Have you herd? For our Christmas Special this year we are drawing one of London’s most iconic duos- Gilbert and Sullivan! This much-loved pair of miniature donkeys make their home at Spitalfields City Farm, but since you’re all on the nice list this year, they’ve agreed to trot over to cosy confines of Camley Street, Kings Cross just for us.

While we draw the braying boys, farm manager Jenny will teach us all about this stoic, social species. The cafe will be serving up mince pies and mulled wine, and artist Jennie Webber will be dishing out some of her unrivalled creative advice. So, by the end of the session not only will your minds, hearts and tummies be full, but you’ll have some cracking drawings to take home too. We will bring along some blank Christmas cards, so you can sketch your own set of cards this year if you’re feeling inspired! And, since it’s Christmas there may even be a chance to feed and groom the donkeys.

All abilities are welcome, and all materials are provided. Children over the age of 5 are welcome to join, provided they are with an adult who’s also taking part in the class.

Animal welfare is at the heart of everything we do at Wild Life Drawing. We are a small team of animal lovers who are dedicated to conservation, and we strive to make each of our classes a positive experience for the animals we draw. We only ever work with the finest handlers who treat their animals with respect and care, and animals who are healthy and happy being around humans.

£10 from each ticket will be donated to Spitalfields City Farm. This will support all the wonderful projects that the farm run, like their wonderful community gardens, local outreach, and their involvement with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

We are delighted to be a part of the Natural History Museum’s Christmas Fair this year. Come join us for a fun festive evening where you’ll be able to draw your own Christmas cards inspired by the amazing specimens in the bird gallery – think penguins, robins, arctic terns, and fluffy albatross chicks. You’ll also get access to the fantasic Birds exhibition, in it’s final weeks.

The whole museum will be open-after hours, with a chance to chat to scientists, see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition and take a Women in Science tour, all soundtracked by a live harpist and fuelled by mince pies and mulled wine!

As the nights draw in we will focus our next class on Nocturnal Animals – meeting and drawing species that come out only at night. We will draw Hettie the African Pygmy Hedgehog, Gloria the Chinchilla, Tommy the Lesser Tenrec, Lenny the Dupraisi, as well as Myrtle and Gizmo the Geckos and some Giant Snails too! Each of these animals has evolved super senses like acute hearing, a sensitive nose or big eyes to make them perfectly adapted to life in the dark. We will hear all about these animals and their lives in the dark, as well as learning about the conservation or welfare issues affecting their species.

Here at Wild Life Drawing, we are a small team of nature lovers. Animal welfare is our core ethos and we only ever work with expert animal handlers who treat their animals with care, love and respect. These animals have all been rescued or rehomed by Mark and Jerry of Our Amazing Animal World, two dedicated animal experts with hearts of pure gold.

We will take this opportunity to talk about responsible pet ownership and the current regulations in the UK around keeping exotic animals. The class will begin with an introduction from artist and animal lover Jennie Webber, who will take you through the basics of drawing animals from life. Jennie will be on hand throughout the session with as much guidance as you’d like, and plenty of tips and tricks for drawing moving models. The drawing class is open to all, from beginners to advanced- even if you haven’t picked up a pencil in years we will have you sketching away in no time!

10% of profits will be donated to Mark and Jerry’s animal sanctuary Our Amazing Animal World.

We’re gonna make you an offer you can’t refuse: the mob are back in town. At this class we will be joined by our favourite family of meerkats- Rogan, Stuart, Mika and the rest of their gorgeous gang.

Behind the adorable faces and fluff, these desert-dwelling mammals are seriously tough. They’re expert scorpion hunters, can survive without drinking water and are even immune to the venom of certain snakes! This means that within a few hours, these amazing animals are able to recover from snake bites that would kill an adult human.

Here at Wild Life Drawing we are a small team who are dedicated to animal welfare. We only ever work with the finest animal handlers, who treat their animals with care and respect, and healthy animals who are happy being around humans.

10% from each ticket will be donated to South Essex Wildlife Hospital.

We’re gonna make you an offer you can’t refuse: the mob are back in town. At this class we will be joined by our favourite family of meerkats- Rogan, Stuart, Mika and the rest of their gorgeous gang.

Behind the adorable faces and fluff, these desert-dwelling mammals are seriously tough. They’re expert scorpion hunters, can survive without drinking water and are even immune to the venom of certain snakes! This means that within a few hours, these amazing animals are able to recover from snake bites that would kill an adult human.

Here at Wild Life Drawing we are a small team who are dedicated to animal welfare. We only ever work with the finest animal handlers, who treat their animals with care and respect, and healthy animals who are happy being around humans.

10% from each ticket will be donated to South Essex Wildlife Hospital.

Following the resounding popularity of our last tarot themed drawing class, many of you were clamouring for more – and we felt the vibrations! So our second symbolic special will be taking place on Imbolc, the pagan festival on the 1st of February that marks the beginning of Spring. We will be joined again by tarot queen Jen Cownie (one half of Litwitchure) who will enlighten us on the mysteries of the tarot, and the different roles that animals play within the cards. We will discuss mythology and folklore from around the world and how the stories we humans tell about animals can impact their conservation. We will meet a range of species, each with its own unique role within the tarot:

Snakes- In the world of tarot reading, snakes hold a unique and powerful symbolism. Because of their regular skin shedding, snakes are a powerful symbol of transformation and growth.

Mice- With their constant nibbling and gnawing, mice often represent decay, disease or deterioration. Sorry, Mickey!

Lizards- As many species of lizard can grow back their tails or limbs, they often symbolise regeneration, rebirth and survival.

Tortoises- with their slow and steady approach, tortoises can symbolise patience and perseverance. Their ability to withdraw into their shell can also represent self-protection and safety.

Snails- Carrying their home on their back, snails can represent self-sufficiency. They may also serve as a reminder to tread carefully!

Artist and illustrator Jennie Webber will be leading the class and will get things started with her top tips for drawing our magical models. She’ll have creative advice on how to intertwine the symbolism of the tarot into your animal portraits. While we sketch, you’ll be welcome to peruse Jen’s substantial collection of card decks, and perhaps pull a card for yourself. Who knows – maybe this will inspire you to add some symbolism to your work, or help you develop your creative process.

While this class certainly has a symbolic slant, it will be very light-hearted. We will be using the tarot for fun and to spark conversation, and there’s no pressure to get involved with that side of the class if it’s not your thing. If you just want to get up close with the animals, that’s cool with us!

10% from each ticket will be donated to South Essex Wildlife Hospital.

Following the resounding popularity of our last tarot themed drawing class, many of you were clamouring for more – and we felt the vibrations! So our second symbolic special will be taking place on Imbolc, the pagan festival on the 1st of February that marks the beginning of Spring. We will be joined again by tarot queen Jen Cownie (one half of Litwitchure) who will enlighten us on the mysteries of the tarot, and the different roles that animals play within the cards. We will discuss mythology and folklore from around the world and how the stories we humans tell about animals can impact their conservation. We will meet a range of species, each with its own unique role within the tarot:

Snakes- In the world of tarot reading, snakes hold a unique and powerful symbolism. Because of their regular skin shedding, snakes are a powerful symbol of transformation and growth.

Mice- With their constant nibbling and gnawing, mice often represent decay, disease or deterioration. Sorry, Mickey!

Lizards- As many species of lizard can grow back their tails or limbs, they often symbolise regeneration, rebirth and survival.

Tortoises- with their slow and steady approach, tortoises can symbolise patience and perseverance. Their ability to withdraw into their shell can also represent self-protection and safety.

Snails- Carrying their home on their back, snails can represent self-sufficiency. They may also serve as a reminder to tread carefully!

Artist and illustrator Jennie Webber will be leading the class and will get things started with her top tips for drawing our magical models. She’ll have creative advice on how to intertwine the symbolism of the tarot into your animal portraits. While we sketch, you’ll be welcome to peruse Jen’s substantial collection of card decks, and perhaps pull a card for yourself. Who knows – maybe this will inspire you to add some symbolism to your work, or help you develop your creative process.

While this class certainly has a symbolic slant, it will be very light-hearted. We will be using the tarot for fun and to spark conversation, and there’s no pressure to get involved with that side of the class if it’s not your thing. If you just want to get up close with the animals, that’s cool with us!

10% from each ticket will be donated to South Essex Wildlife Hospital.

Sharpen your pencils and your claws, and come join our pack! At this class we will be drawing our favourite family of British Lupine wolf dogs. This stunning hybrid species have real wolves in their bloodline- and are dead ringers for their wild relatives. They howl at the moon and live in a pack, but are gorgeously tame and friendly. The pack also happen to be quite the celebrities, having starred in many photoshoots, and films- try to act cool when you meet them though, yeah?

Hosting the session will be animal-obsessed illustrator Laura Cuppage, who will guide you through the process of drawing wolves from life. She will provide her top tips on drawing moving models and will be all ears for any questions you have. We will also be joined by “head wolf” Natalie Langstrom, who will share the extensive knowledge of these animals she has gathered over her many years working as a canine behavioural expert. Natalie is a fierce advocate for wild wolves, and will give an insight into the species and their conservation.

Our sessions are open to everyone- all abilities are welcome and all artistic styles are celebrated! We will provide everything you need to get sketching- drawing boards, paper and a wide range of materials- but feel free to bring along your own kit if you’d like.

Here at Wild Life Drawing we are a small team who are dedicated to animal welfare. We only ever work with the finest animal handlers, who treat their animals with care and respect, and healthy animals that are happy being around humans.

10% of profits will be donated to Wolf Watch UK. This fantastic organisation provides a safe haven for displaced wolves at their 100 acre woodland sanctuary in Shropshire.

Sharpen your pencils and your claws, and come join our pack! At this class we will be drawing our favourite family of British Lupine wolf dogs. This stunning hybrid species have real wolves in their bloodline- and are dead ringers for their wild relatives. They howl at the moon and live in a pack, but are gorgeously tame and friendly. The pack also happen to be quite the celebrities, having starred in many photoshoots, and films- try to act cool when you meet them though, yeah?

Hosting the session will be animal-obsessed illustrator Laura Cuppage, who will guide you through the process of drawing wolves from life. She will provide her top tips on drawing moving models and will be all ears for any questions you have. We will also be joined by “head wolf” Natalie Langstrom, who will share the extensive knowledge of these animals she has gathered over her many years working as a canine behavioural expert. Natalie is a fierce advocate for wild wolves, and will give an insight into the species and their conservation.

Our sessions are open to everyone- all abilities are welcome and all artistic styles are celebrated! We will provide everything you need to get sketching- drawing boards, paper and a wide range of materials- but feel free to bring along your own kit if you’d like.

Here at Wild Life Drawing we are a small team who are dedicated to animal welfare. We only ever work with the finest animal handlers, who treat their animals with care and respect, and healthy animals that are happy being around humans.

10% of profits will be donated to Wolf Watch UK. This fantastic organisation provides a safe haven for displaced wolves at their 100 acre woodland sanctuary in Shropshire.

Join us for a virtual trip to the island of Madagascar to study one of the world’s most unique primates, the aye-aye. These strange and striking animals spend most of their lives in the trees, building large, spherical nests out of leaves and twigs high in the canopy for shelter. They have incredibly long, thin middle fingers, which they use for tapping on trees to locate insects, which they then extract using their sharp teeth.

The people of Madagascar have a complicated and often fraught relationship with the aye-aye. Some welcome the primates because they know they eat the larvae of pests that damage sugar cane and other crops. Unfortunately, many others believe that these animals are harbingers of death and crop failure, and that they must be killed upon sight. Along with rapid habitat loss, this persecution has resulted in aye-ayes being one of the most endangered primates on earth.

Thankfully there are wonderful people working hard to protect the species. We are delighted that we will be joined for this class by one such person; Mark Jacobs, managing director at SEED Madagascar. This fantastic charity is focused on sustainable development and environmental conservation in Madagascar. Their aim is to protect the island’s unique biodiversity through habitat restoration, community-based forest management, and environmental education. They collaborate with local communities to promote sustainable farming practices, reduce deforestation, and preserve critical ecosystems like rainforests and mangroves. In addition to conservation, SEED addresses social issues such as healthcare, sanitation, and education, working to create a balance between human development and environmental protection.

50% of ticket profits will be donated to SEED Madagascar.

This December, we are turning traditions on their heads with a class focused on a species that is usually associated with a decidedly different time of year. After all, a bat is for life, not just for Halloween!

We have a very exciting live online class for you in collaboration with The Bat Conservation Trust. We will be connecting with two wonderful bat carers who will be introducing us to some native rescued bats that, for reasons we will explore, aren’t able to be released back into the wild. We will get some amazing close-up views of a common pipistrelle, a brown long-eared, and some more species too. We will also be joined by Charley Bird, who is a Senior Bat Advisor at the charity. It’s their job to coordinate the Bat Trust’s bat care network all around the country, and their knowledge of the species group is seriously impressive.

The U.K. is home to 18 species of bat- meaning the group accounts for a quarter of our mammal species- yet they remain a mystery to many of us. These beautiful animals are unfortunately surrounded by lots of negative stereotypes, and many people have a knee-jerk dislike towards them. This is bad news for any species and has sadly contributed to the decline of bats around the world. So, join us and let’s bust some myths, and learn lots of lovely bat facts to have in our pocket anytime we hear someone slating these superstars of the sky!

50% of ticket profits will be donated to The Bat Conservation Trust.

Starting the year with a splash! Next up on the (hawks)bill, a virtual trip to the Maldives to draw and learn about terrific turtles! We will be live streaming to the rescue and rehabilitation centre at the Olive Ridley Project, where head biologist Neus will introduce us to the turtles who are currently being cared for there. The star of the session will be a female olive ridley sea turtle called Nakaiy. A victim of entanglement in fishing nets, when found she had serious injuries to her front left flipper and was unable to dive which is an essential skill for feeding and resting. Since her rescue last year, this girl has shown herself to be highly determined, and has made great progress with her dive training.

As the session progresses we will also meet some of the other residents, and hear their individual stories. Neus will teach us all sorts of fascinating facts about this amazing species group, and the vital role they play in the marine ecosystems in which they live.

Artist and illustrator Jennie Webber will lead the session, beginning with her top tips on how to draw moving animals in water. She will provide plenty of creative guidance throughout and will be all ears for any creative queries that you have. Likewise, Neus will be happy to answer your questions about turtles and marine conservation.

50% of profits will be donated to the Olive Ridley Project, so by taking part you’ll support the conservation and rescue of Maldivian sea turtles.

How much do you think you know about hedgerows? Easily overlooked, these thin strips of land between roads and fields are rich habitats that support all kinds of life. Made up of brambles, grasses, trees and berry bushes, hedgerows provide essential food and shelter for hedgehogs (the clue is in the name) dormice, birds (native and migratory) and many pollinating insects. They also provide natural corridors for species to roam and find mates outside of the monoculture farmland.

Hedgerows have had it tough over the last seventy years, with industrial farming and pesticides threatening their existence, just as we begin to realise how biologically important they really are! Luckily we have self-professed ‘hedgerow geek’ Megan Gimber to share her knowledge and boundless enthusiasm. Her work with PTES takes her up and down the country for workshops with farmers, councils and landowners to raise the profile of the humble hedge. And here’s the thing, hedges also depend on humans. In a mutual back-scratching relationship over hundreds of years, we have been trimming and coppicing hedges for our own aesthetic pleasure, which in turn helps new growth.

The class will be led by artist and illustrator Jennie Webber, who will guide you through the process of composing a hedgerow artwork comprised of a variety of foliage, mammals and insects. We will aim to create full page drawings that reflect the diversity and vibrancy of these slender habitats. As the session progresses Jennie and Megan will discuss all things hedgerow, and there will be plenty of time to ask your questions. All abilities are welcome to join the session, and there will be plenty of creative guidance throughout. We will draw from references for this one, and a chunky pack of images will be sent to you prior to the class.

Before the class you’ll need to get your hands on some paper, a pencil, and any other materials you might like to work with. We will email you beforehand with a Zoom link and some instructions. As with all our classes, we will send out a recording afterwards to all ticket holders so you can catch up/ rewatch as many times as you like.

50% of ticket profits will be donated to PTES.