NEXT WORKSHOP: Tuesday 13th January 2026
Join Dorset artist, Shaun Forward on his popular Urban Sketching workshop. We will have a base venue within a private area of a craft centre, coffee lounge, hotel or pub – as detailed in the specific event details for each workshop. Email me to get on waiting list if no date published here
Limited to a maximum of 5 places, members of this friendly, small group will build upon their sketching abilities. The workshop will be suitable for relative beginners through to experienced sketching improvers. Everyone will be tutored at their own level and integrated into the group. We will establish which of the various media, materials and methods this particular groups is familiar with (if any) and which ones we’d like to improve today. I will give an introduction to various sketchbook types and share some of the styles of today’s best Urban Sketchers. We will also venture out into the town to try out these materials, techniques and skills. Returning to base for appraisals and refreshments. Participants will also gain an awareness of the exciting global movement of Urban Sketchers.
Timeframe: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Workshop fee: £75pp Includes basic materials and constant coaching.
Images from a previous Workshops
The workshop format
During our six-hour workshop we will gather initially in a hired function room above a town bar where coffee, cakes, lunch snacks and drinks may be purchased and consumed in our workspace.
The first hour will be dedicated to grasping the objectives of outdoor sketchbooking, handling and experimenting with various materials and sketchbooks – and examining the wide range of sketching styles. I’ll gauge everyone’s ability levels and tailor the workshop to suit both the group as a whole and specifically for each individual – I want participants to feel comfortable wand at ease…
Stage two will take see ourselves going out into the town to sketch outdoors. Although we might all choose slightly differing locations or viewpoints, I will circulate constantly, to guide and tutor as required. I’d expect us to spend one-to-two hours on this, depending upon the group, weather etc.
Stage three will see us return to our indoor workspace for lunch and having a ‘throwdown’ – where we all lay our sketches together on a table and compare how we all got on. We’ll have a friendly and constructive critique to help us learn from each other, whilst we enjoy a brief social lunch.
Final stage will be a second outdoor sketching session. The aim will be to build upon the achievements of our morning sketching session and implement our improved skills or different approaches, (perhaps something you’ve liked from a fellow sketcher). This will cover between one-to-two hours and culminate in a second ‘throwdown’ back at our indoor base and critique.
Round up and FAQs will form the final 20 minutes, where I aim to field questions that have arisen through our days’ session, and hopefully offer helpful advice to guide you onwards with your sketching journey. This might result in your wishing to take a progressive workshop with me in the future or simply in the recommendation of various art stores and suitable sketching equipment to suit your particular needs.
We bid each other ‘adieu‘ in the knowledge that we have made some new friends and started out on a new and rewarding artistic journey…
Discover and learn…
DISCOVER:
• Various styles of sketching…
• Progressing to perfect your preferred style
• Explore numerous techniques
• A range of different media and mediums
• Create characterful mark-making
• Experiment with papers and surfaces
• Confidence to sketch in open spaces
• Urban, coastal and rural sketching
• Sketchbook Journaling/Diary
• Your local Urban Sketching Chapter
LEARN:
• Observational skills
• Linework and mark-making
• Spotting key details to include/exclude
• Perspective
• Scale
• Composition
• Tonal values
• Rendering tones and textures
• Loose and tight styles
• Representative and impressionist styles
Complete details will be issued upon enquiry, and specific questions will be answered upon request – but please see foot of page for an outline of more general information, which answers a number of frequently asked questions.
General outline information
All-abilities welcome. Tutoring matched to each personal level within the group. A positive and friendly attitude is encouraged. Own transport needed to join given location(s). Always sketching outdoors from life, unless very wet, when an indoor public venue will be switched to. Bring own equipment, but occasionally some materials supplied or available to try for experiment with. Basic typical equipment; cartridge or watercolour paper/pad, pencil, eraser, fineliner pen(s) or fountain/ dip pen & ink, watercolours or coloured pencils/pastels, or charcoal. Lightweight carryable seat.
NB: Choice advice on all materials will be given upon booking, as well as in the workshop.
Cancellation: To avoid 50% non-returnable cancellation fee, notice is required at least five days prior to the event day.
A wide choice of refreshments, drinks, cakes, snacks, soft and alcoholic beverages will be available to purchase at our base venue.
There is no on-site parking at the venue – but plenty of car parks in easy walking distance. Venue is also mere minutes away from main bus stops.
All participants are responsible for their own belongings, safety and wellbeing.
