Katy Doncaster

School of Architecture and Landscape

PhD Candidate

PhD candidate Katy Doncaster
Profile picture of PhD candidate Katy Doncaster
kcdoncaster1@sheffield.ac.uk
Arts Tower

Full contact details

Katy Doncaster
School of Architecture and Landscape
Arts Tower
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
Profile

I am a freelance creative and outdoors practitioner of thirty years, working in community, education and health settings. I devise and deliver sessions with people of different ages and abilities, with a variety of educational, cultural and environmental organisations. I use visual arts, forest school and therapeutic horticulture in my work, and I am also a visual artist, creating photography, print, textiles and pewter casting.

Alongside my creative practice, I have taught undergraduates as a visiting lecturer on modules in education in alternative settings, and master's students on modules in community arts. For ten years, I ran creative arts sessions for home educating young people. I currently teach art in a mainstream primary school, as well as providing continuing professional development for staff.

Thesis title: How do emotions, values and beliefs toward nature impact nature focussed wellbeing initiatives?

My research at Sheffield will explore how more effective nature-based interventions can be developed by understanding people's emotions and beliefs around the concept of 'nature'. I intend that the research will influence policy in the of commissioning of nature-based interventions for health and wellbeing. 

I am developing a creative research methodology to allow participants to express their responses to being in natural settings in ways that don't rely solely upon the use of language, in order to be more accessible to participants of all abilities. The results will provide important information that will inform the growing implementation of nature-based interventions in the treatment of mental and physical health conditions.

Supervisors: Dr Bridget Snaith (1st supervisor, Architecture and Landscape), Dr Helen Hoyle (2nd supervisor, Architecture and Landscape).
 

Previous education and employment history:

  • 2024: joined 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ of Sheffield as a PhD student
  • 2019: Diploma in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (distinction), Coventry 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂ
  • 2012: Level 3 Forest School Leader
  • 2002: MA Integrative Arts in Health and Education, 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ of Derby
  • 1995 to present: Freelance creative practitioner, visual artist
  • 1990: BSc (Hons) Psychology, 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Links