Norfolk creative Arts is a renowned creative art school based in a grade II listed former junior school in the village of Grimston in West Norfolk. Hans had the vision to open Norfolk Creative Arts in 2011 and ever sinse has established a growing loyal and dedicated clientelle who keep coming back to this special and independent art school.

Following a careful restoraton to bring the building back to life after being neglected for several years, Hans created a centre of artistic excellence in North Norfolk - perfect for your own artistic development within this superb North Norfofk arts venue. 

Hans studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths and then Fine Art and Theatre at Brighton University and with over 10 years experience as an events manager for a top London event company, he is your perfect host and organiser too.

I'm delighted to be returning to Norfolk Creative Arts for another exclusive weekend of expressive creativity. You will learn lots each day as we explore loose, free and energetic pastel painting techniques with soft and hard pastels in combination to create dramatic looking paintings.

This exciting weekend is perfect for artists looking for something new and who want to gain confidence with colour in their work and who want to really learn how to use pastels in lots of rewarding and exciting ways.

Day 1 Saturday 27 September 2025
Autumn woodland trees
This workshop will teach you how to express all the glowing light in a beautiful Autumn woodland filled with rich warm colour and deep contrasting rich shadows. 

You will learn how to layer your pastels (both hard and soft) and when to interchange between them to create ta woodland painting with a real 'wow' factor!

We will focus on direct mark making and build your confidence to use pastel colours in a really expressive way both drawing and painting with them at the same time.

New to pastels as a complete beginner or a more experienced pastel artist, the pastel techniques taught will inspire you each and every step of the way as we build our pastel paintings together.

Regular demonstrations, group and one to one tuition throughout the day are sure to inspire!

Day 2 Sunday 28 September 2025
Leafy lane - glowing light

In this our second Autumn pastel workshop we will focus on shape, colour, light and dark and implied textures even more as you bring to life your favourite Autumn leafy lanefilled with light and glowing colours.

I will teach you how contrasting elements such as barns and rural buildings play an inportant part in composition to draw the eye as we explore sumptuous layers of soft and hard pastels to create a beutiful expressive Autumn landscape with real presence.

We will creatively explore light and dark palette colours, create line and texture and go beyond a mere copy or representation of a view but create pastel paintings with personal connections and real visual presence.

Further information

Although the short art break is aimed at artists with some previous painting experience (not the humble beginner), being a ’newbie’ to pastels is OK - in fact, it’s a very good thing as I don’t have to unravel all the bad habits you may have picked up with all those ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ along the way!

I’ve won awards for pastel painting over the years and shown in the Pastel Society (Federation of British Artists at Mall Galleries London) also on several occasions. The pastel techniques that have helped me achieve these successes and more you will learn on this rewarding fun packed two day annual event that will be good for all for all of us at Norfolk Creative Arts.

The weekend workshop is a real must for anyone wanting to really gain a truly creative practical experience and in depth understanding what it’s like to work with beautiful soft pastels.

It is important that you bring your own  visual references to paint from as these are not provided.

How to book and further enquiries 
To book your place please contact Hans on 01485 240420 or email art@norfolkcreativearts.co.uk
or to book directly online please visit https://www.norfolkcreativearts.co.uk/

Location
Church Hill School, 71 Gayton Rd, Grimston PE32 1BG

What will be provided:

• Drawing boards and Easels
• Regular demonstrations, group and one to one expert tuition throughout the day
• All refreshments and a 2 course lunch each day

Things to bring with you to  the workshops

For both workshops we will be working on thicker pastel papers.
I highly recommend Canson Mi-Tientes 'Touch' 350 gsm (black), Clairefontaine Pastelmat 360gsm (Anthrecite), Tim Fisher 'Fisher 400 art pastel paper - buff), Sennelier soft pastel card 360gsm or similar.
Full sheet sizes are also recommended for each of your pastel workshops so you can be freer and more expressive.

Note: These papers are stronger and perfect for the loose and expressive techniques and hold lots more pastel than other thinner types of paper do.

Your own photographic reference to paont from for each subject over the workshop weekend.
I highly recommend you plan ahead and choose painting subjects with lots of glowing Autumn colour filled with light and shade. I highly recommend that you print A4 glossy prints to work from. Printing on ordinary copy paper and colours sink in. Many students choose to use an iPad or similar to work from. Often I do the same. However, my device is held at eye level using a 'Goose Neck' so if you have those bring them with you.

If you download references to paint from from the Internet please be mindful of copywright and make sure the images are not small nor pixilated. You want a good quality and detailed reference to paint from. 

Hard and soft pastels
Please try and avoid the very cheap dusty ones - the colours are not as bright and you are likely to be ‘wanting’ real depth and radiant colours in your finished paintings. A highly recommended quality but economical range is the 72 set of ‘Inscribe’ pastels. I use them all the time. Rembrandt harder pastels are great in combination with Unison Colour and I use both.

Fixative (any brand) IS NEEDED! Don’t bring hairspray - it yellows your work in the long term.

Other equipment 
Wet wipes - but not essential. Just easier to quickly clean your hands by your easel
Buldog clips and Making tape to secure your work to the drawing boards
Old scrap paper (photocopier or envelops etc)
A camera to record things and a note book and pen to take notes