What to expect
A personalised approach. I start each course understanding your creative drive and what you want to explore, improve and achieve. This makes our group exercises personal to each student.
A creative environment. Creativity needs calm. We work in a relaxed atmosphere in a well-lit and spacious studio to give every student the confidence and space to explore, experiment and push their creative boundaries.
Guided development. In art education, showing beats telling. You will learn through doing, not just listening. Throughout the class I demonstrate specific techniques and we hold regular individual and group reviews during our time together to guide and direct your development.
Learning the craft of art. You will learn the essential planning principles and techniques to take control of your work as a deliberate, thoughtful artist. I run plenty of hands-on exercises throughout the course to help you explore your creative options early on in your work and understand how clear-eyed decisions on materials, composition, scale and tone will help you deliver your vision.
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My background. I have spent 20 years running my own classes in East Sussex and as a Senior Short Course Tutor delivering drawing and painting courses at West Dean College in West Sussex.
Before that, I plied my creative trade as a designer and art director in the murky world of advertising. Those were the pre-computer graphics days of pencils, magic markers, layout pads and hand-drawn visuals. I loved it! Just not as much as creating my own art. But being responsible for directing the talents of illustrators, animators, photographers and film makers taught me valuable lessons in direct, clear communication. I bring those instincts to both my own art and my teaching.​​​​​​
Student Comments
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'Clear guidance and strategies to try out'.
'How do I choose? The clear concise teaching, the calm creative environment, I could go on'.
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'Really enjoyed it, learned lots and being able to draw intensively for the best part of two days was a treat'.
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'Learning how to structure and plan the drawing which meant being confident to try something challenging'.
'A lot of one-to-one time as well as group and we were encouraged to find our own style'.
'We did some really interesting exercises and he was very attentive and interested and involved in our work'.
'His personal attention to all students ensured that we all progressed, regardless of our ability. I enjoyed it enormously, and will be on the lookout for more of his courses'.
'Learning some of the basic skills to enable me to start drawing in a supportive and friendly group. Very patient and attentive tutor'.
'First class tuition and plenty of variety'.
'Immersive concentration doing something I've never done before with an excellent teacher and other like-minded individuals'.