Guest Artist at Prince's Mead Art Club

This week I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon as a guest artist at the Prince’s Mead School Art Club working with pupils, aged 8 to 11, who are currently preparing for an upcoming exhibition on the theme of birds.

Birds have long been a subject I return to in my own work. Their movement, character and colour make them endlessly fascinating to observe and draw, so it was a joy to share that enthusiasm with the students.

To help them get started, I brought along a selection of bird photographs I have taken over the years for them to use as reference. The session focused on creating pastel drawings, a medium I have been enjoying exploring recently. Pastels are wonderfully immediate and perfect for capturing the softness of feathers, the vibrancy of colour and the energy of quick mark making.

What impressed me most was the standard of observation and drawing from the pupils. They approached the subject with confidence and curiosity, experimenting with colour and texture while developing their own styles. It was clear they were really looking closely at the shapes and details of their birds, and the results were full of personality and life.

Watching the drawings emerge across the tables was a reminder of how exciting and expressive mark making can be when artists feel free to experiment. There was a wonderful sense of creativity in the room, and the finished pieces were incredibly varied, from delicate and detailed studies to bold and energetic interpretations.

Sharing a love of drawing and observation with young artists is always rewarding, and it was a real privilege to be invited to contribute to the club’s preparations for their upcoming exhibition.