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John Sheil
DIRECTOR
John first joined Inkhead in 2015 as a creative writing tutor. John studied English Literature and Creative Writing at Warwick University. He then went on to gain his PGCE teaching qualification with QTS and taught at a variety of Prep and Primary schools across London.
He rejoined us in Summer 2023 and is now the Director of Inkhead since March 2025.
He is currently writing a novel called The Pests: The Chronicles of Pestia, a comedic account of the rule-breaking and rule-bending schoolchildren he taught over the last few years. Publication date Autumn 2025.
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Katy Allen
DIRECTOR
Katy joined us in 2025 as a Director. Katy studied Anthropology at the University of Oxford, which gave her an insight into the universal power of expression through creativity and writing.
Katy supports John with the day to day running and operations of Inkhead. Prior to this, she spent seven years in the Research and Insight industry overseeing research for a range of public, private and third sector clients.
She enjoys creative writing in her spare time and is a passionate about Inkhead’s mission of fostering joy and vital skills in children through creative writing.
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Louise Pearce
FOUNDER AND TUTOR
Louise founded Inkhead in 2005, with its mission to get children writing and to truly express their creativity, free from judgement and fear.
A writer, journalist and editor in her own right, she holds an MA in Creative and Life Writing from Goldsmiths College, University of London. She has been teaching creative writing in schools for over 15 years and is an Associate Lecturer in Creative Writing for the Open University. She now focuses mainly on her favourite part - helping children to write!
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Emma Gosnell
TUTOR
Emma is an Oxford English graduate who spent many years editing and writing for one of the UK’s leading national newspapers, Telegraph Media group. Prior to this, she wrote and edited children’s English language teaching books for the Pearson group while living and working in Hong Kong.
Literature has always been her first love and, alongside her editing work, Emma now devotes her time to tutoring and inspiring English students from 11+ through to A-Level.
Emma has been tutoring students who struggle with English, as well as those who excel, since 2016. In addition to her degree, she holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Newspaper Journalism. She is currently working on a comprehension book for young people using 19th Century texts.
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Josephine Starte
TUTOR
Josephine is an award-winning writer and arts facilitator. Her writing has been produced by the BFI and long listed for the Bruntwood Prize (Manchester Royal Exchange) and the BAFTA Rocliffe Prize, amongst other awards. She is a member of the BAFTA Connect writing cohort, and currently has two plays for children and young people touring the UK.
She has over 10 years experience as a facilitator and workshop leader, working in this capacity for Sydney Opera House, Southwark Playhouse, Women's Interfaith Fund, Bigfoot Arts Education and Qatar’s Museum of Islamic Art, among other venues and organisations. She is a graduate of Cambridge University (English) and of Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art (Acting).
Her academic writing on Samuel Beckett is published by the Journal of Beckett Studies.
Time Out call her 'very funny'.
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Nikki Sage
TUTOR
Nikki is a writer living and working in London. She has a MA in Creative & Life Writing from Goldsmiths, University of London, for which she received a Distinction, as well as a BA from University of Cambridge.
She has been teaching creative writing with Inkhead for over three years and has a wealth of experience working with groups of children from aged 6-14, both in-person and online, for targeted exam preparation as well as leading holiday and after-school clubs.
As a trained teacher with a qualification in English language teaching, she has a great passion for learning and belief in her ability to make writing fun for every child. She is a fiction writer working on her first novel, represented by Theseus Agency.
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Caroline Druitt
TUTOR
Caroline Druitt is a poet living in South East London. She graduated from the Creative and Life Writing MA at Goldsmiths with Distinction in 2022.
Caroline is an experienced creative writing facilitator, leading creative writing and poetry workshops with clients including PA consulting, University of the Arts London, Imperial College and Tara Bernard & Partners.
Caroline was longlisted for the Outspoken Prize for Page Poetry in 2023 and commended in the National Poetry Competition. With support from Arts Council England, she is currently working on her first collection of poetry.
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Seyi Odusanya
TUTOR
Seyi has spent many years in the creative industries writing children’s television such as JoJo & Gran Gran, Peppa Pig, Mr Bean the Animated Series, Toad and Friends, My Friend Misty, and Odo.
Seyi enjoys stories and storytelling, writing characters and valuing writing as an art form and a vital method of communication and self-expression. Seyi has been teaching creative writing with Inkhead for the past year to share what he's learned about writing. Seyi has also tutored for essay writing and writing.
Seyi is a University of the Arts London Screenwriting graduate who continues to work on scripting children’s television.
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Lowri Mathias
TUTOR
Lowri is a Durham University and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School graduate who now works as a theatre writer, maker, and educator. Since 2018, she has worked with schools in London and the North East to nurture children and young people's love of literature and creative writing from primary school through to A level. She also runs theatre workshops to engage young people in the performing arts.
In addition to her degree, Lowri is an alum of the Royal Court's Introduction to Playwriting scheme and has been shortlisted for awards including the Vaults Playwriting Award. She is currently in receipt of Arts Council England funding to research and develop a new play about young people and MMA.
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Tilly Thorp
TUTOR
Tilly is a London-born theatre maker and writer, specialising in playwriting and poetry. She has headlined with Poetic Unity at Theatre Peckham, and her poem "My Generation" was published as part of the Royal Society of Literature’s Write Across London series.
As a playwright, Tilly’s work has been recognised by several major institutions. Her play Mothership was longlisted for the National Theatre’s New Views competition, and her most recent play Waves was selected for development through the National Youth Theatre’s Writing Mentorship Collective under the guidance of playwright Sophie Ellerby. Waves was also longlisted by BBC Writersroom and ranked in the top 10% of submissions nationwide.
Tilly is deeply passionate about working with young people and supporting emerging talent across London—the city where she herself grew as an artist. She currently works as a facilitator with Young Actors Theatre Islington and Punchdrunk’s community workshops, helping to nurture the next generation of creatives.
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OUR TUTORS
As well as the team listed here, Inkhead has a close-knit network of exceptionally talented, passionate tutors. All of our tutors are highly skilled in creative writing, holding Masters in their subject and in many cases having won awards for their published work. It goes without saying, but all of our tutors have enhanced DBS checks and we carry out rigorous recruitment processes. Get in touch today to learn more about our brilliant tutors!