We have a truly amazing selection of unusual reptiles and amphibians for you to meet, draw and learn about at our first class with Draw Brighton in the new year. We'll be sketching different species including two colourful Veiled Chameleons, Crested Geckos and Leopard Geckos, a Dwarf Monitor Lizard, Tortoises and Bearded Dragons and Stanley the Axolotl – which will give us the opportunity to talk about how this species is critically endangered in the wild and what we can do to help. We'll be leaning how chameleons can change colour, how geckos can drop their tails to distract predators, why crested geckos have to lick their eyeballs and how reptiles communicate in the wild. All these animals are absolutely magnificent, with unbelievable textures and colours to inspire your artworks. And being cold-blooded, they don't expend any unnecessary energy, making them excellent drawing subjects! All these animals are rehomed ex-pets or rescues and we will be discussing the complex care they need, responsible pet ownership, the dangers of the trade in exotic pets and any conservation issues affecting these species around the world.

Our Valentine’s Special this year will be exploring the cute, curious – and sometimes cruel – courtship rituals in the natural world. Just FYI, this class isn't just for couples looking for an alternative celebration, but for anyone and everyone who fancies coming along! We will be meeting and drawing hedgehogs, and learning how the males of the species try to seduce potential mates with a huffing, snorting mating dance that can last for hours. We’ll draw ferrets, whose courtship rituals charmingly include biting their females neck and dragging them around. We’ll meet cockerels who ‘drop a wing’ and dance around their hens to entice them. We’ll sketch male mice that sing an ultrasonic song to their females. We’ll learn about Leopard Geckos that vibrate and wave their tails to seduce their females. We will also be sketching Giant Millipedes – who use the art of massage to entice their mates, Giant Land Snails who shoot LOVE DARTS (actual name) and Tarantulas, who will eat the male after copulation. Join us for a day of mind blowing biology!

We're back at the London Aquarium for another after-hours aquatic exploration into the weird world of jellyfish. We'll be focussing on capturing the wonderful wibbliness of these ancient organisms on paper, reflecting their translucency and delicacy in the water. The class will commence with some amazing jellyfish facts, then you'll be able to explore and be mesmerised by the jellies, whilst sketching with a variety of media including pens, pastels and watercolours. All materials will be provided, and technique tips and advice will be on hand all the way through the session.

Now the largest jellyfish facility in the UK, experts at the aquarium – fondly nicknamed “jellyologists” – have been breeding Moon Jellyfish, Sea Nettles, Barrel and Upside Down Jellyfish at different stages of their lives, with some reaching more than three meters in length! The three stages of the exhibition will explore the lifecycle of these gelatinous creatures, as well as how they thrive, sting and reproduce. Drawing these drifting forms will not only be an enjoyable creative challenge, but a relaxing and meditative experience.

Jellyfish are truly unbelievable; they have no brain, heart, blood or bones, but they do have a nervous system, a stomach and reproductive organs. Jellyfish have a complicated life cycle, growing quickly and living on average around a year. Feeding on plankton, fish and other jellyfish, they catch prey with their stinging tentacles. Where there are approximately 2000 species of jellyfish, only around 70 have stings strong enough to harm humans. And a group of jellyfish is called a smack!

50% of each ticket will be donated to the Sea Life Trust.

Delighted to announce another special drawing class in collaboration with Wild at Heart Foundation to raise money and awareness for their worthy canine causes. We’ll be drawing WAHF rescue dogs of all different sizes, breeds and colours; and all of them have happy rehoming stories to tell. We will be drawing and having our hearts stolen by the wonderful Maggie (pictured here) along with her rescue gang Mishka, Panda and Suki! We will hear about some of the abuse suffered by dogs in countries where the laws protecting animals are not reinforced, and learn about some of the success stories, where special dogs have been able to have specialist surgery funded by donations and how we can get involved to help!

£15 from the price of each ticket will be donated to Wild at Heart Foundation – and we'll be joined by members of their team (along with their rescue dogs) to tell us all in person about some of the neutering projects they run overseas and how they're working to combat the brutal mistreatment suffered by strays, plus advice on ways we can get involved to help. This charity works to compassionately reduce the world's 600 million stray dog population by organising rescue projects, neutering programmes and education initiatives.

£15 from each ticket will be donated to the Wild at Heart Foundation.

We’ll be celebrating International Women's Day by spending our evening with dominant females in the bird world. In an unusual example of reverse sexual dimorphism, female birds of prey are always one third bigger than males on average (because the females need to lay and incubate eggs). We will draw Harris Hawks that live and hunt in a matriarchal groups, where the dominant female leads a pack of males to work together to catch the food – they’re known as the ‘wolves of the sky’ and it’s one of the only examples of cooperative hunting in the avian world. We’ll also be meeting and drawing a female African Hooded Vulture named Mauve and speaking about the serious conservation issues affecting these birds across the world. Lovely Maggie the Lanner Falcon will also be joinging us – a very pretty and flirtatious bird with distinct love hearts on her breast feathers. We’ll be learning about the nesting and breeding process and how the birds raise their young in just 9 weeks from hatching. All genders welcome of course!

10% of each ticket will be donated to the Vulture Conservation Foundation.

For our first drawing class at the Wetlands this year we focus on majestic eagles – some of the most powerful and iconic birds of the avian world. We will meet Maverick, a gigantic male Golden Eagle, a beautiful female Chilean Blue Eagle and (slightly cheating here) a European Eagle Owl. Along with their dedicated and expert handlers, we will discuss the characteristics of these birds; their hunting techniques, habitats, conservation and how eagles have become cultural icons. There will be plenty of materials to experiment with and helpful tips and creative guidance will be on hand throughout. Prepare to be amazed by the size and stature of these incredible birds!

Wild Life Drawing is working with the finest animal handlers, sanctuaries and organisations to put on these events. All the animals that attend the sessions are well used to humans and different environments and are always accompanied by experienced handlers, their welfare is our highest priority. The falconer that keeps these birds is a trusted and experienced animal handler that works with the RSPCA to rescue, rehabilitate and re-release wild birds of prey around the South of England.

If you would like to redeem your voucher on this class, please email info@wildlifedrawing.co.uk with your code.

Our much-loved wolves (full size this time) are back this March for more sketching and stroking in the stunning surrounds of the Council Chamber at the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green. These "wolves" are actually British Lupine dogs that are perfectly tame and loyal domestic pets as well as being perfect wolf look-a-likes – they have pure wolf in their bloodline. They still retain their pack mentality, eat only raw meat and howl at the full moon – yet love cuddles and roll over for belly rubs! The class will be introduced to the “wolves” with a short talk from Canine Behavioural Scientist and 'Head Wolf' Natalie Lagstrom, and we’ll look in detail at their anatomy and how they’ve evolved to adapt to a variety of habitats across the globe.

As well as drawing these amazing animals, we will discuss current conservation issues facing wolves in the wild – plus the results of their incredible reintroduction to Yellowstone. Our wolf experts are full of facts and will be ready and willing to answer any questions you might have and of course, everyone can have a stroke and a cuddle at the end!

And 10% each ticket price will be donated to Wolf Watch UK – which is a non-profit organisation that provides a remote 100 acre woodland sanctuary in Shropshire for wolves that have been displaced due to zoo closures, dominance fights or excess breeding that would otherwise have been euthanised. They're not open to the public, therefore keeping the environment for the wolves as close to their natural secluded habitat as possible.

10% of each ticket will be donated to Wolf Watch UK.

Our much-loved wolves (full size this time) are back this March for more sketching and stroking in the stunning surrounds of the Council Chamber at the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green. These "wolves" are actually British Lupine dogs that are perfectly tame and loyal domestic pets as well as being perfect wolf look-a-likes – they have pure wolf in their bloodline. They still retain their pack mentality, eat only raw meat and howl at the full moon – yet love cuddles and roll over for belly rubs! The class will be introduced to the “wolves” with a short talk from Canine Behavioural Scientist and 'Head Wolf' Natalie Lagstrom, and we’ll look in detail at their anatomy and how they’ve evolved to adapt to a variety of habitats across the globe.

As well as drawing these amazing animals, we will discuss current conservation issues facing wolves in the wild – plus the results of their incredible reintroduction to Yellowstone. Our wolf experts are full of facts and will be ready and willing to answer any questions you might have and of course, everyone can have a stroke and a cuddle at the end!

And 10% each ticket price will be donated to Wolf Watch UK – which is a non-profit organisation that provides a remote 100 acre woodland sanctuary in Shropshire for wolves that have been displaced due to zoo closures, dominance fights or excess breeding that would otherwise have been euthanised. They're not open to the public, therefore keeping the environment for the wolves as close to their natural secluded habitat as possible.

10% of each ticket will be donated to Wolf Watch UK.

One last chance to draw our latest litter of Miniature Piglets this Spring, who will be around 2 months old – fully weaned and independent from mum. 'Miniature' or 'teacup' pigs is the term given to a smaller-than-average pig, originally created by crossbreeding a pot-bellied pigs and a New Zealand Kune-Kune. Although the piglets will be small at this stage, we will be talking about the realities of owning 'Miniature' pigs, the complex care they need and how large they can really grow! There's a lot to love about the humble pig in general, and our expert handler will wow you with plenty of fascinating facts. Be prepared to fall in love with these lovely little animals, and all for a good cause!

As well as being super cute – the drawing class will have an ethical focus – we will discuss welfare issues within the world of pig farming and the meat industry. Ten percent of each ticket price will be donated to Farms not Factories – a non-profit organisation working to expose the true costs of cheap meat from animal ‘factories’ with the aim to inspire people to purchase meat from healthy, high welfare farms.

10% of each ticket will be donated to Farms not Factories.

This Spring we're back at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium to explore their incredible Rainforest area with another after-hours drawing class for charity. With a focus on the Amazonian waterways and dense jungles, we will be able to get up close and personal with dwarf crocodiles, snapping turtles, red-bellied piranhas, hissing cockroaches and leaf cutter ants, giraffe nosed cat fish, sleek arowana fish and terrapins that like to balance on top of each other! The class will start with an introduction to rainforest habitats and we will discuss the conservation issues affecting them; including deforestation due to logging and agriculture, commercial fishing, bio-piracy and poaching. Attendees will be able to head off to explore with their drawing boards, and helpful hints and guidance will be on hand from workshop leader, illustrator Jennie Webber.

50% of each ticket will be donated to the Sea Life Trust.

Very excited to share our first Sighthound Special – a day of drawing classes with Greyhounds, Whippets and Lurchers to raise money for The Greyhound Trust. We’ll be drawing calm and friendly sighthounds of all different sizes, breeds and colours; and all of them will be coming along with their dedicated owners. We will be learning about the characteristics of the sighthound breeds and how they evolved to be such great runners. We'll discuss the realities of greyhound racing and some of the shocking welfare issues attached to that sport. £5 from the price of each ticket will be donated to The Greyhound Trust – a charity working to find happy homes for retired racing hounds. The charity was founded in 1975 by a few greyhound loving pals and since then has ensured over 100,000 greyhounds have gone to loving owners, and continue to rehome at least 3500 more greyhounds every year through their nationwide branches.

£5 of each ticket will be donated to the Greyhound Trust.

Very excited to share our first Sighthound Special – a day of drawing classes with Greyhounds, Whippets and Lurchers to raise money for The Greyhound Trust. We’ll be drawing calm and friendly sighthounds of all different sizes, breeds and colours; and all of them will be coming along with their dedicated owners. We will be learning about the characteristics of the sighthound breeds and how they evolved to be such great runners. We'll discuss the realities of greyhound racing and some of the shocking welfare issues attached to that sport. £5 from the price of each ticket will be donated to The Greyhound Trust – a charity working to find happy homes for retired racing hounds. The charity was founded in 1975 by a few greyhound loving pals and since then has ensured over 100,000 greyhounds have gone to loving owners, and continue to rehome at least 3500 more greyhounds every year through their nationwide branches.

£5 of each ticket will be donated to the Greyhound Trust.

To mark the beginning of National Pet Month, we will be focussing our attention on rescue animals or cruelty cases that have gone onto thrive after being re-homed and cared for properly. We will meet and draw a variety of animals that have been rescued and now live happy and healthy lives; Jim and Jemima the Prairie Dog couple (re-homed from an owner that had done no research and was not able to give the proper care), Simon the Blue-Tongued Skink (rescued from a owner who was force breeding), Shelley the Tortoise (re-homed from a sanctuary, she has a deformed shell from improper care), Dave the Degu (was being bullied by other Degu's in a pet shop and now lives within a lovely social group.) We will also be drawing Rabbits and Guinea Pigs, and will focus especially on responsible pet ownership with these species as well as busting some myths about the best and most ethical ways to keep our small furry friends.

We will learn more about the individual stories of these animals, and discuss the dangers facing animals in the pet industry and how we can help. 10% of each ticket sold will be donated to South Essex Wildlife Hospital – a rescue, rehabilitation and public advice charity that takes in sick, injured and orphaned animals from the areas around East London, North Kent and South Essex. No animal is turned away and the hospital often houses 200-300 animals at any one time. They function entirely on donations and volunteers, and our contribution will really make a difference.

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

Due to unbelievable demand, our wonderful wolves are returning to Carousel for more sketching and stroking in May. These "wolves" are actually British Lupine dogs that are perfectly tame and loyal domestic pets as well as being perfect wolf look-a-likes – they have pure wolf in their bloodline. They still retain their pack mentality, eat only raw meat and howl at the full moon – yet love cuddles and roll over for belly rubs! The class will be introduced to the “wolves” with a short talk from Canine Behavioural Scientist and 'Head Wolf' Natalie Lagstrom, and we’ll look in detail at their anatomy and how they’ve evolved to adapt to a variety of habitats across the globe.

As well as drawing these amazing animals, we will discuss current conservation issues facing wolves in the wild – plus the results of their incredible reintroduction to Yellowstone. Our wolf experts are full of facts and will be ready and willing to answer any questions you might have and of course, everyone can have a stroke and a cuddle at the end!

And 10% each ticket price will be donated to Wolf Watch UK – which is a non-profit organisation that provides a remote 100 acre woodland sanctuary in Shropshire for wolves that have been displaced due to zoo closures, dominance fights or excess breeding that would otherwise have been euthanised. They're not open to the public, therefore keeping the environment for the wolves as close to their natural secluded habitat as possible.

10% of each ticket will be donated to Wolf Watch UK. Please EMAIL US if you would like to book this class with your gift voucher.