We've carefully selected knowledgeable and talented instructors to teach all of the art programs at the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton. They will share their expertise and specialized knowledge to help you learn new artistic techniques in a fun and friendly environment.
Sarah Arfan
Sarah is an international fashion, lifestyle and wedding photographer. With a background in motion graphics and graphic design colours, composition and an eye for immaculate detail helped her to seamlessly transition into photography. With a successful career that spans well over 7 years and having clicked for well-known brands, celebrities and magazines her works have featured as magazine covers, advertising campaigns, billboards and editorials. Her passion and enthusiasm to capture the perfect shot every time she picks up a camera are her forte. Having conducted several photography workshops and camps both locally and internationally, she brings a wealth of knowledge of angles, lighting and composition and her students are sure to be in for an amazing and rewarding learning experience with her. She joined the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton team in May 2019.
Emily Coe
Emily holds an Honours Bachelor of Craft and Design (Textiles and Industrial Design) from Sheridan College and a certificate in Art Fundamentals. She brings a wide range of knowledge including textiles, sewing, painting, drawing, embroidery, needlework and surface design. Emily is and award winning cosplayer and costume maker, an avid supporter of Milton Culture Days and has organised various cosplay masquerades. She has been a leader of children’s programs for over six years and a camp assistant director for two years. Emily joined the FirstOntario Arts Center Milton Team in 2020.
Lisa Di Natale
Lisa is a multimedia designer and design educator. She graduated from the Material Arts Program at the Ontario College of Art and Design, and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Guelph, where she specialized in drawing and photography. She teaches design practice and theory in the Visual and Creative Arts Program at the Sheridan College Institute. Lisa has been a member of the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton teaching team since the facility opened in 2011.
Angela Ferguson
Angela holds a Master of Education degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Guelph in Studio Art and Art History where she specialized in sculpture, drawing, installation, video and audio art. Her work has been exhibited at the Zavitz Gallery, Queen Elizabeth Park Cultural Community Centre, and the Boarding House Gallery in Guelph. Angie has been teaching at the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton since 2013.
Christina Hamid
Christina graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Theatre and Playwriting. She then completed her Bachelor of Education degree at Western University, where she specialized in English and Drama. Christina has also interned at the Playwright's Guild of Canada. She is currently a member of the Women's Room Playwright's Unit and has staged readings of her work, This Side Up. She also works as a background actor for television shows and movies. Christina has been teaching drama programs and writing children's plays for the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton since 2016.
Angela Lipscombe
Angela is an award winning visual artist and honours graduate in Graphic Design from George Brown College. A full-time artist and instructor for the last 20 years, Angela specializes in acrylics, oils, watercolours and oil pastels. She has been commissioned as a muralist for schools, published and exhibited in various galleries throughout Ontario and her art has been purchased for private and corporate collections worldwide. She recently trained under the Zentangle inventors Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts and is proud to add Certified Zentangle Teacher to her list of artistic credentials. She's been an instructor at the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton team since the facility opened in 2011.
Sherry Morse
Sherry is a graduate of the Sheridan College School of Craft and Design with a diploma in Textiles. Upon graduation, Sherry worked as an artist and colourist in the wallpaper industry. Her work in textile arts includes printing, embroidery, quilting, needlework, costume, millinery and most recently, felting. Sherry has been involved in children's camp programs in Ontario and Manitoba for over 25 years. She joined the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton team in January 2015.
Aparna Rangnekar
Aparna holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai, India. Following her undergraduate work where she specialized in mural painting, Aparna pursued postgraduate studies in ceramics and pottery. She is also engaged with various art groups in the community and serves on the board of Arts Milton. Aparna has facilitated several community art projects in the Greater Toronto Area. Three of her murals, created with the Milton community during Culture Days, are on display in the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton. Aparna joined the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton team in 2014.
Rabia Shahzad
Rabia holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from National College of Arts in Pakistan, with a specialization in printmaking. Rabia is a professional cartoonist and has had her work featured in a number of publications including the News International. In addition to cartooning, Rabia has taught students 3D animation and mixed media at the university level. She teaches all mediums of expressions like Graffiti Art, popularly known as street art. She joined the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton team in June 2016.
