ARTISTS UNITED
WELCOME TO OUR PAGE
WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO JOIN US!
Our courses are crammed full of exciting sessions,
fulfilling projects and an opportunity for you explore new techniques,
hone and develop existing skills and have a jolly good time doing it too!
We very much hope that this will whet your artistic appetite. Previous experience is most definitely not required.
All sessions are lead by a very experienced and extremely talented professional tutor.
Heather allows everyone to work at their own pace and is always on hand to give everyone the help they need.
fulfilling projects and an opportunity for you explore new techniques,
hone and develop existing skills and have a jolly good time doing it too!
We very much hope that this will whet your artistic appetite. Previous experience is most definitely not required.
All sessions are lead by a very experienced and extremely talented professional tutor.
Heather allows everyone to work at their own pace and is always on hand to give everyone the help they need.
ANY QUESTIONS?
PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO GET IN TOUCH
EMAIL - [email protected]
CALL - CLARE 07714793100
PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO GET IN TOUCH
EMAIL - [email protected]
CALL - CLARE 07714793100
ARTISTS UNITED
Artists United offer two weekly sessions, 10am-1pm or 2pm - 5pm.
From Thursday 22nd May 2025 we will be relocating from Nerdy Cafe to St Marys Church in Shrewsbury for the remaining 6 weeks of our Summer Term.
The Autumn term will begin on Thursday 4th September 2025 at The Flax Mill, Shrewsbury.
All materials will be provided throughout the entire course.
However we do recommend that you bring along some basic items each week please.
A4 sketch pad
30cm ruler
Artist eraser
Sketching pencils - HB, 2B & 4B
An A3 carry case to take your work and materials home after each session.
If you don't have these items you can purchase a starter pack including all these item from us for £30 upon booking.
The fee is £25 per session (Summer Term) with a slight increase to £30 (Autumn Term - starting in September)
This will need to be paid in full. If you join part way through the course, you will be invoiced for the remaining weeks.
Please refer to the Terms & Conditions below.
If you prefer to attend single sessions, then these will be charged at £30/£35 per session.
We will need to know by the Monday of the week you are available to join us. This is so we have all resources etc available and ready for each student, and most importantly that we have sufficient spaces available to accommodate you on your chosen session.
Artists United offer two weekly sessions, 10am-1pm or 2pm - 5pm.
From Thursday 22nd May 2025 we will be relocating from Nerdy Cafe to St Marys Church in Shrewsbury for the remaining 6 weeks of our Summer Term.
The Autumn term will begin on Thursday 4th September 2025 at The Flax Mill, Shrewsbury.
All materials will be provided throughout the entire course.
However we do recommend that you bring along some basic items each week please.
A4 sketch pad
30cm ruler
Artist eraser
Sketching pencils - HB, 2B & 4B
An A3 carry case to take your work and materials home after each session.
If you don't have these items you can purchase a starter pack including all these item from us for £30 upon booking.
The fee is £25 per session (Summer Term) with a slight increase to £30 (Autumn Term - starting in September)
This will need to be paid in full. If you join part way through the course, you will be invoiced for the remaining weeks.
Please refer to the Terms & Conditions below.
If you prefer to attend single sessions, then these will be charged at £30/£35 per session.
We will need to know by the Monday of the week you are available to join us. This is so we have all resources etc available and ready for each student, and most importantly that we have sufficient spaces available to accommodate you on your chosen session.
COURSES
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Venue: ST MARYS CHIRCH DOGPOLE SHREWSBURY SY1 1DX (SUMMER TERM)
THE FLAXMILL, SPRING GARDENS, SHREWSBURY, SY1 2SZ (AUTUMN TERM - FROM 4TH SEPTEMBER 2025) Details: WEEKLY ART COURSE (for beginner and intermediate level) Tutor: Heather Parry-Williams / Event Organiser: Clare Harvey COURSE AIMS: Each course will allow you to develop your creative art and design skills by experimenting with a range of media, materials, and techniques to produce unique and personalised artwork. You’ll be able to complete a range of studies and experiments and complete the final pieces over the 12 to 14 week courses. (Depending on the time of year the dates fall on). We aim to encourage observational skills, creative thinking and confidence when creating artwork. Every session will have group demonstrations and one-to-one tutoring alongside the opportunity to cooperate, discuss and share ideas with a group of like-minded fellow students. Heather Parry-Williams / Clare Harvey |
SUMMER TERM
THE SUMMER TERM WILL RUN FOR 10 WEEKS
COURSE FEE FOR 10 WEEKS WILL BE £250
'INSPIRATION'
THURSDAY 24TH APRIL 2025 - THURSDAY 26TH JUNE 2025
TWO SESSIONS
MORNING - 10AM - 1PM
OR
AFTERNOON - 2PM -5PM
COURSE OVERVIEW
THEME: “INSPIRATION”
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO EXPLORE A WIDE RANGE OF GENRE AND MEDIUM.
(INCLUDING PENCIL, PEN, CHARCOAL, WATERCOLOUR, SOFT PASTEL, COLLAGE, ACRYLIC
PAINT AND COLOURED PENCILS). WITH A NEW SKILLS TO DEVELOP AND A NOVEL THEME
EACH WEEK, THERE WILL BE MOST DEFINETLY SOMETHING FOR ALL TO ENJOY.
WEEK 1: (Williams Morris Designs)
We’ll spend the first lesson planning a design of interwoven plants and flowers, based on the
beautifully sinuous and intricate designs for wallpaper created by William Morris.
Materials:
Coloured Pencil
WEEK 2: (Landscape Line Drawing)
Referencing the varied and expressive marks used in line drawings by artists such as Van Gogh, we’ll
be exploring how to depict perspective, form, and texture within a landscape.
Materials:
Fine liner and Charcoal
WEEK 3: (Durer’s “Young Hare” 1502)
Inspired by the sensitively rendered and closely observed detail in Durer’s “Young Hare” (1502), we
will create a small study of an animal paying attention to the proportions, features and fur.
Materials:
Pencil and soft pastel
WEEK 4: (Mixed Media Bird)
This week we’ll be creating a bold and colourful collage inspired by 19th century ornithology
illustrations. By ripping, cutting, and overlaying coloured and patterned paper (combined with
painted details), we’ll create an evocative image of an exotic bird.
Materials:
Tissue Paper (and a variety of other materials)
WEEK 5: (Storytelling Through Art)
Inspired by Grayson Perry’s large-scale tapestries titled “The Vanity of Small Differences,” we’ll
consider how to develop a story of contemporary life within a painted scene.
Materials:
Acrylic Paint
WEEK 6: (Portraits in Landscape)
This week we’re inspired by the bold colours, organic lines and forms used by the 20th century
Austrian artist and architect, Hundertwasser. With undulating lines, irregular forms, and bright
colour we’ll develop a portrait of a face set within a strikingly colourful landscape.
Materials: Watercolour
WEEK 7: (Abstract Watercolour Project)
Using delicate watercolour washes we aim to create a harmonious design of abstract shapes
influenced by the paintings of Paul Klee.
Materials:
Watercolour (and various other materials)
WEEK 8: (Microscopic Forms)
Using acrylic paint as our medium, this week allows studying the work of Klari Reiss,
famous for creating art in petri dishes. Her bold, colourful designs embrace both art and science.
Materials:
Acrylic paint
WEEK 9: (Marine Life)
Duncan Cameron is a contemporary artist who is a diver and an artist. Using mixed media materials
such as coloured pencils, pens, and soft pastels over tea-stained surfaces, we’ll study the fascinating
forms and textures found in marine life.
Materials:
Coloured Pencils
WEEK 10: COMPLETION OF WORK
This session allows us to catch up on any missed or incomplete work. Alternatively, you could
develop a preferred idea of your own based on the theme. There will also be a still life option for you
to draw if you prefer. Help and guidance will be given on the day, whatever your task choice.
AUTUMN TERM
THE AUTUMN TERM WILL RUN FOR 14 WEEKS
COURSE FEE FOR 14 WEEKS WILL BE £420
WEDNESDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER 2025 - WEDNESDAY 10TH DECEMBER 2025
(WITH A ONE WEEK BREAK ON THURSDAY 29TH OCTOBER)
THURSDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER 2025 - THURSDAY 11TH DECEMBER 2025
(WITH A ONE WEEK BREAK ON THURSDAY 30TH OCTOBER)
TWO SESSIONS
MORNING - 10AM - 1PM
OR
AFTERNOON - 2PM -5PM
THE AUTUMN TERM WILL RUN FOR 14 WEEKS
COURSE FEE FOR 14 WEEKS WILL BE £420
WEDNESDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER 2025 - WEDNESDAY 10TH DECEMBER 2025
(WITH A ONE WEEK BREAK ON THURSDAY 29TH OCTOBER)
THURSDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER 2025 - THURSDAY 11TH DECEMBER 2025
(WITH A ONE WEEK BREAK ON THURSDAY 30TH OCTOBER)
TWO SESSIONS
MORNING - 10AM - 1PM
OR
AFTERNOON - 2PM -5PM
COURSE OVERVIEW
ARTISTS UNITED – 14-WEEK ART COURSE
Dates: 3/4 September – 10/11 December 2025 - (with a one week break 29/30 October)
Times: Wednesdays/Thursdays, 10:00–13:00 or 14:00–17:00
Venue: Flaxmill Maltings, Shrewsbury, SY1 2SZ
Event Organiser: Clare Harvey (Chantilly Grey).
Tutor: Heather Parry-Williams
EXPLORE ART THROUGH HISTORY, INDUSTRY & NATURE
Join us for a unique and inspiring 14-week art course set in the heart of the world’s first iron-framed building — the iconic Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings. This historic site played a pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution, and we’ll be using its remarkable heritage as a source of creative inspiration.
Designed for both beginners and those with some experience, the course will explore the contrasting worlds of industry and nature, using a wide range of materials and techniques. Each week introduces a new focus, skill, and medium — from drawing and painting to mixed media and collage — allowing you to build confidence, creativity, and a personal body of work.
COURSE AIMS
COURSE THEME: "Natural and Manmade"
Inspired by the Flaxmill's industrial legacy, the first half of the course focuses on manmade forms, textures, and historical references — from rusty ironwork to factory skylines. Then, in a deliberate and striking contrast, we shift our gaze to the natural world: trees, plants, insects, and organic forms that offer richness, colour, and calm.
WEEKLY BREAKDOWN – “Natural and Manmade”
Week 1 – Glass Bottles (Introduction to Form & Tone)
We begin with a timeless still life subject: glass bottles. Focusing on form, proportion, and light, you’ll learn how to render transparent and reflective surfaces using graphite pencil. This session introduces essential observational drawing skills and sets the foundation for the weeks ahead.
Medium: Pencil
Week 2 – Rusty Metal & Wrought Iron (Industrial Elegance)
Drawing inspiration from the historic ironwork at the Flaxmill, this session focuses on the beautiful decay of rust and the ornate designs found in industrial metalwork. You’ll explore colour mixing and expressive brushwork to capture texture, tone, and aged patina using watercolour.
Medium: Watercolour
Week 3 – Manmade Textures (Layers & Surfaces)
This week takes a tactile approach. Using materials like plaster, cardboard, sandpaper, and fabric, you’ll build a surface that mimics industrial textures such as concrete, brick, and metal. Then, using drawing tools and washes, you’ll create an abstracted study full of depth and contrast.
Medium: Mixed Media
Week 4 – Beer in Glass (Colour, Transparency & Reflection)
A nod to traditional working-class imagery, this session teaches you how to layer colour and build subtle gradients using coloured pencils. You’ll observe a glass of beer — bubbles, light, and amber hues — and learn to replicate the glowing, reflective surface with care and precision.
Medium: Coloured Pencil
Week 5 – Tools & Texture (Inspired by Jim Dine)
You’ll choose from a range of industrial tools — spanners, hammers, pliers — to create a bold, graphic composition inspired by artist Jim Dine. We’ll build textured backgrounds with collage and acrylic before layering a drawing of the tool over the top for dramatic contrast.
Medium: Drawing on Collaged Background
Week 6 – Factories & Figures (Inspired by L.S. Lowry)
Pay tribute to the legacy of the Industrial Revolution with a Lowry-inspired cityscape. Learn to simplify forms, distort perspective, and convey emotion through stylised figures and architectural elements. This session embraces a naive but expressive style using acrylics.
Medium: Acrylic Paint
Week 7 – Floral Painting on Linen (From Steel to Softness)
We now make a deliberate shift into the natural world. You’ll paint a decorative floral composition directly onto linen, exploring soft colour transitions and botanical patterns. This session encourages loose brushwork and intuitive design.
Medium: Acrylic on Linen
Week 8 – Guy Denning Portraits (Expressive Faces in Charcoal)
Explore the emotional power of portraiture with dynamic charcoal techniques. Inspired by the raw, atmospheric work of Guy Denning, you’ll learn how to use smudging, erasing, and layering to create haunting, emotive portraits with dramatic contrasts and expressive lines.
Medium: Chalk & Charcoal
Week 9 – Trees in Ink (Mark-Making & Structure)
Venture outdoors (weather permitting) or work from reference to capture the solid elegance and detail of trees. Using only pens, you’ll experiment with different mark-making styles — hatching, stippling, and cross-contour — to define form, texture, and rhythm.
Medium: Pen
Week 10 – Knotted Wood & Bark (Tone, Texture & Detail)
This follow-up to Week 9 uses graphite pencils to capture the grain, knots, and weathered beauty of wood and bark. Emphasis is placed on tone, contrast, and composition to create richly textured and realistic renderings.
Medium: Pencil
Week 11 – Insects in Detail (Natural Miniature Worlds)
We turn our gaze to the miniature, studying the fascinating shapes, structures, and patterns of insects. You'll create detailed observational drawings that celebrate their complexity and delicacy, combining scientific precision with artistic flair.
Medium: Pen & Pencil
Week 12 – Pomegranates (Still Life in Colour)
A feast for the eyes, this session involves the expressive use of acrylic paint to capture the luscious texture and vibrant interior of a pomegranate. You'll explore layering, blending, and composition to bring this fruit to life on canvas or board.
Medium: Acrylic Paint
Week 13 – Costa Maragakis’ Shoe Designs (Surreal Colour & Pattern)
Step into the world of Greek designer Costa Maragakis and explore footwear as fantastical art. You’ll create vibrant, imaginative shoe illustrations using coloured pencils — celebrating bold linework, surreal design, and joyful creativity.
Medium: Coloured Pencils
Week 14 – Final Session: Completion & Personal Exploration
Use this final week to revisit unfinished pieces, refine your favourites, or start a new personal response to the course’s themes. With one-to-one support, you’ll have the freedom to experiment, reflect, and celebrate your artistic journey.
Medium: Open Choice
Dates: 3/4 September – 10/11 December 2025 - (with a one week break 29/30 October)
Times: Wednesdays/Thursdays, 10:00–13:00 or 14:00–17:00
Venue: Flaxmill Maltings, Shrewsbury, SY1 2SZ
Event Organiser: Clare Harvey (Chantilly Grey).
Tutor: Heather Parry-Williams
EXPLORE ART THROUGH HISTORY, INDUSTRY & NATURE
Join us for a unique and inspiring 14-week art course set in the heart of the world’s first iron-framed building — the iconic Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings. This historic site played a pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution, and we’ll be using its remarkable heritage as a source of creative inspiration.
Designed for both beginners and those with some experience, the course will explore the contrasting worlds of industry and nature, using a wide range of materials and techniques. Each week introduces a new focus, skill, and medium — from drawing and painting to mixed media and collage — allowing you to build confidence, creativity, and a personal body of work.
COURSE AIMS
- Experiment with a wide variety of media and materials
- Explore both observational and imaginative approaches
- Build confidence in creative thinking and visual storytelling
- Connect your artwork to themes of industrial heritage and natural beauty
- Engage with others in a supportive, like-minded creative group
COURSE THEME: "Natural and Manmade"
Inspired by the Flaxmill's industrial legacy, the first half of the course focuses on manmade forms, textures, and historical references — from rusty ironwork to factory skylines. Then, in a deliberate and striking contrast, we shift our gaze to the natural world: trees, plants, insects, and organic forms that offer richness, colour, and calm.
WEEKLY BREAKDOWN – “Natural and Manmade”
Week 1 – Glass Bottles (Introduction to Form & Tone)
We begin with a timeless still life subject: glass bottles. Focusing on form, proportion, and light, you’ll learn how to render transparent and reflective surfaces using graphite pencil. This session introduces essential observational drawing skills and sets the foundation for the weeks ahead.
Medium: Pencil
Week 2 – Rusty Metal & Wrought Iron (Industrial Elegance)
Drawing inspiration from the historic ironwork at the Flaxmill, this session focuses on the beautiful decay of rust and the ornate designs found in industrial metalwork. You’ll explore colour mixing and expressive brushwork to capture texture, tone, and aged patina using watercolour.
Medium: Watercolour
Week 3 – Manmade Textures (Layers & Surfaces)
This week takes a tactile approach. Using materials like plaster, cardboard, sandpaper, and fabric, you’ll build a surface that mimics industrial textures such as concrete, brick, and metal. Then, using drawing tools and washes, you’ll create an abstracted study full of depth and contrast.
Medium: Mixed Media
Week 4 – Beer in Glass (Colour, Transparency & Reflection)
A nod to traditional working-class imagery, this session teaches you how to layer colour and build subtle gradients using coloured pencils. You’ll observe a glass of beer — bubbles, light, and amber hues — and learn to replicate the glowing, reflective surface with care and precision.
Medium: Coloured Pencil
Week 5 – Tools & Texture (Inspired by Jim Dine)
You’ll choose from a range of industrial tools — spanners, hammers, pliers — to create a bold, graphic composition inspired by artist Jim Dine. We’ll build textured backgrounds with collage and acrylic before layering a drawing of the tool over the top for dramatic contrast.
Medium: Drawing on Collaged Background
Week 6 – Factories & Figures (Inspired by L.S. Lowry)
Pay tribute to the legacy of the Industrial Revolution with a Lowry-inspired cityscape. Learn to simplify forms, distort perspective, and convey emotion through stylised figures and architectural elements. This session embraces a naive but expressive style using acrylics.
Medium: Acrylic Paint
Week 7 – Floral Painting on Linen (From Steel to Softness)
We now make a deliberate shift into the natural world. You’ll paint a decorative floral composition directly onto linen, exploring soft colour transitions and botanical patterns. This session encourages loose brushwork and intuitive design.
Medium: Acrylic on Linen
Week 8 – Guy Denning Portraits (Expressive Faces in Charcoal)
Explore the emotional power of portraiture with dynamic charcoal techniques. Inspired by the raw, atmospheric work of Guy Denning, you’ll learn how to use smudging, erasing, and layering to create haunting, emotive portraits with dramatic contrasts and expressive lines.
Medium: Chalk & Charcoal
Week 9 – Trees in Ink (Mark-Making & Structure)
Venture outdoors (weather permitting) or work from reference to capture the solid elegance and detail of trees. Using only pens, you’ll experiment with different mark-making styles — hatching, stippling, and cross-contour — to define form, texture, and rhythm.
Medium: Pen
Week 10 – Knotted Wood & Bark (Tone, Texture & Detail)
This follow-up to Week 9 uses graphite pencils to capture the grain, knots, and weathered beauty of wood and bark. Emphasis is placed on tone, contrast, and composition to create richly textured and realistic renderings.
Medium: Pencil
Week 11 – Insects in Detail (Natural Miniature Worlds)
We turn our gaze to the miniature, studying the fascinating shapes, structures, and patterns of insects. You'll create detailed observational drawings that celebrate their complexity and delicacy, combining scientific precision with artistic flair.
Medium: Pen & Pencil
Week 12 – Pomegranates (Still Life in Colour)
A feast for the eyes, this session involves the expressive use of acrylic paint to capture the luscious texture and vibrant interior of a pomegranate. You'll explore layering, blending, and composition to bring this fruit to life on canvas or board.
Medium: Acrylic Paint
Week 13 – Costa Maragakis’ Shoe Designs (Surreal Colour & Pattern)
Step into the world of Greek designer Costa Maragakis and explore footwear as fantastical art. You’ll create vibrant, imaginative shoe illustrations using coloured pencils — celebrating bold linework, surreal design, and joyful creativity.
Medium: Coloured Pencils
Week 14 – Final Session: Completion & Personal Exploration
Use this final week to revisit unfinished pieces, refine your favourites, or start a new personal response to the course’s themes. With one-to-one support, you’ll have the freedom to experiment, reflect, and celebrate your artistic journey.
Medium: Open Choice
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – ARTISTS UNITED (CHANTILLY GREY)
Artists United, trading as Chantilly Grey, provides courses for individuals aged 18 and over.
Payment of Fees
Course fees must be paid termly, in advance. To secure your place, full payment must be received 28 days before the course start date, and absolutely no later than 7 days prior to the course commencing.
This policy is in place to allow us to meet our contractual obligations with the venue, cover associated costs, and plan effectively. If payment is not received within this timeframe, your place may be released and offered to others on the waiting list.
Pay-As-You-Go Sessions
For those wishing to attend individual sessions, a fee of £35 per session applies. These sessions must be paid for in advance.
To ensure availability of resources and adequate preparation, please notify us by the Monday of the week you wish to attend. Booking is subject to availability, and confirmation must be made via email each week.
Please note that priority will be given to attendees who have enrolled on the full course, as this supports consistent planning and delivery for the group as a whole. We will always do our best to accommodate pay-as-you-go requests where space and resources allow.
Cancelled Sessions
If a session is cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control (e.g., illness, extreme weather, transport disruption) and a replacement session is offered, no refund will be issued. If a replacement session cannot be arranged, a refund will be processed at the end of the term.
If a class does not meet the minimum enrolment required to cover costs, we may offer to reduce the number of weeks without reducing the fee or alternatively adjust the fee to allow the class to proceed.
Refund Policy
- If the course is cancelled before it begins, a full refund will be issued.
- Refunds are typically processed immediately, though in exceptional cases may take up to 28 days.
- If you withdraw from a course once it has started, you will not be eligible for a refund.
We reserve the right to make reasonable changes to course tutors, timings, content, or venue (within a reasonable distance of the original location). No refunds will be given in these instances.
Attendance
Unless you are informed otherwise, please assume that your course will go ahead as scheduled.
We advise all attendees to join our WhatsApp group for the most immediate updates regarding class schedules or changes. If WhatsApp is not suitable, please ensure you check your emails in good time before setting off for your session to avoid unnecessary travel in the event of any last-minute updates.
Course Content
While we aim to deliver all courses as described, there may be occasions where changes to content, materials, or media are necessary. These adaptations will not impact the overall quality or enjoyment of the course. Suitable alternatives will always be provided.
General
All attendees must complete the required documentation and sign an Agreement form (either on paper or electronically). By signing, you agree to abide by these Terms and Conditions.
Artists United cannot accept liability for the loss of or damage to personal property, including project materials and completed work.
Disclaimer
Artists United makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of course descriptions and the availability of advertised sessions. However, we reserve the right to make reasonable adjustments or substitutions if necessary.
Participation in courses is at your own risk. Artists United is not liable for any personal injury or loss incurred during the course, except where caused by proven negligence.
Privacy Notice
By enrolling in a course, you agree to the collection and use of your personal data (such as name, contact details, and payment information) for administrative purposes related to your course participation.
Your information will be stored securely and will not be shared with third parties, except where required by law or for essential service provision (e.g., payment processing).
You have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your personal data by contacting us directly.