When drawing is a routine, creativity unfolds naturally, which opens up a multitude of possibilities to develop the artist’s drawing style. Keeping a sketchbook is essential for the creative process when becoming an illustrator. In this insightful workshop, you will learn the how to make the most of your sketchbooks, from collecting loose visual references to creating detailed illustrations. Follow the steps to trust your intuitive drawing by freeing your hand, learning new creative methods, and developing your creativity. With the practice of drawing from observation or from imagination, you will explore how to make the most of your sketchbooks and learn to turn your ideas into an engaging visual storytelling. Bring your sketchbook or any drawings that you would like to use in the session along with your favourite media. A perfect workshop for any level of drawing skills.

There is a lot more to our bodies that can translate our emotions and thoughts than our faces. By focussing on the human figure and the many ways it can express feelings we are able to develop the foundations of drawing movements. In this stimulating workshop you will learn how to use body language and gestures to communicate feelings and emotions, designing more expressive and appealing characters. You will practice your intuitive drawing, from observation and imagination, to shape action in weight, and speed. By using gesture drawing as a quick way to capture the overall message of a figure, you will explore how to express movement through quick sketches with deliberate lines and sequential drawing. A perfect workshop for any level of drawing skills.

There is a big difference between a drawing and an illustration. Whatever your sketchbooks are filled with can be used to create an engaging sense of storytelling. From observational drawings to drawing from imagination, you will explore how to make the most of your sketches by turning them into powerful illustrations. In this workshop you will learn about perspective, composition, atmosphere, and character development, in order to create visual stories with humour and true feelings.

Pick your favourite colour or simply choose one you would like to explore and let’s work! In this workshop, you'll be shown the various different ways of working with the same single colour in a drawing - whether it’s finding existing things that match it or making things work within it. With fun exercises and brainstorms you will be working with shades, textures, and inventive ways of making the most of the same colour in illustration. Learn about colour composition and analyse the different associations we make about colours. By exploring what colours can transmit you will learn how to create focus, balance in composition, and generate atmosphere on your illustrations.

'Peter Rabbit', 'Paddington Bear', 'Cat in the Hat', 'The Tiger Who Came To Tea', all beloved animal characters we grew up with. Whether it’s hopping away from a predator or it's on its hind legs wearing a suit, animal characters are probably the most appealing to children because they are visually attractive and easily relatable. But when are they suitable for a story, and how to make their scale and proportions work? In this workshop, you will analyse the different layers of anthropomorphism existing in characters we all know and learn how to apply them to the ones you create. Learn about anatomy, proportion, and personification with the most fun references from picturebooks and animated movies.

What does your character want? What do they look like? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Learn about how to create relatable characters regarding children's age and interests.

With fun and creative exercises, this is the perfect workshop for aspiring children's authors and illustrators.

What makes a story work? This is a great workshop for not only children's writers but creative writers regardless of the age they write for. If you can make your story simple you can make it complex, what changes is how deeply one develops their characters and their journey. Learn about structure and how to build drama and atmosphere to create a great story. A perfect workshop for aspiring children's authors and those who want to develop their skills when creating narrative for children.

We all drew as children, but early in life we were separated into two groups: the ones who ‘can' draw' and the ones who ‘can’t'. However, there is no such thing! Art is more subjective than objective, and once we strip out that 'right or wrong' concept we can all start enjoying drawing and developing our skills. And that’s what we'll do in this workshop, so don’t be ashamed of your stick figures! Whatever you can, or think you can’t draw, you are welcome to explore. Drawing is for everyone!