Art workshops for schools
I am an artist, illustrator and facilitator offering art workshops for schools across all curriculum ages with an innovative and enthusiastic approach to best suit your individual circumstances and requirements. I have a PGCE in post compulsory education and experience teaching creative classes and workshops to children and adults in both academic and non-academic settings.
Workshop delivery
My art classes can be delivered in a variety of ways to suit individual needs. I can offer part day, full day or multiple day workshops. can be for classes of up to 30 pupils alongside a class teacher and/or teaching assistant in the classroom or run independently in smaller groups. I am happy to run day workshops on a rotation basis and repeat similar sessions for different classes. I also run art CPD sessions for teachers demonstrating different art activities to increase confidence in teaching art in the classroom.
I also run after school art clubs on a half termly basis. I run these independently for up to 12 or 15 pupils depending on the age and classroom space available. Please contact me if you are interested in discussing art club options
Subjects
I run half day or full day art workshops for schools in Cumbria, Lancashire and further afield in a variety of subjects including but not exclusively those listed here. I am flexible and if you are interested in me running an art workshop for you and have a specific subject or topic in mind then I am always happy to discuss adapting or creating new workshops to fit in with what you are working on in school or to link with other curriculum areas. Recently I have run school sessions creating mixed media self portraits inspired by Yayoi Kusama to link with a portraiture topic and Gaudi inspired buildings to link with a topic on Spain. I would be happy to discuss your requirements with you please get in touch.
I also run freelance community art workshops in the lake district and surrounding areas of Cumbria and Lancashire, click here for more details.
Observational drawing and painting
Practising observational drawing skills on location in the school grounds or surrounding areas or in the classroom using found objects and/or reference imagery. Pen and Watercolour, mixed media. Murals and collaborative artwork projects can be developed from these drawings.
Book illustration workshop
Combining text and image, storyboarding and character design. This can easily be linked with literacy combining words and images with a chosen text linked to a topic or a text written by the pupil. I have also done illustrated counting books which could link with numeracy for younger pupils.
Watercolour workshop
Learning basic and more complex ways of working with this tricky medium. Often combined with using pens influenced by the style of my own illustrations. Pen and watercolour sklyines has become a favourite topic here.
Book binding workshop
Creating books from single sheets of paper to stitched and multi signature handmade soft or hard backed books.
Arts Award Discover and Explore
I am a registered Discover and Explore Arts Award advisor so can deliver Arts Award accredited workshops on a chosen theme adapted so that pupils can achieve either award. Arts Award Discover is appropriate from age 5 plus and although 20 hours is recommended it is possible to complete the Discover Award within a day (a busy day!) though over multiple shorter sessions would be preferable. Explore Award is for ages 7 plus with 25 guided hours needed.
Art workshops in more general artistic techniques are also an option including mark making, sketchbook development, self portraiture and mural painting. Please get in touch if you would like any further information or to discuss ideas.
I am currently teaching on the Screen Savvy Kidz programme delivering workshops through the medium of art to help children stay safe and healthy online. Visit the Screen Savvy Kidz website to learn more: https://www.screensavvykidz.org.uk/
Testimonials
“Sophie designed a relevant and exciting art piece for the children and she sourced excellent quality materials to make their artwork really shine! The activities planned by Sophie perfectly complimented the class’ topic work, helping to bring their topic work to life with real life experiences. She was easy to communicate with throughout the booking and planning process, delivered the lessons clearly and confidently and the children got a great deal from her visit. Thank you Sophie! “
Feedback from a Class teacher at St Peter’s C of E Primary School, Leeds
“Thanks for a fantastic day, the children were inspired…have continued to paint and the pictures look amazing”
Feedback from class teacher at Dolphinholme Primary School
Levens Primary School and Selside School websites use illustrations of the schools that I did whilst working with the pupils.