Bespoke Art Workshops

A workshop designed around you

Not every group wants the same thing — and that's exactly the point. Whether you're a heritage organisation looking to bring a collection or local story to life through illustration, a conservation body wanting to help people really notice and engage with the natural world, a community group after a creative afternoon, a workplace team that needs to slow down and reconnect, or a small group of friends marking a special occasion — I can design a workshop around your interests, your location, and your brief.

I work with groups of up to 20-25 people anywhere within a 30-mile radius of Berwick-upon-Tweed — and for locations reachable by train on the East Coast Mainline (Edinburgh, Newcastle, Durham, York and beyond), I'm happy to travel further.

Who I work with

Heritage organisations, museums and archives

Art and illustration can be a powerful way to bring history and heritage to life — for visitors, for local communities, and for people who might not usually engage with a collection or a story.

I work with heritage organisations to design creative workshops that use illustration as a way into local history, archive material, or the stories connected to a place. Participants don't need any artistic experience — just curiosity and a willingness to look closely, listen carefully, and make something of their own.

In 2025–26, I ran a series of community illustration workshops as part of a grant-funded project exploring the nineteenth-century stories of John Mackay Wilson. Participants — from families with young children to adult groups and a session specifically for carers — listened to a tale rooted in real local history, then worked through the full illustration process from thumbnail sketch to finished inked artwork.

It's exactly the kind of workshop I'd love to develop with other heritage organisations. If you have a collection, an archive, a building with a story, or a body of local history you'd like to open up to new audiences in a creative way, I'd be glad to talk through what might be possible.

Community groups and art societies

Bring some creativity and fresh air into your programme. I work with community organisations including Women's Institutes, U3A groups, and local art societies to deliver bespoke workshops that suit your members' interests and experience levels.

Whether you'd like to explore a new medium, enjoy some guided sketching in nature, or add something a little different to your events calendar, I'll design a session that fits your group. I'm happy to come to your usual meeting space, or suggest an indoor or outdoor venue in North Northumberland — whichever works best for you.

Workplace wellbeing and team days

Nature sketching is a refreshing way for teams to slow down, think differently, and reconnect. My workplace workshops are well suited to team away days, wellbeing programmes, and corporate events — and no drawing experience is needed at all. Just a willingness to look a little more closely at the world.

Through gentle observation exercises and a relaxed creative atmosphere, participants often find that a couple of hours with a sketchbook does more than any structured icebreaker. People leave feeling calmer, more curious, and — often — rather pleasantly surprised by what they made.

What to expect

Every bespoke workshop is different — but here's how it usually works:

Get in touch — use the form below to send me a message with a few details about your group, what you're looking for, and roughly when you'd like it to happen
We'll have a chat — I'll find out more about your organisation, your group, your ideas, and what would make the session feel right for you
I design your session — I'll put together a plan tailored to your group or audience’s experience level, interests, and setting
You just turn up — I'll take care of the rest. Materials can be provided, and I'll bring handouts and a range of things for people to experiment with

Tell me about what you’re looking for

I'd love to hear from you. Fill in the form below and I'll be in touch within a few days.

Conservation organisations and wildlife trusts

Sometimes the best way to help people understand and care about a habitat or species is to ask them to draw it.

My outdoor sketching workshops can be adapted to focus on the natural features that matter most to your work — whether that's a particular habitat, a species you're monitoring, or a landscape you're helping to restore. The act of really looking — of sitting with a sketchbook and trying to capture what's in front of you — tends to create a connection with place and nature that's hard to achieve any other way.

This might suit a volunteer day, a community engagement event, or a public programme connected to a specific project or season. Sessions are relaxed, accessible and suitable for complete beginners — no drawing experience needed.

If you're looking for something that helps your audience slow down and genuinely notice the natural world you're working to protect, I'd love to hear from you.

Birthdays, anniversaries and hen dos

Looking for something memorable that doesn't involve a wine glass? A bespoke art workshop is a relaxed, joyful way to celebrate — outdoors in a beautiful location, or at a venue of your choice. I'll design a session around your group and your occasion, so you can enjoy a couple of hours of creativity, fresh air, and good company together.

No art experience required. Just turn up, sketchbook in hand, and see what happens. (I can even supply the sketchbooks, if needed!)

Pricing

Bespoke workshops are priced based on your group's needs. As a guide:

A 2-hour session for a community group, birthday or celebration starts from £80, plus £5 per person for materials
Bespoke sessions for heritage and conservation organisations are priced individually
I can deliver anything from a 2-hour taster to a full-day workshop
Travel within a 10-mile radius of Berwick-upon-Tweed is included; travel further afield can be arranged and will be costed separately
Venue hire is not included in my fee, but I'm happy to suggest suitable spaces — indoors or out — if you don't already have somewhere in mind.