Delighted to be collaborating once again with the Garden Museum for an online creative class exploring the beauty of the rose.

This culturally significant flower has inspired poetry, paintings and fashion design through the ages, and Jennie will be leading an in-depth drawing tutorial on roses from a pack of reference images. You’ll learn the basics of observational drawing detailing flower structure and shading, with advice on the application of colour to create a completed artwork.

Jennie will be teaching the class using coloured pencils, but you will be able to work along in whatever media you enjoy or have to hand. All abilities are welcome, no prior art experience is necessary. Technique tips and creative guidance will be provided throughout, as well as plenty of encouragement. This will be a lovely opportunity to explore your creative skills as well as learning more about the rose and it’s symbolism in art and literature.

As this is an online class, materials won’t be provided so please make sure you have everything you need to work along. An email with the Zoom link to join, advice on materials and the downloadable reference images will be sent out in good time before the class.

Exciting news! In May we’ll be drawing the puffins live from the Puffin Rescue Centre in Iceland, part of the Beluga Whale Sanctuary run by the Sea Life Trust. Iceland is home to the largest colony of Atlantic puffins and the centre is the only one of it’s kind, taking in puffins and pufflings (baby puffins!) found in Vestmannaeyjar which need a little extra care during the breeding season. Most of these birds are rescued by the local Puffling Patrol, but some are brought in by local residents for review, treatment and release if they are fit and ready.

Some of the puffling patients are not able to be released for various reasons and we will be drawing the five long-term resident puffins at the Sanctuary. Three are not able to fly, one hasn’t developed the oils it needs to waterproof her feathers and the last puffin is scared of water (bless!) We will also be learning all about this charismatic bird, it’s feeding and breeding habits and any conservation issues that are affecting the wild populations.

The class will begin with an introduction from WLD founder and artist Jennie Webber, who will take you through the basics of drawing animals from life, with a focus on anatomy. There will be a puffin drawing demonstration showing the main shapes and proportions to identify and some handy hints for capturing the feathers and that iconic colourful beak. We will then switch screens to be introduced to the puffins and there will be plenty of creative guidance and feedback available along the way to help you with your drawings.

The basic materials you need to take part are paper, a pencil, eraser and sharpener, but of course you are more than welcome to work in whatever materials you enjoy or have to hand. Please get in touch if you need advice on materials, we’re happy to help! You will be emailed the Zoom link to join and 48 hours before the event is due to start, or in good time if you booked last minute. If you haven’t received the link, do check your junk mail first and then get in touch and we’ll make sure you have it before the event is due to take place. You just need one ticket per device, not per person. Suitable for families and all ages and abilities!

50% of each ticket sold will be donated to the Puffin Rescue Centre.

Whale Sharks – peaceful, placid and the largest known fish on this planet – will be the stars of our upcoming drawing class in June. These gentle giants are filter feeding sharks, using their giant mouths to sieve out plankton, shrimp and other small fish to eat, similar to Humpbacks and other baleen whales. Slow moving and wide-ranging in warm waters, these sharks can reach up to 18 meters in length and can live up to 150 years old. Despite these facts, there is still so much we don’t know about the lives of whale sharks, which are an endangered species. And that’s where the Madagascar Whale Shark Project comes in. Founded by Stella Diamant in 2016, initially as a pilot project on the island of Nosy Be (an island off the northern coast of Madagascar), where whale sharks were not studied, the project has identified one of Africa’s biggest populations. Stella and her team now direct a collaborative program that monitors whale sharks, while educating local communities and informing the tourism companies on best practice guidelines around these animals.

On the video call we’ll be joined by Stella, not just an expert on the whale sharks that visit that part of the world and their behaviour, but also a talented photographer – it’ll be her stunning reference images of the sharks that we will be working from during the evening. As well as drawing, we’ll be chatting with Stella all about whale sharks and you’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions you have.

The class will be hosted by Wild Life Drawing founder and artist Jennie Webber, who will take you through a detailed step-by-step drawing tutorial of whale sharks, starting off with simple shapes, studying the anatomical features and then adding details, patterns and character. She will be on hand throughout the class to help with your drawings, and provide plenty of tips and advice.

The basic materials you need to take part are paper, a pencil, eraser and sharpener, but of course you are more than welcome to work in whatever materials you enjoy or have to hand. Please get in touch if you need advice on materials, we’re happy to help! You will be emailed the reference images, instructions and the Zoom link to join 48 hours before the event is due to start, or in good time if you booked your ticket closer to the event. If you have not received your email 24 hours before the class please check your junk mail or get in touch with Jennie on info@wildlifedrawing.co.uk

50% of the ticket profits will be donated to the Madagascar Whale Shark Project.

We are delighted to be collaborating once again with wildlife sanctuary N/a’an ku sê, in Namibia, and this time it’s all about brilliant Baboons! We will begin by meeting little Oscar, an orphaned baby baboon that was brought up by the team at the sanctuary. We’ll have the opportunity to spend time with him (live!) as he winds down for his bedtime, then we’ll switch to sketching from a glorious pack of reference images and videos for the rest of the class. As we draw, we will be chatting with Naankuse’s Head of Fundraising, Colette Massier (and Oscar’s “mum”) who will be joining us from Namibia and telling us all about Naankuse’s important conservation work as well as plenty of facts about the particular baboons they are currently caring for.

Omnivorous and at home in almost any habitat, the baboon is the most widespread primate in Africa, and we will be focussing on the Chacma baboon which is the only species occurring in Namibia. Baboon populations are currently stable in most African countries, but human-wildlife conflict, the illegal trade in animals and loss of habitat are the main threats to the species. Namibian wildlife sanctuary N/a’an ku sê (AKA Naankuse) help to protect the baboons with their rescue and rehabilitation work and their programs with the local communities that provide employment and education, seeking to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

To begin animal artist Laura Cuppage will take you through the basics of drawing baboons, working both from life and the reference images to give a demonstration of the shapes, proportions and anatomical features to identify as well as being on hand to feedback or dish out creative advice throughout the whole session. We also encourage you to ask questions throughout the classes, so we can all learn more about the animals, the issues facing them and what we can do to help improve the situation.

A downloadable Reference Media Pack containing images and videos of baboons will be supplied with the Zoom link. The basic materials you need to take part are paper, a pencil, eraser and sharpener, but of course you are more than welcome to work in whatever materials you enjoy or have to hand. Please get in touch if you need advice on materials, we’re happy to help! You will be emailed the media pack, instructions and the Zoom link to join around 48 hours before the event is due to start, or in good time if you booked last minute. If you haven’t received the email, do check your junk mail first and then get in touch and we’ll make sure you have it before the event is due to take place. You just need one ticket per device, not per person.

50% of the ticket profits will be donated to N/a’an ku sê.

Don’t worry, it’s not December yet but we ARE drawing Reindeer. For our next online class we’ll be virtually visiting the Cairngorms in Scotland to meet their herd of free-ranging reindeer, who will be in their summer coats and in the process of growing their new sets of antlers. We’ll be learning all about reindeer – how they survive in the coldest temperatures, why they grow a new set of antlers every year and the curious reason why they click when they walk! Reindeer expert Andi will be out on the mountainside with the animals, getting a range of viewpoints and telling us all about the history of the herd. Hopefully the weather will be on our side, the class may be scheduled for July but you just never know up in the mountains!

The class will be hosted by WLD founder and illustrator Jennie Webber, who will take you through the basics of drawing reindeer, starting off with simple shapes, studying the anatomical features and then adding details and character. As this is a live class the reindeer will be moving around freely, so Jennie will give you some handy hints for drawing moving models. She will be on hand throughout the class to help with your sketches, and there will be plenty of time for questions about both your drawings and the animals.

The basic materials you need to take part are paper, a pencil, eraser and sharpener, but of course you are more than welcome to work in whatever materials you enjoy or have to hand. Please get in touch if you need advice on materials, we’re happy to help! You will be emailed instructions and the Zoom link to join 48 hours before the event is due to start, or in good time if you booked your ticket closer to the event. If you have not received your email 24 hours before the class please check your junk mail or get in touch with Jennie on info@wildlifedrawing.co.uk

50% of ticket profits will be donated to the Cairngorms Reindeer Herd.

Our latest litter of Miniature Piglets will be visiting London’s newest green space Camley Street Natural Park (Kings Cross) for a super-cute evening drawing class. Our piglets 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.

The drawing class is open to all, from beginners to advanced and children aged 8 and above are welcome as long as they are accompanied by an adult also taking part in the drawing class. All drawing materials are supplied, including paper, but please feel free to bring colours or any other specific media you might like to use. The aim is to inspire a sense of appreciation and understanding for the animals and their welfare in the wider world.

10% from each ticket will be donated to Farms not Factories. Please note ticket prices are slightly higher to account for additional transport and venue costs.

Delighted to announce another day of drawing classes with our colourful, characterful parrots at the Town Hall Hotel to celebrate the summertime. We’ll be meeting and drawing four vividly colourful Macaws – Scarlet, Blue & Gold, Blue Throated and a Hyacinth Macaw. These beautiful birds will be accompanied by one of the UK’s leading parrot experts – aptly named Barrett – who works to boost populations of rare and endangered species in the wild. We will learn all about these colourful and charismatic birds; their intelligence and ability to talk, their lives in the wild and the many conservation issues affecting the birds in rainforests across the world.

10% of each ticket will be donated to the World Parrot Trust. Rooted in science, this charity is dedicated to saving the world’s parrot population by bringing together experts and conservationists to action effective programs to protect the birds and their habitats.

All drawing materials are supplied, including paper and drawing boards, but please feel free to bring colours or any other specific media you might like to use. We’ll start with some fun drawing exercises and plenty of practical tips to get everyone started, and creative guidance will be provided throughout the session. The aim of these drawing classes is to inspire a sense of appreciation and understanding for the animals and their conservation in the wider world.

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. Barrett Watson is one of the most distinguished parrot experts in the UK and he provides a vast amount of educational information for responsible parrot ownership, campaigns against wing-clipping and is a published author on the species.

Delighted to announce another day of drawing classes with our colourful, characterful parrots at the Town Hall Hotel to celebrate the summertime. We’ll be meeting and drawing four vividly colourful Macaws – Scarlet, Blue & Gold, Blue Throated and a Hyacinth Macaw. These beautiful birds will be accompanied by one of the UK’s leading parrot experts – aptly named Barrett – who works to boost populations of rare and endangered species in the wild. We will learn all about these colourful and charismatic birds; their intelligence and ability to talk, their lives in the wild and the many conservation issues affecting the birds in rainforests across the world.

10% of each ticket will be donated to the World Parrot Trust. Rooted in science, this charity is dedicated to saving the world’s parrot population by bringing together experts and conservationists to action effective programs to protect the birds and their habitats.

All drawing materials are supplied, including paper and drawing boards, but please feel free to bring colours or any other specific media you might like to use. We’ll start with some fun drawing exercises and plenty of practical tips to get everyone started, and creative guidance will be provided throughout the session. The aim of these drawing classes is to inspire a sense of appreciation and understanding for the animals and their conservation in the wider world.

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. Barrett Watson is one of the most distinguished parrot experts in the UK and he provides a vast amount of educational information for responsible parrot ownership, campaigns against wing-clipping and is a published author on the species.

As our last classes sold out so quickly, you’ll be pleased to hear that our much-loved wolf pack are back for more sketching and stroking in June, this time at new gallery and co-working space, The Depot in N1. 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!

The drawing class is open to all, from beginners to advanced. We will provide paper, drawing boards and a colourful array of materials for you to experiment with, but please do feel free to bring along any specific media that you enjoy using. Drawing tips and guidance will be provided throughout the session, with an in-depth demonstration of how to draw animals from life at the beginning of the class. The aim of these drawing classes is to inspire a sense of appreciation and understanding for the animals and their conservation in the wider world.

At Wild Life Drawing we only ever work with the finest animal handlers, sanctuaries and organisations to put on these events. All the animals that attend the sessions are comfortable around humans and in different environments and are always accompanied by experienced handlers, their welfare is our highest priority.

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

As our last classes sold out so quickly, you’ll be pleased to hear that our much-loved wolf pack are back for more sketching and stroking in June, this time at new gallery and co-working space, The Depot in N1. 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!

The drawing class is open to all, from beginners to advanced. We will provide paper, drawing boards and a colourful array of materials for you to experiment with, but please do feel free to bring along any specific media that you enjoy using. Drawing tips and guidance will be provided throughout the session, with an in-depth demonstration of how to draw animals from life at the beginning of the class. The aim of these drawing classes is to inspire a sense of appreciation and understanding for the animals and their conservation in the wider world.

At Wild Life Drawing we only ever work with the finest animal handlers, sanctuaries and organisations to put on these events. All the animals that attend the sessions are comfortable around humans and in different environments and are always accompanied by experienced handlers, their welfare is our highest priority.

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

Our latest litter of Miniature Piglets will also be making the trip to Hove in June, at our next in-person class for Platf9rm. Our piglets 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.

The drawing class is open to all, from beginners to advanced and children aged 8 and above are welcome as long as they are accompanied by an adult also taking part in the drawing class. All drawing materials are supplied, including paper, but please feel free to bring colours or any other specific media you might like to use. The aim is to inspire a sense of appreciation and understanding for the animals and their welfare in the wider world.

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

We’re finally going to be able to draw the penguins in real life! We will be starting at 6.45pm (after public opening hours but before their bedtime) to sketch and learn about this delightful ‘waddle’ of Gentoo penguins (actual collective noun) before they start to wind down for their bedtime – as the conditions at the aquarium are set to mimic the light cycles, temperatures and air qualities of their natural habitat. These particular penguins are a mixture of male and female and range from 5 years old (Elton – the cheekiest!) to matriarch Polly at 26! Join us for this very special opportunity to sketch and observe these characterful birds and to raise money for the Sea Life Trust!

The class will start with an introduction to penguins and their habitats, and we will discuss the issues affecting their conservation in the wild, namely climate change and habitat loss. We will be a smaller class than normal to ensure everyone gets a good view of the penguins, and once they start to settle down for the night attendees will be able to head off to explore the rest of the level with their drawing boards. We’ll be on the higher level to usual and be able to view the Sea Turtles in their favourite spots, as well as the rays and the Sand Tiger sharks that patrol the tops of the tanks. We’ll also keep the Jellyfish area open too, so there will be plenty to draw!

The drawing class is open to all, from beginners to advanced. We will provide paper, drawing boards and a colourful array of materials for you to experiment with, but please do feel free to bring along any specific media that you enjoy using. Drawing tips and guidance will be provided throughout the session, with an in-depth demonstration of how to draw animals from life at the beginning of the class. The aim of these drawing classes is to inspire a sense of appreciation and understanding for the animals and their conservation in the wider world.

The aquarium works closely with it’s partner charity, the SEA LIFE Trust, to protect marine wildlife and habitats across the world and to communicate key conservation message to it’s visitors. It is also involved in several conservation breeding programs including the Cuban crocodile, seahorses, butterfly goodeids, and jellyfish, and works with many conservation organisations including Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Save Our Seas, and The Shark Trust. 50% of each ticket sold will be donated to the SEA LIFE Trust.