Face-to-face teaching
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Portrait Heads in clay, Art Junction, Billingshurst
5-day Summer School: Monday 14 July to Friday 18 July 2025, 10-4pm each day, £465
Have you ever wanted to capture someone’s face or expression in a sculpture? Working a portrait in clay from a live model is a really rewarding experience. This course will explore how to observe heads – how to see their differences and similarities, and in turn learn how to translate this understanding into a sculpture which captures a likeness of the sitter. During the five days a life-sized clay portrait of a live sitter will be built on an armature. This concentrated modelling will be interspersed with fun exercises – with clay and without – to help train up the eye and hands. This course will be taught in a way suitable for those with experience of sculpting in clay and those new to it. There will be an opportunity to hollow-out the heads after the course, for an additional fee. The studios are by the platform of Billingshurst station (on the London Victoria line).
Booking page here.
Portrait Sculpture with Hazel Reeves, Phoenix Brighton
Monday 4 August to Friday 8 August 2025, 11.30 to 5.30pm each day, £400, course maximum 8
Get ready to become hooked. Sculpting a portrait in clay is a very rewarding experience. This course will explore how to observe heads – how to see their differences and similarities, and in turn learn how to translate this understanding into a sculpture which captures a likeness of the sitter. On the first day we will sculpt rapidly an under-life-size head of the sitter, without measuring. During the next four days we will more systematically build a life-sized clay portrait of our sitter on an armature/bust-peg. This concentrated modelling will be interspersed with fun exercises – with clay and without – to help train up the eye and hands. There will not be time to hollow-out your piece, but if you are experienced, you can do it after the course, or there is someone at the studios who offers a hollowing-out and firing service.
Most materials are included in the cost of the course including clay for a life-size portrait. A wooden armature (sometimes called a ‘bust peg’) will be provided. This is yours to keep. This course will be taught in a way that’s suitable for all levels, from beginner to advanced. Book here!
Portrait Sculpture for All, The Art Academy, London
Summer school: Monday 11-15 August 2025, 10-4.30pm, Intermediate to Advanced (price £395 includes clay and model, firing not included)
Portrait sculpture is an immensely absorbing and enjoyable discovery with every new sitter. This course aims to build upon your previous experience [Intermediate/Advanced] to further how to observe and translate your observation into a clay portrait sculpture. his engaging one-week course will guide you through the fundamental techniques that are used to create a Portrait Sculpture. The skills you learn throughout the week will help you understand how to examine the head from all angles. You will use drawings to assist the sculptural process and by observing the model throughout the week, you will gradually build on your piece and learn how to: use modelling tools and calipers; use a measurement system to set up the form of the head; use the underlying structure of the skull to help with the form; look at the 3/4 profiles of the head; capture the models characteristics by indicating features of the face; create light and shadow; add in details and identify what needs to be improved.
Book here
Expressive Portrait Masterclass with Hazel Reeves, The Art Academy, London
Weekend: Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 August, 2025, 10-4.30pm, £245
This 2-day workshop is an exciting opportunity to work with top portrait artist Hazel Reeves and is for those with a bit more experience with portraiture. It will enable you to focus on getting expression, character, emotion and movement in your sculptures. Using a different model each day, you will have the chance to sculpt in clay a series of smaller heads focusing on ways of bringing the piece to life, using texture, form, tone and the pose/composition. This concentrated modelling will be interspersed with fun exercises – with clay and without – to bring more spontaneity to your work. This is aimed at intermediate and advanced students.
Book here.
Mentoring
Whether you need advice on your first clay portrait head or need guidance and support as you tackle the journey towards becoming a professional sculptor, I can be there for you. It could be a one-off session or on-going support, face-to-face or online. Email me for further details.
Advisory service to statue commissioners
Trying to navigate the creation and installation of a statue? I can provide advice to prevent you falling into some of the pitfalls, including in relation to budget-setting and the process of briefing, selecting and supporting a public art sculptor. Email me for further details.