Simon Denison has led the Critical Studies (academic) programme at HCA since 2012, working to really engage students with the thrill of ideas and new ways of thinking about the meaning and value of creative practice – both their own practice and that of other people.

Simon teaches across all HE courses in the college, at both MA and BA level, in particular preparing BA (Hons) students for the exciting challenge of their Dissertation in Year 3.

Simon initially studied Classics at Oxford University where he received a Double First, and later took a Master’s degree in Photography at Edinburgh College of Art. In a varied career, Simon has worked as a writer for newspapers including The Independent, The Guardian and The Telegraph; he founded the award-winning magazine British Archaeology, which he edited for ten years; he has taught history and theory of photography at Birmingham City University; and he has also exhibited nationally and internationally as a photographer.

Simon is the author of three books of photography and his photographic work has been widely reviewed in newspapers, magazines, journals and on BBC Radio 4 as well as in academic texts. He continues to write about photography and art for a range of publications.