Demo and Workshop 2026/27
Saturday 19th September 2026
Brian Charcoal North
Charcoal Sea and Woodscapes
Working exclusively with charcoal on paper, Charcoal North brings a contemporary edge to a traditional medium, creating bold compositions that explore the tension between light and shadow.
His drawings capture fleeting impressions of place within ever-shifting landscapes.
Saturday 19th September 2026
Annual General Meeting
AGM will be held during the day starting at 12.30 until 1.00. Timings will be prompt to enable the art demo and workshop led by Brain Charcoal North to continue.
Saturday 17th October 2026
Denise Cliffen
Members only, 20 people maximum
Negative Painting Landscape Acrylic
Discover a fresh perspective on landscape composition. The session will involve working on black paper using a negative painting technique, by sketching a basic scene with pastel pencils, then using short, rhythmic brushstrokes to apply acrylic paint between the lines, creating a mosaic-style finish after adding delicate highlights to create depth and light against some of the exposed black paper.
Heat Semi-finalist in Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the 2022
Exhibited with Royal Society of British Artists, Royal Society of Marine Artists and The Pastel Society, Mall Galleries, London.
Saturday 21st November 2026
Laura Hyland
‘Memories’ Mixed Media
Using a photograph or item that evokes powerful memories for you, you will start to create a mixed media piece using Laura’s distinctive approach to her art as detailed below.
Laura is a mixed media artist working with acrylics, inks, shellac, oils, print and collage.
Her focus is primarily on humanitarian and social/ political themes. She does however have a much lighter side to her work.
She combines abstraction with figurative and symbolic imagery and her work examines vulnerability, memory and the collective human experience.
Laura works intuitively and allows the marks that she makes to inform what's next.
Through layered surfaces, bold colour and experimentation she creates emotionally charged pieces that invite reflection, empathy and connection.
Sunday 6th December 2026 2pm - 4.30pm
Awards and seasonal 'Bring and Share'
As usual we ask thank members for contributing food for the buffet.
Please ensure all gluten free and dairy free options are clearly labelled.
Saturday 16th January 2027
Carol Hill SWA RBSA
Chinese Painting
How to use colours and ink in applying traditional Chinese techniques painting flowers, trees and leaves, emphasising the many uses of brushwork.
Carol Hill is the President of Matlock Artist Society and a valued yearly contributor demonstrating for the Society. She is an experienced artist who has extensively studied Chinese painting during her 12 years living in the Far East and now combines it with her watercolour and oil practice. Her work reflects a fusion of Eastern and Western approaches, integrating Chinese brush techniques with traditional Western watercolour and oil styles.
Carol is a Member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA), the Society of Women Artists (SWA), and the Society of Floral Painters. She has received several awards for her watercolour and oil paintings, including the HRH Princess Michael of Kent Award for best watercolour in 2009, highlighting her recognised skill and contribution to the art community.
Saturday 20th February 2027
Richard Holland RBSA
Still Life Oils
Richard will demonstrate working from a still life study set up in front of him.
Richard will run through the build up of the layers of oil, keeping the lower darker layers thin enough to build up the lighter upper layer. He will aim to work with a relatively limited palette.
Richard is a valued member of the Matlock Artist Society and is generally known as a landscape painter but has painted many still life paintings from live subject matter. It was a set of his still life paintings that gained him entry into the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists a couple of years ago, after many years as an associate member.
Note: Richard will use a no odour thinner for his oils and asks members staying to the workshop to use no odour thinner and paint also, so that all members can enjoy the workshop.
Saturday 20th March 2027
Tom Shepherd
Loose and Lively Watercolour (Portraits & Wildlife)
Tom is known for his lively, fun and approachable style of teaching, as well as his passion for capturing the light and atmosphere of a scene. A sought-after tutor, he loves travelling the world sharing the joy of watercolour with artists of all abilities.
The morning session will feature a main portrait demonstration, followed by a shorter flying bird demo, exploring how the same core principles and watercolour techniques can be applied across very different subjects.
In the afternoon workshop, attendees are welcome to either follow Tom's demonstrations or bring along their own reference material. The focus will be on understanding the guiding principles, ideas and approaches behind expressive watercolour, helping you develop your own paintings rather than simply copying someone else's.
Saturday 17th April 2027
Catherine E Inglis SWA
Big Sea Puarto de la Cruis
Seascapes in Soft Pastel
At the start of the workshop a short pastel demonstration will be given explaining the tips and techniques for producing a seascape in soft pastel. This is followed by your own practical work.
Suitable for beginners to the experienced artist, pastel is a very forgiving and vibrant medium to use. Everyone should produce an amazing pastel seascape to take home with them.
There will be an information sheet sent to you regarding materials to bring with you on the day. There will be pastels & papers to purchase if needed.
Saturday 15th May 2027
Zahra (Fatima Zahra Hassan) MA RCA, PhD. Miniature Painter
Members Only
Mughal and Persian Miniature Painting, and William Morris
Demonstration and discussion of Persian & Mughal miniature art, notes on William Morris’s inspirations, hands-on painting of flowers, birds, animals, trees and decorative elements using mostly natural pigments and hand-made Wasli paper.
Zahra is traditionally trained in the art of Indo-Persian miniature painting. She lives and works in Wimbledon, London. Her work is heavily inspired by Eastern storytelling traditions. Her work focuses on narratives from South Asian and Middle Eastern prose and mystical poetry and fables, employing traditional painting techniques while crafting unique compositions that connect Eastern and Western art. She also prepares her own painting materials and teaches and exhibits internationally.
Saturday 19th June 2027
John Harrison
Pen and Watercolour
The day will start with a brief overview of John’s particular style of line and wash, and the importance he places on drawing and sketching. This will be followed by a group project where members will all be working from the same reference photograph (which will be provided) utilising the techniques described by John who will offer advice, hints and tips throughout the day. Depending on the speed members work at, there will be an opportunity to start (or even complete) a second piece, references supplied.
At the end of the workshop there will be a short informal assessment and review session for anyone interested.
Saturday 17th July 2027
Jane Upstone
Members Only
‘In the Hills’
Impressionist Abstract Acrylic and Mixed Media
Living and working in the Peak District, landscape plays an important part in inspiring Jane’s work, although she is more interested in the memories and atmosphere evoked by different places rather than creating direct images of particular locations. Light, weather, textures and colours both remembered, experienced and imagined all feed into the work.
She mostly works in acrylic paint with many mixed drawing media layered and glazed into the finished pieces.
In her workshop she hopes to both demonstrate and give opportunities for those coming along to experiment using media in different ways to create exciting layers and textures in their own work.
With a Fine Art degree and having taught art at secondary and sixth form level, Jane is now a full time artist since 2015. Her work has been exhibited in galleries all over the country as well as shown in shows such as the Hampstead Affordable Art fair and other large art events. She has work in collections both in the UK and the USA.
17th – 22nd August 2027 tbc
Summer Exhibition Bakewell Town Hall
Tuesday 17th August Private View evening
Wednesday 18th August to Sunday 22nd August public exhibition.
All events listed in this programme excepting the summer art exhibition will take place at All Saints Church Hall, Smedley Street, Matlock Bank, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3JG.
For further information contact The Matlock Artist Society via email: at jennytozer@gmail.com