Improve Your Drawing

Thu 23 Apr- 18 Jun (8 wks) | 7-9pm  | 16+ yrs

Enhance your drawing skills in a welcoming, relaxed environment designed to inspire creativity. Through engaging, hands-on exercises, you’ll build confidence using line, tone, and colour while creating dynamic compositions. Explore a variety of art materials and techniques to expand your artistic expression and style..  

What will the class cover and how will it be taught?

Still life subjects and photographs will inspire your work throughout this course. With expert guidance, tutor demonstrations, and a supportive, social atmosphere, you’ll create drawing compositions you can be truly proud of. 

You will learn to: 

1. Experiment with pencil, graphite, charcoal, and pastel to expand your technical skills. 
2. Strengthen your observational drawing through engaging, skill-building exercises. 
3. Understand the key elements of strong composition through practical exploration. 
4. Apply basic colour theory to create vibrant drawings. 
5. Explore a range of artistic styles and approaches by studying other artists’ work. 

Teaching and learning methods include hands-on practice, demonstrations, group discussion, one-to-one guidance, artist research, and peer feedback. 

Who is it suitable for?

Suitable for all levels of ability. 

Important Information 

This course will be held in Studio 3. There are no sessions during half term 25-29 May.

What do I need to bring?

• A2/A3 sketchbook of white cartridge paper.
• Some coloured paper. 
• A soft pencil, like a 9B or 14B (Faber-Castell) pencil, or graphite pencils.
• Pencil sharpener.
• Willow charcoal and putty rubber.
• Range of pastels (soft or hard).
• Cheap hairspray or artist’s fixative.
• (Optional) Other drawing materials like charcoal pencils, compressed charcoal sticks or conte sticks.

Are there any additional costs?

No  

About the tutor

Catherine MacDiarmid brings over 30 years of teaching experience to her role, combining extensive classroom practice with the insight of a dedicated, practising artist. She has exhibited widely, including the BP Portrait Award (2001/02), the New Light Art (2021/22 and 2023/24), and regularly at the Mall Galleries. Her work has received numerous accolades, most recently the Watercolour Materials Award at the Jackson’s Painting Prize in 2023 and the People and Faces Award 2025 at the Lake Artists Society. She is an elected member of the Lakes Artists Society and the Contemporary British Portrait Painters. Catherine has also appeared on Portrait Artist of the Year (2014 and 2018), reaching the semi-finals in 2019. Alongside private portrait commissions, her work is collected internationally, and she is based in her home studio in Kendal. 

See all Creative Learning courses here.