Yardley Arts

Have you always wanted to draw but don’t know where to start, or want a refresher course? Then join tutor Emma Lindsay on this relaxed beginners course and you’ll be drawing before you know it!

Over six weeks Emma will show you the key techniques to help you build your powers of observation and give you confidence in your mark making and drawing.

Each week we will look at a different technique or theme such as line and texture, negative space, light and shade, experimenting with different materials, mark making using found materials and more.

e will use a range of subject matter including still life and photographs and use a broad range of drawing materials including charcoal, pencils, pens, inks, pastels, crayons and more. You will be able to express your creativity and experiment with different mediums and develop your drawing techniques in a fun and supportive way.

Who is the course aimed at?
The course is designed for those who want to learn how to draw and learn about different types of mark making, or who haven’t drawn in many years and wish to rekindle their creative ability. If you’re feeling nervous or self-conscious then this is the ideal course for you! Those wanting tuition to continue to develop their drawing skills are also welcome.

Come and enjoy our beautiful art centre, with stunning natural daylight, and plenty of room to spread out and a welcoming atmosphere.

"I love Emma's style of teaching and I am thrilled at how much I have achieved in these workshops" - Richard

What's included:
All required drawing materials and equipment
Tea, coffee and biscuits

What to bring:
You may want to bring your own sketchbook (A4 or larger is ideal) and anything you specifically like to draw with.

Dates and times
Tuesdays, 10am – 12pm
6, 13, 20 & 27 January
3 & 10 February

Cost
£130 per person.
Suitable for ages 16+.
Spaces limited to 10 in total so book early to avoid disappointment!

How to book
You can secure your place(s), by contacting Emma via email artworkshopswithemma@gmail.com or telephone 07570 772334.

About the tutor
After completing a Fine Art and Art History degree at Newcastle University, Emma Lindsay has worked in heritage organisations and in education, whilst maintaining a love for painting, drawing and printmaking. Emma’s work has been published in various books and guides, and she has exhibited in Covent Garden in London and Hatton Gallery in Newcastle. Emma is now concentrating on running art classes for both adults and children. You can see examples of her classes on Facebook and Instagram.

Unlock the beauty of watercolour painting with award-winning artist Samantha Brockway. In this six-week course, Sam shares her passion for the medium, guiding you through simple yet effective techniques to help you paint with confidence. Whether you’re completely new to watercolours or have joined one of Sam’s previous courses, you’ll have the freedom to choose your own subject matter as your skills progress.

Throughout the course, you’ll explore a variety of paint effects and methods to build texture, manage mistakes, and select the right brushes for different outcomes. You’ll also gain an understanding of composition and colour theory, helping you plan and develop your own expressive paintings.

You’ll study master artists such as JS Sargent and Georgia O’Keefe for their vibrant use of colour. We'll also look to Hockney and Vincent van Gogh, examining their mark-making and watercolour sketching techniques for inspiration.

This course will also cover the basics such as:
· paper stretching
· creating washes
· colour mixing
· maintaining vibrancy with your colours
· development of brush techniques and effects.

By the end of this course, you will have completed a minimum of 2 pieces of work. The first will be following a step-by-step process, thereafter working from a selection of images provided (multiple subject matter) or you can bring your own in to work from.

Who is the course aimed at?
From beginners to those who already have experience with watercolours, this course offers something for everyone. Join us to enjoy the subtle and mysterious world of watercolours.

“Sam takes you through the stages to make your own beautiful paintings. Lovely teacher and fun class to do for all levels.” KATY BURDETT

What to bring
Please bring with you a basic set of starter / beginner’s watercolour brushes.
Recommended websites: (just search for watercolour brushes)
Cass Art have good value starter and Winsor and Newton sets.
Hobbycraft have a basic pack with flat and round brushes (Gold flat and round Taklon Brush 6 pack) and Shore and Marsh have a 15-pack set and case - either are fine for beginners.

What’s included
All required paper, paints and other materials and equipment.
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be supplied free of charge

Dates and times
Wednesdays 10:00am - 12:30pm
7, 14, 21 & 28 January and 4 & 11 February

Cost
£149 per person.
Suitable for ages 18+.
Spaces limited to 12 in total so book early to avoid disappointment!

Booking
Booking is made direct through Yardley Arts. You can email bookings@yardleyarts.org or book online via our website here.

About the tutor
Samantha is a professional illustrator who works in many mediums but has loved working in watercolour since she saved up as child for her first boxed set of paint. She has always loved the translucent nature of watercolour and the texture of the pigments in the water.

Graduating from Bristol with a BA Hons in Graphics and Illustration, Samantha was shortlisted for the Macmillan Children’s Book Illustration Competition. She went on to illustrate several books and exhibited her work in London, Bristol, Kings Lynn, St Ives and Cambridge before becoming an in-house illustrator for the Greetings Cards industry where she worked for 15 years.

Samantha is now working as a freelance artist and illustrator and runs regular workshops in Northamptonshire. She believes everyone can paint and with the right skills become more confident in the process. A prize winner at Northants Open Studios 2023, 2024 and 2025 Exhibitions and first prize at KDAS 119th Exhibition 2024.

To see examples of her work and more information, please visit her website or find her on Instagram

Join our six evening classes, starting Thursday 15 January 2026, to learn the craft of stained glass! Practice new skills, design and create your own panel and have fun in a relaxed and easy-going environment.

Gain a firm foundation in stained glass making during six practical evenings all about stained glass. No prior experience necessary. Get to grips with the skills during sessions 1 and 2, then apply them to make your own custom-designed stained glass panel in sessions 3 to 6.

What to expect
· Expert guidance from a qualified teacher and stained glass artist.
· Learn the art of working with stained glass in a relaxed and friendly environment.
· A beginner-friendly exploration of stained glass techniques.
· Completion of your own unique stained glass project.
· This course is perfect for beginners and those with some prior experience in stained glass. Unleash your creativity with the luxury of time to make your stained glass project perfect. A great opportunity to learn a new skill and meet fellow art enthusiasts.
· Please note that due to the use of lead, we cannot offer this course to pregnant women or nursing mothers.

“Will is such an effective and supportive tutor, with endless patience and fantastic delivery method. I will definitely be back for more.” -ANDREA

What can I make on the course?
Within reason, whatever you like! You will be taught the relevant skills to realise your vision. Some attendees come with a project in mind, others come just to learn the skills and begin a new hobby. Your instructor will advise on design techniques and each attendee will benefit from an individual design consultation as part of the course cost.

Your instructor will work with you and make every effort to ensure you complete your project within the time available. Please bear in mind however that completion of main projects is not guaranteed, and will depend on the complexity of the design you choose and your individual working speed.

Please note that this is a fun, low-stakes educational course aimed at hobbyists. It is not a vocational course. Unfortunately we cannot offer this course to pregnant women or nursing mothers.

What you need to bring
Please ensure you wear clothing suitable for crafting & sensible footwear (no open toed shoes)
· Bring a bag on weeks 1, 2 and 6 to take your completed work home in
· Don’t forget to bring your glasses if you use them for close work!

What is included
All stained glass tools, equipment & materials are included in the course cost - no extra costs or hidden fees.

Dates and Agenda
Thursday evenings 6:30 – 9:30pm
· Session 1: Thursday 15 January – Meet and Greet, Intro to Leaded Glass
· Session 2: Thursday 22 January – Intro to Copper Foil Glass
· Session 3: Thursday 29 January – Main Project Design and Commencement
· Session 4: Thursday 5 February – Main Project Work Continued
· Session 5: Thursday 12 February – Main Project Work Continued
· Session 6: Thursday 19 February – Main Project Completion, Finishing Touches and Showcasing.

Cost
£245 per person
Suitable for beginners aged 16+
Places limited to 10, so book early to avoid disappointment

Booking
Please click here to book online or contact Will via email: creativecraftswb@gmail.com

“What a great 6 weeks! Will has the balance of teaching technique and skill whilst allowing time to play and create. If all goes pear shaped he’s there to advise and or rescue!” — JANEY

About the tutor
Will Burrows – Stained Glass Artist
With fifteen years of experience as a dedicated primary and secondary teacher in Cambridge, Will brings his passion for education and creativity into the realm of stained glass artistry. Will's journey from the classroom to the studio has been driven by his deep-rooted love for nurturing both young minds and artistic talents.

As a part-time artist throughout his teaching career, Will cultivated his skills and discovered a profound connection with the colours and beauty of stained glass. Now, he has taken the leap to fully embrace his artistic calling and teaches courses full time.

Will is dedicated to sharing the art of stained glass through courses and workshops. His background in education, combined with his artistic skills ensures that every course attendee is well looked after. Will's caring and patient approach, honed from years of teaching, creates a learning space where creativity flourishes and individuals of all skill levels can explore the beauty of stained glass in a supportive environment.

Join Will on this artistic journey and let your creativity shine under his guidance. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist you'll find a supportive mentor and a passionate advocate for your artistic endeavours.
You can view more of Will’s work on Facebook and Instagram

“Excellent workshop, Will is excellent at explaining the techniques required and we had plenty of practice. A really good selection of materials was available and the end result was fab, I couldn’t believe that I actually made it! I’ll definitely be doing another workshop.”— JANET

Watercolour is a wonderful medium to paint and create this colourful and characterful bird.

Nicky shows you the stages of creating this artwork in informative demonstrations so you can create your own unique painting of this captivating creature.

Whilst enjoying creating the painting you will learn good watercolour practice and tried and tested methods and techniques to improve your painting skills and loosen up your style to lift your work with an expressive feel.

Specific skills you will learn:
· Use wet into wet and wet in dry watercolour methods to create evocative painting in loose expressive watercolour style.
· Understand how to interpret and simplify photos and add a sprinkling of imagination to create effective compositions and paintings that sing from the page.
· How to mix a range of greens and use a limited colour palette to keep colours clean and radiant and use a minimal amount of layering and brushwork to keep paintings fresh.

“Nicky’s workshop was most helpful in giving me feedback on my materials. I found the step by step approach enabled me to learn new skills and produce a painting of which I was proud. Would recommend definitely.” — SIMON PAGE

Nicky will demo the stages of a painting and watercolour techniques which you will then use to create your own painting in a vibrant and loose watercolour style, she will give one to one guidance and support to help your painting skills progress and loosen up your style to achieve lively lucid paintings.

You can transfer the tips, tricks and knowledge Nicky offers to many subject matters in watercolour.

Who is this workshop for?
18+ years
Mixed level - although some experience even if just a little is helpful as the tutor covers lots of technique but does not cover very basic knowledge during a general workshop so it would not be appropriate for an absolute beginner with no drawing or painting experience.
Contact Nicky direct via the contact details below to discuss if the level is suitable for beginner options.

“Nicky is an inspirational watercolour tutor. She guides us through each step she uses to produce one of her beautiful watercolours, so her classes are suitable for all levels. I’ve always felt very comfortable and relaxed in her classes.” — MARGARET

What you need to bring
· Old clothes or an apron
· Pencil & rubber
· Watercolour paint – tube paints are preferable (any brand but try to avoid academy or student quality). Colours Nicky uses regularly are as follows: Burnt Umber, Ultramarine Blue, Lemon Yellow, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Permanent Rose, Cerulean Blue, Windsor Red (or similar primary red)
· Watercolour brushes – various sizes, a small and medium pointed round synthetic brush and medium and large mop brush are preferred.
· Palette, kitchen roll and small spray bottle (if you have one)
· One sheet of watercolour paper (rough or not texture, ¼ imperial or A3 size)
· Spare pieces of watercolour paper to test colours and do experiments

What is included
· Boards and water pots are available at Yardley Arts but please bring your own watercolour kit (see above)
· Inspiration and reference material such as photos

Cost
£49 per person

Date and time
Monday 19 January, 1-5pm

Booking
Booking is direct with Nicky Hunter, artist & tutor.
Advance booking by email to nickyred@gmail.com required and advance payment by cheque or bacs transfer required to confirm booking (booking is non-transferable or refundable once payment is made)
Spaces are limited to a maximum of 13 people

Contact the tutor
If you have any questions at all about the course, please get in touch with Nicky via email on nickyred@gmail.com or call 07899 942 944.

About the tutor
Nicky Hunter is a professional water colour artist and tutor specialising in painting florals but inspired by many other colourful and light filled subjects too. Nicky teaches regular watercolour workshops in Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire with a loyal following of students who love to learn how to paint florals, birds, animals, landscapes and other subjects. Nicky is hosted as a guest artist at prestigious art schools and art societies around the country, teaching a loose and lively watercolour style. She enjoys helping others to free up their watercolour artworks. Her teaching style is enthusiastic and generous, you are sure to enjoy and develop your techniques working with her, whether you wish to build on some basic experience and refine your painting skills, or liberate them and become freer and more expressive with your watercolour painting.

Nicky’s love for painting in watercolour and her illustration skills have developed over 20 years, designing printed patterns for textiles for the UK and international fashion and interiors market, before she returned to her fine art roots in more recent years.

For more information about Nicky Hunter, check out her Facebook page or her website