEImage captionThe star dedicated his Mercury Prize to his family
Streatham-born rapper Dave has won the 2019 Mercury Prize for his intimate and revealing debut album Psychodrama.
1) Dave is of Nigerian decent
David Orobosa Omoregie was born on 5 June 1998 in Brixton, South London, as the last of three brothers to Nigerian parents. ... Dave initially began composing music at an early age, regularly writing lyrics in his early teens, prior to engaging in production after being gifted a piano by his mother in 2012, at age 14. - Wikipedia
The 21-year-old hugged his mother before walking on stage to collect the award, saying he was "lost for words".
Later, after gathering his thoughts, he paid tribute to the "exceptional musicians" he'd been nominated alongside.
Although Psychodrama is his debut album, it's been a long road to the Mercury Prize for the classically-trained musician.
Here are seven other things you might not know about rap's biggest new star.
2) He's been at this for ages
Image copyrightBL@CKBOX/YOUTUBE
Dave made his debut in May 2015 with an attention-grabbing freestyle on the YouTube channel Bl@ckbox.
Hard-hitting, honest and vulnerable, it had all the hallmarks of his future hits. But he bided his time before committing to an album - releasing 11 singles and two EPs over the next four years.
Along the way he caught the attention of rap superstar Drake, who jumped on the remix for Wanna Know. Dave later featured on Drake's More Life mixtape, and the two collaborated on the Netflix drama Top Boy, in which Dave plays drug dealer Modie.
Drake later revealed he'd discovered the South London MC by absentmindedly browsing YouTube and stumbling across a playlist called "best new songs from London". Dave has released 13 singles and featured in 6 tracks. So far, Dave has won, the MoBo Awards as Best Newcomer, Ivor Novello Awards as Best Contemporary Song, GQ Men of the Year Awards as Vero Breakthrough Music Act and now the Mercury Prize by Hyundai.
3) He listens to a lot of film soundtracks
Image copyrightSANTAN DAVE / YOUTUBE
British rap can be myopic - focusing on the same minor-key aesthetics, clipped beats and self-aggrandising lyrics. Dave, a classically-trained pianist (he passed his grade seven exam years ago), looks further afield.
"I've always had a different ear for music. I really enjoy Lana Del Rey and Pink Floyd are amazing," he told Vice in 2016
"I like soundtracks. I love Hans Zimmer, the score for The Dark Knight Rises is one of my favourites. I also like Man of Steel, Inception, Interstellar, Braveheart, Transformers - Steve Jablonsky with Arrival to Earth. Schindler's List too, that's beautiful.
"I've always listened to different styles of music to make sure I'm balanced. I feel like if you only listen to your type of music you can never go outside of it."
4) His Glastonbury set went viral
Image copyrightBBC MUSIC
In the middle of an already legendary Glastonbury set, Dave asked for some help from the audience.
"I got this track Thiago Silva," he declared. "Who is sober enough to sing these lyrics along with me?"
When Dave singled out a reveller who was wearing a Paris Saint-Germain football strip with Silva on the back to perform with him on the stage, he had no idea what was coming.
It turned out 15-year-old Alex Mann did know all the lyrics to Thiago Silva. He knew them like Elton John knows the number of his florist. And instead of freezing like a rabbit in the headlights, he breezed through the song like he'd written it himself.
It was a wonderful moment - a rare occasion where a bit of throwaway crowd interaction becomes a you-won't-believe-what-happened highlight - and it duly went viral.
Mann later scored a record deal and released a debut single, What Ya Kno Bout That Bro?
5) He dedicated the Mercury Prize to his incarcerated brother
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Dave's older brother, Christopher, is currently serving a life sentence for his part in a fatal stabbing in London's Victoria Station in 2010.
On his album, Dave describes Christopher as "the only person I ever idolised" and reveals how appalled and let down he felt, rapping: "Never had a father and I needed you to be a figure."
Dave told the BBC the record had been inspired by the therapy his brother is receiving in prison - also known as Psychodrama - in which offenders role-play events from their past to help with rehabilitation.
"This is all his story. His Psychodrama inspired this," he explained. "This album's always been dedicated to him, so to see it translate is something I can't put into words."
At the time of writing, he hadn't been able to inform his brother about the Mercury Prize but said it was only a matter of time.
"One visit, one phone call. That's all it takes to share the emotions."
6) His mum didn't approve of his career choices... until now
Media captionThe star brought his mum on stage as he won the prize
Dave was still a student when his first tracks exploded on YouTube - so his mum didn't appreciate him cancelling a degree in law to pursue music.
"When it gets to that time to tell your mum that you're not going to university, which has been her grand plan for you for the last 18 years, all of a sudden 700,000 YouTube views mean absolutely nothing.
"That's not a currency she recognises."
But she was won around eventually, joining her youngest son on stage at the Hammersmith Apollo on Thursday as he picked up his Mercury Prize.
"She's given me my life. I literally owe everything to her and God," he told the BBC backstage. "So to have her here, and to have her experience this, is surreal."
Mind you, they hadn't spoken about the prize at all...
"She's just been screaming. She's gone crazy," he said, beaming with pride.
"It's not easy to make your mum feel like she's got something to scream and shout about."
7) His track, Black, caused real controversy
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionRadio 1 DJ Annie Mac (second left) presented Dave with the award, as host Lauren Laverne looked on admiringly
The lead single off the album, which Dave performed on Thursday night, focuses on the perception of black people in Britain.
"Black is pain, black is joy, black is evident," he raps. "It's working twice as hard as the people you know you're better than."
When it was played on BBC Radio 1, the song provoked complaints from a small minority of listeners who said it was "racist against white people".
Annie Mac spoke in defence of the song, saying: "If you are genuinely offended by the idea of a man talking about the colour of his skin and how it has shaped his identity, then that is a problem for you."
"I'm just happy to be able to put out a message and affect people," Dave responded.
8) The Mercury is not his first big music award, oh no...
Image copyrightPA MEDIAImage captionDave (left) and co-writer Fraser T Smith won best contemporary song at the 2018 Ivor Novello Awards
Before recording and releasing his number one debut, Dave's earlier political anthem, Question Time, won a top prize at the highly-respected Ivor Novello songwriting awards last year.
The seven-minute track, which raged about everything from Grenfell Tower to Syria and the NHS, was named best contemporary song at the ceremony.
In it he vented his anger and frustration at why the government spends so much on defence instead of wages for nurses like his mum, and about how "terrified" former prime minister Theresa May dealt with Grenfell.
Billy Bragg, picking up the outstanding contribution award, said: "It's a great privilege to win in the same year as Dave for something so political and powerful. It really fired up my spirit somewhat."
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