Faculty of Education, Arts, Science and Technology
Esmé Spurling is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Film, Television and Digital Media Production at the University of Northampton, bringing over a decade of professional experience across the media and creative industries. As a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), she is recognised for her excellence in teaching, leadership, and student-centred learning within higher education.
Alongside her academic career, Esmé is an active industry practitioner, delivering creative work across photography, film, and digital social media content. Her portfolio spans high-profile clients and commissions, including BBC Radio 1, NHS Coventry & Warwickshire, TEDx Coventry, The Guardian and Hello! Canada. She has worked internationally as accredited press at Berlin Fashion Week since 2017, capturing live events and producing fast-paced digital content within global media environments.
Esmé’s photographic work includes capturing internationally recognised figures such as Harry Styles, Tom Grennan and Becky Hill, reflecting her ability to operate professionally in high-profile, high-pressure settings and deploy imagery with impact. Her practice also extends to regional and community-based media projects across the UK, demonstrating a commitment to socially engaged storytelling and creative collaboration.
Her industry expertise directly informs her teaching across film production, digital media, and image-making, where she integrates real-world workflows, client briefs, and Adobe Creative Suite practices into the curriculum.
With a background spanning photography, social media communications, visual podcasting and digital storytelling, she equips students with the technical, creative, and professional skills required for contemporary media careers.
Esmé’s work bridges industry and education, ensuring students benefit from current practices, professional insight, and meaningful engagement with the evolving creative landscape.
Esmé Spurling’s research, enterprise, and social impact activities reflect a strong commitment to socially engaged media practice and contemporary digital culture. She has presented original research at the European Conference of Social Media (2016; 2024) and MASCNET, Berlin (2018), with a focus on socially engaged communication and postdigital media. Esmé has previously led Erasmus+ bids, EU-funded projects, and international research dissemination, working collaboratively with partners and stakeholders across Europe.
Her developing research profile centres on creative industries, digital storytelling, and the evolving dynamics of online spaces. Key areas of interest include postdigital intimacies, social media influencers, post-feminism, and the “manosphere”, with a critical emphasis on its impact on contemporary gender relations. Through this work, she is committed to producing impactful, internationally recognised research aligned with the University of Northampton’s research priorities.
Alongside her academic research, Esmé’s enterprise activity demonstrates a clear integration of industry and social impact. She has secured external funding of over £10,000, including support from Coventry City Council, and delivered campaigns for organisations such as the NHS and local authorities in Warwickshire. She was also shortlisted for the £28,000 Santander Business Investment competition, evidencing innovation and entrepreneurial leadership within the creative sector.