Meet the Team

ROB KELLY

With a 20-year career that’s taken him from early recording contracts to performing alongside icons like Diana Ross, Rob now leads as Artistic Director and Screen Acting Teacher. An Emmy-nominated Casting Director and founder of RKA Talent, he has helped launch film and TV actors towards BAFTA Rising Stars and beyond, making his mark on the industry through both performance and talent development.

Rob’s casting work spans major platforms including Netflix, Amazon, Sky, BBC, Lionsgate, Universal, Sony, Hulu, Disney and Nickelodeon. His instinct for emerging talent and his understanding of global entertainment trends have shaped projects that reach and resonate with audiences worldwide.

Drawing on this wealth of experience, Rob has created a practical, career-focused training approach that prepares students to thrive in the screen industry. His teaching blends real-world insight with a genuine passion for nurturing young performers. Under Rob’s mentorship, students gain the craft, confidence and industry knowledge they need to stand out and succeed in an ever-evolving landscape.

JESSIE HILLS

Jessie trained at ArtsEd on their three-year BA course in Acting for Stage and Screen.

Her screen credits include EastEnders (BBC), Call The Midwife (BBC), The Chelsea Detective (Acorn), The Feed(Amazon Prime), BABIES (BBC), as well as stage work such as The Judas Kiss (Toronto and New York), and Blackmail(The Mercury, Colchester).

Alongside her professional acting career, Jessie has spent the past decade teaching and running courses for young people. She held a range of teaching and administrative roles at ArtsEd, and in her final two years was promoted to Head of ArtsEd EXTRA & Outreach. In this role, she oversaw the school’s holiday programmes, ran a thriving Saturday school with over 250 students, and led a part-time foundation course for students aged 18 and over.

Jessie’s time at ArtsEd sparked a lasting commitment to widening access to drama training. She launched the first of ArtsEd’s Regional Auditions and delivered hundreds of free workshops for youth groups and community clubs across the country, helping to make conservatoire training more accessible to all.

FURTHER GUEST TUTORS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

Student Success