Cambridge Art Class

A friendly drawing group for all levels. Explore materials & techniques, with simple warm-ups to get you drawing right away.

About the workshops
We’re a welcoming group of artists, open to all levels — complete beginners included. Each term we explore different drawing materials and techniques in a fun, supportive atmosphere.

Classes start with simple warm-ups to get you drawing straight away, and you’ll discover new ways of seeing and making marks with confidence. The focus is on learning by doing — and enjoying the process.

Workshops are led by local artist Jayne Ruffell-Ward. Bring your own paper and materials if you can — but don’t worry, there’s a lending box you can borrow from too.

Follow us on Instagram to see what we’ve been drawing: @cambridge.drawing.group
For workshop details or the latest schedule, email: cambridgedrawing@gmail.com

Summer Term 2026 – 10 workshops

Starting off with drawing flowers in season, both wild and cultivated, we will decide on composition and groupings with inspiration from Charles Rennie Mackintosh and William Morris.

Moving on to gestural drawing techniques, you may feel intimidated by drawing the human form, but believe me, it becomes much easier when you concentrate on basic shapes and the overall silhouette. We will use paint as a drawing tool, with inspiration from L. S. Lowry, as well as a scribbly line inspired by Kimon Nicolaïdes.

We will make a gradual shift from drawing with powdered charcoal to chalk pastels, practising our drawing skills with the use of a grid, and learning how to move from a tonal underdrawing to coloured, atmospheric pieces—leaving around 70% of the marks soft and out of focus, and making 30% of the marks sharp and clear.

Of course, you are welcome to use materials of your choice and to use us for subject matter and support.

Do ask if you have any questions at all.