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SAC Summer Programme
Summer Programme
Organised by Amanda Sutcliffe
Venue
Metal Art School, Chalkwell Park
(nearest entrance is in Chalkwell Ave - opposite Imperial Avenue). Free parking and blue badge parking.
Sessions will be from 1-4pm. FREE to members, £5 for non-members
Programme may be subject to change
Current confirmed details below - click artist name for more details about them
11/04/2026
Julie Ford - Creating spring tulips in soft pastel
Using the reference image Julie will guide you to reproduce this vibrant vase of tulips using soft pastels. Your tulips can be any colour and you can even paint a watercolour background.
Materials being used that you may wish to bring with you to join in:
Soft pastels, pastel paper, inspirational image - you can print the one provided or have it on your mobile device - or bring an image of your own. I use pastelmat paper - I will have some available to purchase at £1 per sheet. Sanded papers hold more layers of pastel. I use highly pigmented soft pastels such as Unison, Sennelier, Schminke etc. Jacksons own brand are good. Harder pastels are best used for underpainting. Click here for Julie's image
Julie is an Associate Artist for Unison Soft Pastels
25/04/2026
Sharon Henson - acrylics
Sharon will be looking at composition, value and hue in the gardens outside Metal's Art School
Materials being used that you may wish to bring with you to join in:
Bring along any materials you use to apply the focus of composition, value and hue that Sharon will be demonstrating
9/05/2026
Helen Mortlock De Gil - watercolour sketching
Helen will lead a series of quick timed urban sketches in watercolour and fountain pen for members to sketch alongside. Weather allowing this will be held in various locations around the park (in the event of poor weather this will take place inside the studio and will incorporate watercolour portrait sketching)
Materials being used that you may wish to bring with you to join in:
A sketch book or paper (a heavier weight paper that can withstand water would be better but not necessary) and something to lean on. A biro, fountain pen or marker. Watercolours and a brush if you have these. Alternatively, coloured pencils, water colour pencils. A container for water.
30/05/2026
Stephen Jordan - perspective
Stephen is going to share how perspective works and how he uses it to bring a variety of composition ideas
Materials being used that you may wish to bring with you to join in:
As perspective isn't specifically about one type of medium you can bring along any art materials, but do include a pencil, notebook and/or sketchpad to capture those nuggets of how perspective works, so that we can be more confident to put it into practice.
13/06/2026 SUMMER OUTING
27/06/2026
Ben Floyd - masking tape techniques
Charcoal on board & masking tape techniques.
Materials being used that you may wish to bring with you to join in:
Talking through my approach and education etc. Going more in depth with certain processes – masking techniques and use of materials and encouraging participants to try these out at the demo. Click here for examples of Ben's artwork.
It would be useful to bring along any of these if you have them:
Charcoal, masking tape of various widths, craft knife, white acrylic paint, acrylic brush, small primed hardboard 3mm
There will be some of these resources available to use/share.
11/07/2026
Natasha Davis - lino printing
My session will provide an introduction to linocut printmaking, demonstrating the full
process from initial sketch through to the carving, inking and printing (particularly
focusing on how to print without a press). I will cover key techniques, safe tool use
and practical tips.
Materials being used that you may wish to bring with you to join in:
Needed by artist for set-up: A table or flat working surface and access to a sink for cleaning materials. It may be useful to have cleaning wipes available on tables for hands and tools. Materials list:
● Lino (soft-cut or traditional grey)
● Lino cutting tools/relief carving tools
● Bench hook or non-slip mat
● Printing ink or ink/stamp pad
● Roller (brayer)
● Inking slab/tray or a similar flat, smooth surface
● Printmaking paper (100 gsm or less is best)
● Spoon or baren for hand printing
● Pencil and sketch paper/ sketched designs
● Apron or protective clothing. Artist will provide 75mm x 75mm traditional lino blocks for those who choose not to bring their own lino. I will provide a selection of my own personal cutting tools and inks for demonstration and shared use. I will also bring along some of my workshop materials like rubber rollers, wooden spoons/brayers, anti-slip mats and inking trays; these will be limited so I’m unable to guarantee there will be enough for every attendee - people may need to share! I will be bringing copier paper with me and I also intend to bring a selection of printmaking papers suitable for handprinting. Lastly, I will bring along my tabletop press for people to try.
Members may want to bring a sketch or reference image if they wish.
25/07/2026
Gareth Barton - charcoal life drawing
Gareth will demonstrate his individual style of creating portraits in charcoal and use of materials and encouraging participants to try
Materials being used that you may wish to bring with you to join in:
newsprint / sketch paper / variety of charcoal & conte mark making sticks
15/08/2026
Claire Hankey - mindful botanical drawing
This will be a calm, reflective session exploring botanical drawing as a gentle, creative practice. Using the gardens as our starting point, I’ll guide you through a series of simple, inspiring drawing prompts designed to help you slow down and really observe.
I’ll share how I use drawing to suggest rather than describe botanical forms, and how this way of working has become almost meditative for me. I’ll also demonstrate how loose drawing marks appear within the layers of my abstract paintings, and how I work to preserve and respond to them rather than refine them away.
Materials being used that you may wish to bring with you to join in:
Paper, sketchbook (whatever size you have is fine), HB and 4B pencil, retractable pencils, coloured pencils, carbon paper, sharpies
12/09/2026
Andy Downes - mixed media techniques
I will be demonstrating spray painting and stencilling techniques - dependant on being outdoors!
Materials being used that you may wish to bring with you to join in:
Andy will be bringing: Spray paint, paper, stencils, kraft knives, pencils. You can bring these items with you also, if you have them available, plus a canvas if you wish and a photo that you would like to turn into a stencil.
19th & 20th September 2026 AUTUMN ART FAIR
Chalkwell Hall 10 - 4pm
members set up & Private View Friday 18th Sept
Members: entry link will open in the Members Area Tues 1st Sept 2026
26/09/2026
Darren Jones - drawing and scaling-up images
Darren will be sharing his process in producing artworks - starting with drawing/scaling up
Materials being used that you may wish to bring with you to join in:
Darren will most likely have a reference image from his National Geographic magazines, and will be using paper, pencil, biro pen, marker & acrylic paint - working from his easel.
Please do bring along an image ready to draw / scale up onto your chosen surface using your own preferred mediums.
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