Cold Weather: Warm Connections

Curious about what we explore in our drawing classes during the autumn and winter sessions?

These indoor sessions are thoughtfully designed to build your skills and confidence in a variety of drawing materials. Each week, I provide specific objects to draw—still life arrangements, textured surfaces, patterned fabrics, and even mannequins for portrait practice—all chosen to illustrate a particular drawing theory, technique, or skill level. The benefit of our small, weekly class setting is twofold: you’ll make genuine social connections with fellow artists, and I'll be able to quickly identify your individual skill level, interests, and needs. This allows me to tailor the instruction and stimuli to ensure you get the most out of every class.

Our main goal for these indoor months is to equip you with a strong foundation of skills and confidence, preparing you to draw outdoors with ease and enjoyment when spring and summer arrive.

As I write this, I’m sitting under a daylight lamp—a small way to bring a little extra light into the day.

Like many of you, I have always sought ways to navigate the winter blues. My memories of Canadian winters are filled with cross-country skiing and planning multi-day canoe trips, eagerly awaiting the moment the lakes would unfreeze.

Here in the UK, it’s about embracing the elements, whether it’s walking my dog through the rain, mud, and wind, or finding solace in group activities like my Woven Chords choir and the brilliant Mindspace community in Stamford.

These regular, repeating social connections are absolutely essential for well-being. They stop the quiet, low mood from spiralling into something bigger.And that, fundamentally, is the heart of my creative art classes.