Emma Scott-Smith

I am currently undertaking a PhD in Community/Critical Psychology at Stirling University. I also completed my undergraduate honours degree in Psychology at Stirling in 2006 and then subsequently took an MSc in Health Psychology at Queen Margaret’s University in Edinburgh in 2006.

I originally came into psychology as a Professional Artist specialising in painting and installation art work. I gained my first Solo Exhibition at the age of 19 entitled “The Last Hope” which was held at the MacRobert art gallery which has since been demolished and rebuilt with a different focus on displaying Children’s art. My work focuses on the human form and tackles recurring issues of chronic pain, isolation and hope. My work has since developed into examining the subject matter of discrimination, society’s attitudes and themes on disability. My last solo exhibition in 2005 entitled “Useless Eaters” a term which was derived from the World War II Nazi regimes description of Disabled people was held at The Smith Art Gallery & Museum in Stirling. This exhibition was held during the latter of my undergraduate degree and was incorporated into a session of The Community Psychology course where students visited the exhibition and attended a lecture.

I aim to develop my PhD work in a way to further generate a form of social action research using arts in mental health projects in the community to generate social change and social justice within society.

Supervisors

First Supervisor: Dr. Alex Gillespie

Second Supervisor: Dr. David Fryer

My research field is exploring Arts and Mental Health projects/networks found within Scotland. To generate and evaluate current mental health services and examine there effects on the individuals that use these services.

• I presented at the departmental Christmas poster event and gained a second place in the competition 2008.
• I presented my research and a fellow colleagues paper at the 2nd International Conference on Community Psychology Lisbon, Portugal 2008.
• I presented research at The Community Psychology Conference 2008, Napier University, Edinburgh. 
• I presented PhD research at The University of Stirling, The Health Psychology Group 2008.
• I attended and aided in the setting up of the 5th International Conference on the Dialogical Self, Cambridge, England 2008.

I have been involved and undertaken teaching within both Psychology and Art. I have undertaken lectures for 3rd year psychology and 3rd year Education students on art, disability, discrimination, inclusion from a Critical Psychological perspective. I have taught in Art Work-Shops in Mental Health groups, Community groups for Teenagers, hospitals and in the Children’s ward at Stirling Royal Infirmary.

• I undertook the Psychology Departmental Teaching Training course enabling me to teach in the department.
• I attended a NVivo software training programme as part of the Social Sciences masters programme.
• I attended the Stirling Graduate Research School Qualitative Research seminar.
• I have undertaken teaching in PSY9AJ Social Psychology, Elective EL25 Mental Health in Theory and Praxis and PSY9AO Developmental Psychology.

1998 A Symbol of Unity, ed. by C. Walton, Triumph House, England.

1999 The Path of Life, ed. by A. Mead, Poetry Now, England.

2001 2001 Series, ed. by N. Day, Anchor Books, England.

2011 The Big Picture: The artivism Intervention, The Psychologist May 2011 issue, Vol 24 (No. 5)