Workshops are a great way to try your hand at something new like painting a portrait from life or sketching in the open air. They are usually three to six hours long and focus in on a specific medium (like pastels or watercolours), or particular subject (like drawing or painting animals, people, landscapes or buildings). If you would like to dip your toe into something new, please fill in the form on the Contact Kate page and suggest your area of interest. Enjoy the great British summer weather in beautiful settings where the challenge might be to paint a bed of flowers or draw a historic building in perspective whilst dodging the showers! The price includes entrance fees if applicable and times vary - days are planned at Sullington Manor Farm Café and the Weald & Downland Museum for 2024. If you already go to an art group and would like some additional tuition, Kate can be booked for a day to come along and teach or demonstrate whatever subject your group would like. She is also gives talks on life as an artist and her process of taking on commissions or if you have a birthday or a hen party coming up and would like to challenge your friends and family to something different… why not get Kate to organise a few models for a life drawing art event?!!
Materials List
Kate will advise you of what you may need to bring when workshops are advertised. You may need to pack sunscreen and sunglasses with your portable easel for the outdoor events (ever the optimist!) ...
Workshops & Events
Life Drawing Sessions
On Thursdays 21st March & 4th April at Storrington Village Hall, 10am-1pm. This is a great opportunity to further practise your observational skills with lots of ideas on how to draw the human form in short and longer poses. Cost: £56 per 3 hour session includes refreshments and model fees. Please bring a standing easel and any drawing or painting equipment you would like to use and contact Kate if you are interested.
Landscape Painting Days ‘En Plein Air’
In previous years we spent some fine days painting in the beautiful gardens of Sussex - Borde Hill Garden, Parham and Ramster Hall. This summer they will be on three consecutive Tuesdays 13th/20th/27th August. Teaching from a beautiful 16th century barn space nestled in the heart of the South Downs at Sullington Manor Farm Cafe, Sullington Lane, Storrington, West Sussex, RH20 4AE, the workshops will run from 10am-4pm. They can be booked separately or together and cost £165 per day including a delicious homemade lunch of soup with soda bread, salad plate and cake plus tea & coffee. These sessions cover key aspects of how to paint successful landscapes using any medium. For more information, click the title above.
‘Art Essentials’ Weekend Courses
These are designed for those wanting a crash course, to improve their creative skills and really get stuck into a medium over a weekend. They can be booked as a full course or as separate days. Planned for 16/17 March - Drawing, 20/21 April - Acrylics, 20/21 July - Oils and 12/13 October - Pastels at Sullington Manor Farm Cafe, Sullington Lane, Storrington, West Sussex, RH20 4AE. For more information, click the title above and contact Kate.
‘Still Life & Sound Bath’ event at Sullington Manor Farm Cafe, Sullington Lane, Storrington, West Sussex, RH20 4AE. Please contact Kate if you fancy coming along to one of these days.
Weald & Downland Workshop Days
Following some very enjoyable days at the Weald & Downland Museum, Singleton, PO18 0EU over last 8 years, more days are being planned for 2024:
Sketching day – Wednesday 17 April
How to draw buildings in pen and ink – Wednesday 15 May
Watercolour day – Wednesday 26 June
Sketching animals – Wednesday 10 July
Charcoal drawing – Wednesday 18 Sept
The workshops run from 10-4pm, cost £75, includes morning coffee and afternoon tea & cake (not lunch) and we have an indoor space if the weather turns. Book with them direct and for more details: www.wealddown.co.uk.
“Many, many thanks for a most enjoyable (at tyhe Weald & Downland Museum). Despite unsettled weather I certainly felt I made the most of the time and feel much more confident now about tackling landscapes and buildings. You are very good at providing just sufficient information, in a calm and lightweight way, to enable your students to embark on a project with some confidence. I look forward to seeing you again at a later date.”
“Enjoyed having a different model every session and several short poses - really makes you look. Expected professional models with a variety of poses - perfect!”
“As always, over too quickly - very enjoyable and absorbing.”
“Excellent. The tutor assessed our needs and expectations and taught in a clear and informative manner. Certainly met my expectations, I enjoyed ALL aspects of the day!”
“Met my expectations very well - learned a lot in a day and the course offered the opportunity to explore a variety of areas.”
“Just to say how much I enjoyed the day at Singleton. After being shown how to measure in the past and never really getting the hang of it, with your explanation it clicked!”
“Exceeded expectations !”
“Most helpful were the demonstrations and one-to-one help from the tutor. I enjoyed it despite the weather!”
“Thank you so much for the recent course. Your way of teaching is very clever, all encompassing but never overbearing and forcing one to follow the rules. Great fun, enjoyable, meeting new people and creating something special. May you continue to be able to teach all newcomers!”
“Such an enjoyable day and a new experience.”
“The Life Class was a unique experience. As always, Kate was informative and encouraging, creating a gentle, non-threatening atmosphere. I extended my knowledge and application of proportion, light and shade, use of negative space and, most importantly, observation. I also gained further experience in working with charcoal and chalk, setting out on A2 paper and working to time. It was a privilege to draw from life and it is difficult to put the experience into words; I warmly encourage other students to find out for themselves. Thank you, Kate.”
“What a lovely day we had with you! And I think two of the group are joining your portrait class later in the month.”
Student Galleries & Comments
Click on image or title to see a variety of work from each session
“Thank you so much for an engaging and satisfying workshop yesterday. Everyone enjoyed it and the results showed their inspiration to tackle this medium. What an amazing display you encouraged us to produce in a day. They look quite convincing on your website. I am sure you may have converted some people to embark on pastel painting in the future. The instruction and teaching was just right, not too much information. Your talent and love of your work came through while you were demonstrating. You made it look simple and do-able in a relaxed manner and no matter what mess we were making, there was a way round it.”
“Many thanks for a delightful painting day on Wednesday, I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects - the company, ambience, glorious weather and opportunity to do some painting with guidance. I shall try to finish my little effort at some point soon. I thought the first hour of introduction, tuition and demonstration worked very well - just enough information to see us through the next stages. I did appreciate your encouragement and your professionalism in all ways.”
“It was a really useful afternoon in terms of techniques and confidence. Working spontaneously, in a new medium (charcoal) and with a live model - all new to me - I was out of my comfort zone but, within the supportive and encouraging atmosphere which Kate always creates, it was a great learning experience. More please!”
“Hi Kate, just to thank you for classes yesterday, loved every minute! I would never have believed that I could have swept charcoal on paper - going with the flow - without worrying too much about the outcome, a fascinating experience!”
“Thank you for everything, you are a delightful person and a good teacher.”
“Friendly atmosphere, I really felt like I learned a lot. See you at the next one.”
“I was hoping to learn a ‘step-by-step’ process for future portraits and to complete a portrait of my son - all of which achieved, thank you! It has been a very enjoyable, worthwhile course - looking forward to the next one you do.”
“I recommend all artists to do this [mount-cutting] workshop. You will definitely be able to ‘do-it-yourself’, use standard sized frames and save a fortune. The day will pay for itself many times over!! It’s very exciting and I can’t wait to get cracking at home and find things to frame.”
“A most informative and productive 6 hours!!”
Art Class Gift Voucher
Treat someone you love. Available in any amount as whole or part payment towards any chosen course, class or workshop.
