Sunday 22nd September 2024 11am-1pm Town Hall Hotel, E2 9AF £35 (10% donated)
Get ready for colour, charisma and just the right amount of chaos, because this September the parrots are back! At this class we will be joined by a rainbow of ravishing macaws, each of whom has a personality which is as bright and lively as their feathers. This class will be very special indeed, because while we draw we will have the chance to hear from their handler Barret Watson, who is one of the UK’s leading parrot experts. Barret will teach us all about these intelligent birds and update us on the breeding programmes he is involved in, which work to conserve rare and endangered species in the wild.
Artist Jennie Webber will begin the session with an introduction to drawing moving models, and some fun warm-up exercises to get your drawings off to a flying start. No prior art experience is needed to join the session- whether you’re a dab hand or an absolute beginner, we will have you sketching away in no time. The aim of our classes is to use drawing as a tool to learn about animals and conservation- there is no pressure to create a “perfect” portrait. We will provide a range of art materials, paper and drawing boards for you to use so no need to bring anything along.
10% of each ticket will be donated to The World Parrot Trust.
Sunday 22nd September 2024 2pm-4pm Town Hall Hotel, E2 9AF £35 (10% donated)
Get ready for colour, charisma and just the right amount of chaos, because this September the parrots are back! At this class we will be joined by a rainbow of ravishing macaws, each of whom has a personality which is as bright and lively as their feathers. This class will be very special indeed, because while we draw we will have the chance to hear from their handler Barret Watson, who is one of the UK’s leading parrot experts. Barret will teach us all about these intelligent birds and update us on the breeding programmes he is involved in, which work to conserve rare and endangered species in the wild.
Artist Jennie Webber will begin the session with an introduction to drawing moving models, and some fun warm-up exercises to get your drawings off to a flying start. No prior art experience is needed to join the session- whether you’re a dab hand or an absolute beginner, we will have you sketching away in no time. The aim of our classes is to use drawing as a tool to learn about animals and conservation- there is no pressure to create a “perfect” portrait. We will provide a range of art materials, paper and drawing boards for you to use so no need to bring anything along.
10% of each ticket will be donated to The World Parrot Trust.
Sunday 6th October 2024 11am-1pm Loom Club, N1 2HY £35 (10% donated)
What better way to spend a Sunday than drawing and making friends with a couple of sweet and friendly miniature pigs? Join us for a fun-filled drawing class where we will bust some myths about this wonderful species! Often portrayed as stupid and smelly, pigs are in fact very clean, and highly intelligent. They are emotional creatures, form close bonds, and are highly inquisitive. We will be joined by the team at Kew Little Pigs who will be bringing along two of their finest youngsters. These sweet and petite piggies love being made a fuss of, and will most certainly demand some belly scratches!
The class will be led by illustrator Jennie Webber, who will get you started with a drawing demo and her top tips for drawing a moving subject. Throughout the session, Jennie will be on hand with as much creative guidance as you’d like, and the Kew Little Pigs team will be all ears for your piggy ponderings. Children over the age of 5 are more than welcome to attend this class, as long as they are accompanied by an adult also taking part.
10% of profits will be donated to Farms Not Factories to support their campaign to end factory farming.
Sunday 6th October 2024 2pm-4pm Loom Club, N1 2HY £35 (10% donated)
What better way to spend a Sunday than drawing and making friends with a couple of sweet and friendly miniature pigs? Join us for a fun-filled drawing class where we will bust some myths about this wonderful species! Often portrayed as stupid and smelly, pigs are in fact very clean, and highly intelligent. They are emotional creatures, form close bonds, and are highly inquisitive. We will be joined by the team at Kew Little Pigs who will be bringing along two of their finest youngsters. These sweet and petite piggies love being made a fuss of, and will most certainly demand some belly scratches!
The class will be led by illustrator Jennie Webber, who will get you started with a drawing demo and her top tips for drawing a moving subject. Throughout the session, Jennie will be on hand with as much creative guidance as you’d like, and the Kew Little Pigs team will be all ears for your piggy ponderings. Children over the age of 5 are more than welcome to attend this class, as long as they are accompanied by an adult also taking part.
10% of profits will be donated to Farms Not Factories to support their campaign to end factory farming.
Saturday 26th October 2024 1pm-3pm Battersea Park Zoo, SW11 4NJ Adults £30, Children £20
Here at Wild Life Drawing, we are all about the weird and wonderful species of the animal kingdom- the more unusual the better! So, for this class we will take a tour of Battersea Children’s Zoo, stopping off to sketch some of the more curious critters, and to learn all about the unique directions their evolutions have taken.
A pair of hairy armadillos named Montezuma and Pedro Pascal will be first on our list. These are the only living mammals with a bony plate covering their body, which they use to defend themselves from predators. We will then head over to meet a beautiful Brazilian porcupine named Rico. These arboreal animals use their strong prehensile tails to secure themselves to branches as they move through the trees. Then we’ll slither off to the reptile house to study snakes, lizards and spiders. Once we’ve finished drawing, we’ll have an exclusive meet and greet experience with some ‘spooky’ species too!
Artist and illustrator Jennie Webber will begin the session with some fun drawing warm-ups, and give you her top tips on drawing moving models. While the session progresses, Jennie will give species-specific advice, drawing on her many years of experience sketching animals from life. All abilities are welcome, so whether you haven’t picked up a pencil in years or you draw on the daily, do come along and join the fun!
This class is suitable for adults and children aged 5+. All children must be accompanied by an adult who has purchased a ticket for the class. Tickets to the class do not include entrance to the zoo, which must be purchased separately. Your tickets will grant you access to the zoo from 10am-5.30pm, so you can make a day of it if you like.
10% of profits will be donated to People’s Trust for Endangered Species, a wonderful conservation charity that Battersea Zoo support.
Wednesday 16th October 2024 7pm-9pm Royal Society of Sculptors £35
Take flight and join us for a magical class, drawing beautiful birds and learning about the symbolism connected to each species. We are delighted that for this special session, we will be joined by Jen Cownie- one half of Litwitchure– who will enlighten us on the mysteries of the tarot, and the roles that birds play within the cards. We will discuss avian mythology and folklore from around the world, and how the stories we humans tell about animals can impact their conservation.
We will also be joined by our expert falconer Paul, who will bring three mesmerising birds, each of symbolic significance.
An Eagle: In cultures across the world and throughout the centuries, these apex predators represent power, bravery and freedom. To dream of an eagle can be a sign of good fortune on your horizon.
A Hawk: With their keen sight, hawks often symbolise clarity, insight and ambition. In ancient Egypt, the Sun God Ra was often depicted as a human with a hawk’s head, while the Cherokee people regard Red-Tailed Hawks as sacred, protective spirits.
An Owl: Depending on the culture, owls are lucky or loathed. They are often associated with death and the afterlife. While this is sometimes interpreted as a bad omen, they can also be seen as messengers, bringing wisdom from the ancestors.
Artist and illustrator Jennie Webber will be leading the class, and will begin with some fun warm-up exercises, and her top tips of drawing our feathered friends. While we sketch, Jen will be on hand to pull cards from from the deck, inspiring you to add some symbolism to your work, or help you approach the creative process in a new way.
While this class certainly has a symbolic slant, it will all be very light-hearted. We will simply be using the tarot to spark conversation, and there won’t be any 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 birds, that’s cool with us! No prior art experience is needed to join the session- whether you’re a dab hand or an absolute beginner we are confident that with a bit of creative guidance, we will have to sketching away in no time.
Sunday 27th October 2024 11am-1pm Town Hall Hotel, E2 9AF £35 (10% donated)
Start practicing your best howls ‘n’ growls because this October we have a haunting Halloween special in store for you with our wonderful wolf pack. All over the world, wolves are surrounded by fascinating folk stories. In Japanese mythology they are guardians of the forest, able to hide behind a single blade of grass. In Sweden, they are said to be under the protection and control of Vargamors (forest witches).
Our much adored models are a family of British Lupine wolf dog hybrids, who look just like wild wolves, howl at the full moon and live in a pack, but are just as tame and friendly as the softest labrador!
The class will be lead by artist and illustrator Jennie Webber who will begin with an introduction into drawing from life, and some top tips which will be sure to get your drawings looking wolfy and wonderful. As the session progresses we will hear from canine behavioural expert and “head wolf” Natalie Langstrom, who will teach us all about wolf-dogs and wild wolf conservation. And do not fear, there will be plenty of time for tricks, strokes and wolf selfies at the end of the class.
The class is open to all abilities. Whether you’re a dab hand or an absolute beginner, with our top tips on drawing moving models we will have you sketching away in no time. We will provide everything you need to draw- drawing boards, paper and a colourful array of materials- but do feel free to bring along any of your favourite drawing materials if you’d like to.
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 Wales.
Sunday 27th October 2024 2pm-4pm Town Hall Hotel, E2 9AF £35 (10% donated)
Start practicing your best howls ‘n’ growls because this October we have a haunting Halloween special in store for you with our wonderful wolf pack. All over the world, wolves are surrounded by fascinating folk stories. In Japanese mythology they are guardians of the forest, able to hide behind a single blade of grass. In Sweden, they are said to be under the protection and control of Vargamors (forest witches).
Our much adored models are a family of British Lupine wolf dog hybrids, who look just like wild wolves, howl at the full moon and live in a pack, but are just as tame and friendly as the softest labrador!
The class will be lead by artist and illustrator Jennie Webber who will begin with an introduction into drawing from life, and some top tips which will be sure to get your drawings looking wolfy and wonderful. As the session progresses we will hear from canine behavioural expert and “head wolf” Natalie Langstrom, who will teach us all about wolf-dogs and wild wolf conservation. And do not fear, there will be plenty of time for tricks, strokes and wolf selfies at the end of the class.
The class is open to all abilities. Whether you’re a dab hand or an absolute beginner, with our top tips on drawing moving models we will have you sketching away in no time. We will provide everything you need to draw- drawing boards, paper and a colourful array of materials- but do feel free to bring along any of your favourite drawing materials if you’d like to.
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 Wales.
Monday 28th October 2024 10.30am-12pm & 1pm-2.30pm Florence Nightingale Museum £35 (£10 donated)
*Please note that vouchers or discounts are not valid for these classes, as the museum is handling the ticket sales*
This October, join us for a day of drawing classes celebrating the profound healing power of the humble pup. The classes will take place at the Florence Nightingale Museum, in connection with their upcoming exhibition on animal assisted therapy. Widely regarded as the founder of modern nursing, Nightingale was also one of the first advocates for AAT. During her lifetime she rescued many animals, most famously a little owl named Athena who would follow the nurse everywhere she went. While working at Scutari Hospital during the Crimean War, Nightingale introduced Jimmy the tortoise as a ‘ward pet’ for the wounded soldiers. She later wrote in her book Notes on Nursing (1860) that “a small pet is often an excellent companion for the sick”. Her insight paved the way for modern-day AAT, which has been gaining popularity and recognition ever since.
Over the two classes, we will be joined by six delightful therapy dogs and their dedicated volunteers from Therapy Dogs Nationwide. Each of these canine companions helps in their local communities, bringing joy, smiles and comfort to those who need it most. While we sketch the handsome hounds we will hear from their humans about the impact these dogs have, and there will be time for lots of questions. And yes, you can pet the dogs!
Artist and illustrator Jennie Webber will lead the session, beginning with some fun warm-up exercises and then sharing her top tips for drawing dogs. Children aged 7 and over are welcome to attend along with an adult also taking part in the class, and we have the option of family tickets. We cater for all ability levels and artistic styles, so whether you haven’t drawn since school or you are a seasoned pro, Jennie will tailor her advice to suit you. We will provide everything you need to get drawing- paper, drawing boards and a wide range of materials- but you’re welcome to bring your own kit along if you’d like to.
£10 from each ticket will be donated to Therapy Dogs Nationwide.
Monday 28th October 2024 7pm-9pm Ducie Street Warehouse £35 (10% donated)
Join us for a spooky drawing session with a selection of unusual owls. In some cultures owls are associated with darkness or are said to signify bad omens, but in reality they are charming, fascinating birds and often incredibly cute! We’ll meet a Barn Owl, also known as a Ghost Owl- with their incredible eye sight these nimble hunters can spot their prey on even the darkest of winter nights. We’ll also be joined by a Brown Malaysian Wood Owl- with their striking dark features and feather patterns. Finally we will draw a Great Grey Owl- gigantic and majestic with furry feet to keep warm in their cold climates. We may also be bringing a special spooky surprise for all you bird lovers!
The class will be lead by wildlife illustrator Jennie Webber, who will get you started with some fun drawing exercises and her top tips for sketching moving subjects. Throughout the session Jennie will be on hand with as much creative guidance as you would like. We will provide paper and drawing boards, as well as an array of colourful materials for you to enjoy, but do bring along any of your own favourites if you’d like. The 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! Our goal is for you to leave with not only some lovely drawings, but also a greater understanding and appreciation of the animals you’ve drawn.
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. The falconry team we are collaborating with for this class are Gauntlet Birds of Prey, a trusted and experienced specialist family of falconers with their own charity that supports conservation projects helping vultures, falcons and kestrels in the wild.
10% of profits will be donated to the Gauntlet Conservation Trust.
Tuesday 12th November 2024 7pm-9pm Draw Brighton, BN1 4GH £35 (10% donated)
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.
Saturday 28th September 2024 11am-12.30pm BST Online Class £12 (50% donated)
We are so looking forward to this upcoming class, where we will be drawing an adorable and unusual species- the Tanuki! Also known as Japanese Raccoon Dogs, this ancient canine species play an important role in the folklore of their native Japan. They are often depicted as shapeshifters, who can turn to humans and sing songs. As this is a live class, we will have to wait and see if our models feel like performing a number for us on the day!
The class will be live-streamed from the wonderful Ventura Wildlife Foundation, where we will meet animal expert Steve Goodwin, who will be joining us from inside the tanuki enclosure. Expect lots of lovely close-ups of the gang! The class will be led by artist and wildlife enthusiast Laura Cuppage, who will begin with her top animal drawing tips. We will draw the tanukis as they move freely about their enclosure, so Laura will provide plenty of advice on sketching moving models. Steve will be happy to answer your questions, and will have lots of fun tanuki facts to share throughout the session.
50% of ticket profits will be donated to Ventura Wildlife Foundation.
Tuesday 8th October 2024 7pm-8.30pm BST Online Class £12 (50% donated)
It’s about time for another visit to Costa Rica, don’t you think? We are delighted to be teaming up with our friends over at Jaguar Rescue Centre for another live online class, this time studying the resident deer that call the sanctuary home. We’ll meet a pair of red brocket deer named Ginger and Wasabi, along with white-tailed deer Penelope and Xai (who just so happens to be regarded by all at JRC as queen of the centre). We will hear each of the deer’s life stories and how they came to be at the centre, as well as going into detail about both species.
Artist Jennie Webber will lead the session, kicking things off with a drawing demonstration. She will be joined from the sanctuary by Noelia, who will introduce us to the animals and get us up to speed on these graceful forest creatures. As always, the class is open to all; you don’t need any prior art experience to take part. We see sketching as a pathway into the lives of our mammalian models- there’s no pressure to create a perfect portrait!
50% of ticket profits will be donated to Jaguar Rescue Centre.
Wednesday 6th November 2024 7pm-8.30pm GMT Online Class £12 (50% donated)
Our solar system is miraculous and awe inspiring. It is also pretty darn confusing, don’t you think? If you often find yourself gazing up at the sky in wonder but aren’t sure quite what you’re actually looking at, we have the perfect session for you! For this cosmic class, we will be joined by a doctoral researcher with a penchant for planets, Michael Lomotey. With his knack for explaining complex science simply, Michael will illuminate us on what it means for planets to be ‘in opposition’ and how to spot these events while star gazing. Opposition occurs when Earth finds itself directly between the Sun and another planet. At this time, planets shine at their biggest and brightest, visible throughout the night.
On hand to help you perfect your planets will be artist Jennie Webber. We will be drawing from high-quality reference images of the solar system, some of which will be photographs that Michael has taken himself. Jennie will demonstrate a variety of materials and techniques which she enjoys using to capture the night sky. While we draw, Michael will be happy to answer any cosmic queries you may have.
Wednesday 20th November 2024 7pm-8.30pm GMT Online Class £12 (50% donated)
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.
Since the very beginning, we have donated a portion of our profits to wildlife charities.
Our passion is supporting smaller organisations that don’t always see the limelight, to showcase their fantastic work and raise awareness of their causes. We’re proud to support the South Essex Wildlife Hospital, Wolf Watch UK and the British Hen Welfare Trust to name but a few! Over the years, with the help of our wonderful community, we have raised over £50,000 for charity.
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