My Urban Sketching Workshops are live and in person – giving you the opportunity to interact directly with both myself and your fellow students, and to gain exactly what’s needed to help you along your sketching journey. This workshops overview page introduces the choices I offer.
My typical itinerary and what we aim to discover & learn, is shown below, as well as a short slideshow of my preferred techniques. Every workshop has enjoyed a great response from all my students, please see my 5–Star Google Reviews. You can also check out the action of previous Workshops on Instagram and Facebook. This workshops overview page links to specific pages on each workshop type.
Jump to list of scheduled workshops
Small Group Workshops
Small Group Workshops take place on a regular basis and are normally limited to a maximum of 6 participants to enable optimum coaching for everyone, for the entire session. I aim to make sketching accessible, easy and enjoyable. All abilities welcomed into the mix and basic materials supplied. We’ll cover aspects such as; observation, pencil skills, fast sketch warm ups, pen & ink drawing and perspective and capturing the spirit of the subject. Expect to get fired-up about sketchbooking and enjoy a relaxed and fulfilling experience with like-minded folks.
One-to-One Coaching
One-to-One coaching sessions offer undiluted attention and an itinerary dedicated to each given individual, which will be determined by a conversation and planned to meet those needs. Available either as half-day or full-day sessions, these can be booked at any mutually convenient time and location, simply contact me either before or after buying the session from the shop. All abilities welcomed and basic materials supplied. Expect to enjoy a relaxed and fulfilling experience aimed at achieving your precise needs. Shorter follow up sessions available if desired.
Sketch Walks
Sketch Walks are a more adventurous way of approaching the Group Workshop concept, where we will be more mobile – without a fixed physical base. We’ll still start off at a coffee lounge for a brief introduction of ourselves, materials and techniques – before we set off. We have explored the ancient buildings and alleyways of Poole old town, the quaint Pamphill church, it’s village buildings and tiny pub – and walked from Swanage Pier up over Old Harry and along to the Sandbanks chain ferry – producing swift spontaneous sketches as we go!
View & book scheduled workshops
Click ‘View & Book’ links in table to view full details for that given Workshop and to access booking. Or go directly to the shop where they are all listed for booking. Gift Vouchers also available.
NB: If preferred Workshop is fully booked or not yet ‘live’, please join wait list by using button below table to express your interest. (*Draft dates possibly subject to change).
| DATE | LOCATION | BASE | BOOK | TYPE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Feb | Bournemouth | Botanist | Taken place | Watch Reel |
| 24 Mar | Poole Old Town | Scaplen's Court | Taken place | Watch Reel |
| 21 April | Christchurch | Arcado Lounge | Taken place | Watch Reel |
| 19 May | Westbourne | Forge, Libertine | Fully booked! | Group Workshop |
| 16 June | Pamphill | Saint Stephen's | Fully booked! | Sketch Walk |
| 14 July | Poole Old Town | Scaplen's Court | View & Book | Sketch Walk |
| 25 Aug | Pamphill | Saint Stephen's | View & Book | Sketch Walk |
| 22 Sept | Westbourne | Forge, Libertine | View & Book | Group Workshop |
| 20 Oct | Christchurch | Arcado Lounge | View & Book | Sketch Walk |
| 17 Nov | Wimborne | Piazzo Lounge | View & Book | Sketch Walk |
Specific details for each workshop, regarding what to bring, parking, lunch etc, will be issued around 5 days before the event. Please feel free to ask any specific questions beforehand.
Learn my sketching techniques
I’ll show you my sketching techniques; from pen & ink to watercolour – graphite pencils to pastels. I will also demonstrate ‘loose’ and ‘tight’ styles, to help you find your own way and to embrace this art form.
Typical itinerary:
Typical itinerary includes most, if not all the following:
• Chatting about what you’d each like to achieve from today and establishing abilities.
• Overview of sketchbooks, materials, media, etc.
• Exploring contents of my basic sketching kit – see what you might need.
• An insight to different styles of sketching.
• Find out about the ‘Urban Sketchers’ global movement.
• Benefits & challenges of sketching from life (ie: not a copying a photo)
• Introduction to pen & ink line work, tone & shading, colour & perspective
• Getting started by practicing some techniques
• A few 10 minute observational warm up sketching challenges.
• Sketching around the town – the small details and the bigger picture.
• Brief working lunch break & appraisals
• More sketching either in town or at our base venue, progressing our new skills.
• Continual development coaching throughout the day.
• Final summary, sketches ‘throwdown’ group photos and advice on personal progression.
• Check out the action of previous Workshops on Instagram and Facebook.
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
Terms & conditions:
Please see these on the Policy page. All bookings are accepted on the basis that you have read, agreed and abide by these terms. Thank you.
