Join us for the grand finale of SKETCHFEST - a masterclass with acclaimed Artist Curtis Holder!

Winner of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2020, Curtis draws in the most mesmerizing, magical of ways. He is a compelling and compulsive Artist, and speaks so eloquently about drawing and art.

He says:

“I prefer to start every drawing with a conversation, an opportunity to glimpse into the mind of the subject, make a connection and shape an idea. My goal is always to translate their emotions and the mood of our encounter onto paper, along with my own feelings and observations. The marks I make respond to the moment. Sometimes a simple continuous line says everything, other times I build tone and depth with complex layers of colour, injecting spontaneous lines to emphasise form or emotional intent. Life is never still, so I use multiple marks to create movement and energy or to correct what the eye has misjudged. I rarely erase lines; they are all part of the story. “

In this afternoon masterclass, Curtis will give us a unique insight into his creative ethos and approach. You’ll watch him create a portrait, before doing some fun fluid drawings of your own, of each other!

Whilst this is a ‘masterclass’ it is open to ALL LEVELS and complete beginners. Like us, Curtis meets a lot of people who think they “can’t draw” - and like us he is passionate about empowering people to feel they can!

His energy and enthusiasm is electrifying - come get inspired!

Tickets £10 (or get a day pass for £14 and join our AM workshop too!)

Find out more about Curtis on his website

This workshop is part of SKETCHFEST: a 2-week celebration of community and creativity, funded by Arts Council England.

Sketchy Bitches, we’re going BIG!

Drawing miniature (A7) portraits is a Sketchy Bitches tradition - but this special event calls for special measures! SKETCHFEST is our biggest event to date, and so as it draws to a close it seems apt that we GO BIG and attempt to draw portraits on A3 paper!

We’ll start small (literally) and work our way up, using mainly coloured pencils and crayons. We’ll work on some self-portraits and then in small groups, so everyone has a chance to pose - and also time to finish at least 3 x MAHOOSIVE portraits!

On your marks, get set… LET’S GO FOR IT!!

Suitable for all levels - all materials provided
Tickets £8 (or get a day pass for £14 if you’d like to stay for our masterclass with Curtis Holder in the afternoon)

This workshop is part of SKETCHFEST: a 2-week celebration of community and creativity, funded by Arts Council England.

For one day only Sketchy Bitches = Scissor Sisters!

Over the past 2 years of Sketchy Bitchin’ on Zoom, regular Sophie Whitehead has wowed us all with her collage portraits (see examples above!). This workshop will give you a chance to find out how she does it, and give it a go for yourself!

After a quick demo and discussion from Sophie, expect to play, cut and stick your way through an afternoon of paper-based portraiture! You’ll work on a self-portrait and then in small groups.

All materials provided but please bring any scraps of paper card, or other found materials (e.g. buttons, fabrics) you think might come in handy!

All tickets £8 (or £14 if you want to join Sue Kreitzman’s Sunday Sketchup in the morning - make a day of it!)

This workshop is part of SKETCHFEST: a 2-week celebration of community and creativity, funded by Arts Council England.

Join us for an uplifting Sunday Sketchup with Colour Queen Sue Kreitzman!

An ardent creator, collector and curator, Sue will be bringing a selection of her sketches and a collection of curiosities for us to draw - so expect to do a bit of still life with a technicolour twist! We’ll also be inventing and drawing a new breed of Sketch Goddesses and Spice Girls - inspired by Sue’s characterful drawings and culinary past. If all goes well we might be able to make a Rainbow Recipe Book out of this…

All materials provided
Tickets £10 (or £14 if you want to stay for Scissor Sisters in the afternoon, and make a day of it!)

About Sue Kreitzman

If you’re part of the Sketch Appeal or Colour Walk community then Sue Kreitzman needs no introduction - she is our Colour Queen and Sketch Goddess of the highest order!

If you’re new here then you need to come and meet Sue at this event! She is an Artist, Curator and Artvocate of a life full of colour and art. A passionate supporter of independent makers and artists, Sue has been a champion of Sketch Appeal from the moment we met. Sue doesn’t just believe in the uplifting power of creativity and colour and art - she lives and breathes it! Find her most Thursdays at Old Spitalfields Market, browsing the flea market and spreading joy to everyone who encounters her.

Sue is an incredible storyteller and magnificent muse - don’t miss this chance to come and hang out with her at this fun and intimate Sunday Sketchup!

Follow Sue’s artventures on Instagram

Check out the pics from our first and last events with Sue!

This workshop is part of SKETCHFEST: a 2-week celebration of community and creativity, funded by Arts Council England.

Join us for a fun and experimental fashion illustration masterclass with Helen Bullock!

One of our favourite Fashion Illustrators out there, we are thrilled to have Helen joining us at SKETCHFEST! After giving you an insight into her work and process, Helen will lead you through an experimental and empowering session - drawing fun and dynamic poses by special guest muse Florent Bidois. Expect movement and speed!

No experience required - all levels and ages 12+ welcome
All materials provided
Tickets £10

About Helen

London based Fashion Illustrator and Print Designer, Helen Bullock has worked with multiple luxury fashion brands including Bottega Veneta, Celine, Oscar de la Renta and Selfridges, as well as global publications including Sunday Times Style, GQ Style, AnOther & Vogue.  Renowned for her bold prints and strong colour, her illustrations are created by hand, maintaining an air of freedom and spontaneity, reflecting Helen’s unique character and exuberant love for life. 

After a stint in New York, Helen has settled in East London. Despite having no formal art education she gained a place at Central St Martins, and completed her Fashion Print (BA/MA). She now works globally applying her unique aesthetic to the pages of magazines, fabrics of fashion designers and shop windows of our favourite stores.

Visit helenbullock.com to see and learn more about Helen’s fab work!

Meet your supermuse!

Our fabulous friend Florent Bidois will be special guest muse at this event!

This workshop is part of SKETCHFEST: a 2-week celebration of community and creativity, funded by Arts Council England.

Join us for a playful and crafty workshop creating fun fashion art with Illustrator and Educator Elyse Blackshaw!

We’ll be using sCRAP materials to co-create large-scale, mixed-media illustrations that will fill the walls of our workshop space and be left on display for the duration of our pop-up. We’ll also be making 3D fashion fairies and remixing old sketches.

All materials provided but feel free to bring any scrap sketches, fabric, card, paper etc. along - we will use them in other workshops throughout the weeks!

Suitable for ages 12+
All tickets £8

About Elyse

Elyse Blackshaw is a London-based illustrator and a graduate from the Royal College of Art. She has worked for clients such as Samsung, Fashion Scout and Graduate Fashion Foundation. She works as a visual communicator and, most recently, installation as a result of winning the Westfield Future Fashion award. After illustrating London Fashion Week for nearly 10 years, Elyse now aims to utilise illustration techniques into a multi-disciplinary practice through three main roles:

ILLUSTRATOR of fashion, figures and patterns for gallery and commercial contexts.

EDUCATOR of fashion illustration through workshops promoting consideration for the environment and wellbeing.

ACTIVATOR of change in retail and gallery spaces to support environmental improvement within communities.

Visit www.elyseblackshaw.com for more information.

This workshop is part of SKETCHFEST: a 2-week celebration of community and creativity, funded by Arts Council England.