After 32 years working at our school and 25 years teaching on our BA (Hons) Production Design for Stage & Screen programme, Lecturer Norman Austick is retiring. Norman has taught nearly a 1,000 students, supporting them through their degree and on to building exciting careers in the stage & screen industry.

We are sure all will join us in wishing him the best of luck in this next chapter, scroll to read some words from Principal Martin Raby.

From Principal Dr Martin Raby:

Perhaps the simplest thing to say about Norman is that he is a much-respected and well-liked colleague. But that is far from the whole story.

Norman has worked as a lecturer at The Northern School of Art for 32 years; for over 25 years he has taught on the School’s production design degree, which he devised. The degree has seen nearly a thousand students graduate to work in film, television and theatre set design. In the words of a former student, he is “a smiley theatrical man who greeted me with open arms”. In the words of another, “Norman has an incredible passion and an abounding enthusiasm for both the entertainment world as well as for teaching students.”

As colleagues we know him as a private but very warm man who is incredibly dedicated to supporting students, always willing to go “above and beyond”. In the words of a former student “.. what I often think about is that I received no less than one to one support from Norman during my three years, despite being only one of 90 students on the course. If he treated me this way, surely, he was doing the same with everyone else. An amazing effort for one person to do every day and something he is still doing every day 24 years later.”

Graduates taught by Norman have gone on to be notable designers, including roles as Head of 3D at Pinewood Studios, Head of Sculpture at Warner Bros UK, model maker at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, Senior Sculptor and Model Maker at Aardman Animations, and leading West End and Broadway set designers. They include two who established the UK’s leading supplier of props and furniture, now employing 110 staff.

Norman has had a varied career. Prior to working as a lecturer he taught ceramics in a school, and has often sold his own work. He has done freelance work as an interior designer, working for clients in London and across the UK, run an interiors shop along side his business and been a publican.

In addition to his lecturer role, he undertakes significant voluntary work. He has acted as Chief Set Designer for Billingham Players since 1978; his role has been key in helping this local theatre group to survive in challenging times. In 2020 their production won the National Operatic and Drama Association Best Drama award.

He undertook a garden design course, and as an avid gardener now spends many weekends leading the work at Pinchinthorpe Garden, a charity-run restoration project. It brings together volunteers to restore a former Victorian Pleasure Garden, situated in the grounds of Pinchinthorpe Hall, which traces its origins back to the 12th century. Pinchinthorpe Garden extends to 11 acres and includes a medieval moat, giving it historical significance as a declared national monument. The garden has played host to a number of charity events fundraising for the Marie Curie charity.

As well as devising and teaching for over a quarter of a century on one of the leading production design degrees in the UK, with successful graduates working on key roles in the UK and across the world, his voluntary work has been instrumental in supporting local theatre groups and spearheading the restoration of a garden of real historical interest, being used for charity fundraising. In the words of a student “..despite all this extra effort, Norman’s dedication to his students and recent graduates has never diminished, and even now, I know I can always make a quick phone call to him if we need to…”

Norman’s dedicated support of students typifies the approach of lecturers at the School in “going the extra mile”. However, doing so continuously for nearly a third of a century means that he is due a well-earned rest. He will be sorely missed, and I am sure that you will join me in both wishing him well, and in exhorting him not to be a stranger to us as he enjoys his retirement.

He leaves us with my thanks, gratitude and very best wishes.