Staff Story

Lee-Anne D’Paul’s path to teaching visual arts began on a whim but she now says she is “so fortunate to be in this job”.

“I initially planned to study business at university, but at the last minute, I decided to pursue primary school teaching instead, with a major in art,” she explains. “That’s when I discovered my true passion for both teaching and creating art. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I love being in the art studio at Grimwade because it’s always a place of new beginnings.”

Helping children to truly see their world

By the time Lee-Anne came to work at Grimwade House, first as an art teacher before becoming Head of Visual Arts, she had already been teaching for 18 years.

“My first teaching position was at a school that focused on self-directed learning, nurturing a love of creativity, and celebrating individuality. It was deeply committed to inquiry and discovery as a journey for children,” Lee-Anne recalls. “Working there had a profound impact on shaping the educator I am today.”

While Lee-Anne’s students may not all go on to become professional artists, it is her firm belief that the skills learned in the art classroom are transferrable across many areas of life.

“Creativity is the key to everything they’ll go on to do,” she says. “The art classroom is where they refine their gross and fine motor skills, learn how to stay open to trying new things, and discover how to look at the world differently. Creating art teaches you not to merely glance at life but to observe it deeply, with intention and mindfulness. It inspires you to find beauty in the details and to remain endlessly curious about the world around you.”

Encouraging expression over perfection

“My philosophy as a teacher is to encourage risk-taking, and art is one of the subjects that truly allows for that,” Lee-Anne explains. “Experimentation and exploration are essential parts of the art-making process, but by Year 3, students often begin to hold back. I aim to give my students the confidence they need to continue pushing forward and embracing their creativity.”

To encourage each student to create work that reflects their individual creativity, Lee-Anne intentionally avoids showing examples of the finished product before students begin a project.

“I don’t display a model of what to aim for,” she explains. “Instead, I set learning intentions and scaffold the skills they need. It’s my job to set students up for success, so they can go to that blank canvas with confidence.”

“There’s an unmatched joy in seeing children come alive with excitement over their creations,” Lee-Anne reflects. “When a student shares what they’ve made, it’s as if they’re offering a piece of their heart. And at the end of the day, when I glance across the bench and see 80 unique ceramic sculptures that didn’t exist just hours earlier—that’s the magic that draws me back, day after day.”

In addition to producing remarkable exhibitions each year, Lee-Anne’s young students actively contribute to the artistic spirit of the School in numerous ways. They assist with set painting for School productions, craft vibrant decorations for Chinese New Year every two years, and take part in creative activities for Louisa Briggs Day, to name just a few examples.

Alongside managing these projects, Lee-Anne also runs ‘Clay Club’—an after-school ceramics workshop just for teachers.  

Discovering a dedicated community

“I knew Melbourne Grammar had a great reputation, but when I actually came to work here, I found a community of teachers who had a level of dedication and professionalism that’s really motivating,” Lee-Anne adds. “I feel aligned with the people here. The acknowledgement and support of what we do in the art studio from both staff and parents is very rewarding.”

Like all Melbourne Grammar art teachers, Lee-Anne is also a practicing artist. Her work spans ceramics, abstract landscape painting, and interior decoration. “This job has been the perfect opportunity for me to embrace the next chapter of my artistic journey,” she says. “The School provides me with the time and space to continue my own practice on campus, and there are moments when the students and I are all immersed in our current projects together.”

Lee-Anne D’Paul is the Head of Visual Arts at Grimwade House. She holds a Bachelor of Education in Primary Teaching from Deakin University, majoring in Art and Literacy, and has studied subjects within the Certificate of Interior Decoration course at RMIT. With experience teaching at other independent schools, she continues to create large landscape paintings, hand-built ceramic vessels, and design interiors as part of her ongoing artistic practice.