Studying History of Art at ECA allowed Freya not only to pursue her interests in women’s production and consumption of material objects in Britain but it also gave her the opportunity to teach on the History of Art and Architectural History undergraduate programmes.

Since graduating, Freya has been able to secure several positions teaching at institutions across the country including postdoctoral fellowships at the Paul Mellon Centre for British Art and the University of Derby and a permanent lectureship in History of Art/Liberal Arts.

Why I chose to study History of Art

I chose to study at ECA due to its particularly vibrant art historical community. ECA’s History of Art department is one of the largest in the country, and as such it has a diverse array of scholars working on all aspects of the discipline, and it hosts a dynamic programme of research events.

My time at ECA

While at ECA I completed my PhD thesis, ‘Gender, Craft, and Canon: Women’s Engagements with Material Culture in Britain in the Long Eighteenth Century’, which investigates women’s production and consumption of material objects in Britain during the period 1750-1830.

Alongside this, I taught on the History of Art and Architectural History undergraduate programmes, and organised several conferences and events, all of which provided excellent experience that set me up for my future academic career.

I wouldn’t change a thing if I did it all over again, but I do wish I’d known more about the difficulties of securing a lectureship before starting my PhD.

My experiences since graduating

Academic life can often be very difficult, especially as individuals often have to deal with several years of post-PhD precarity, so when I left the programme I felt apprehensive about my future in this career path.

Since graduating I have held a number of academic roles and positions, including postdoctoral fellowships at the Paul Mellon Centre for British Art in London, the University of Derby and, most recently, a permanent lectureship in History of Art/Liberal Arts, which is undoubtedly my biggest achievement of the last few years.

The PhD programme at ECA set me up for these roles in a number of ways, but primarily through providing teaching experience and opportunities for getting involved further in academic life beyond the completion of my PhD thesis.

My advice to new and current students

To someone entering their first year of a PhD programme, I’d tell them to make the most of all the opportunities that come their way, but also to make sure that they don’t burn out in the process. To someone graduating this year, I’d tell them to keep their options open. A PhD can open up many exciting career paths beyond academia.