Traditional & contemporary craft courses in north Wales
handmade by you in
wernog wood
Drawing from nature - and learn to make a sketchbook
See course details, dates, costs, tutors & stories from students below
Among the magnificent oaks, ash and sycamore trees of Wernog Wood, join artist and writer Dr Sarah Simblet for a fully immersive three day workshop in observational and experimental drawing from nature. You will develop your skills in seeing & understanding the structures and forms of trees and plants, how they grow and can be expressed through a range of media such as dip-pens and ink, fine-liner, pencil, charcoal, (or any media you choose to bring).
There is an optional first day to make a fabric covered and hand stitched sketchbook within which you will make your drawings for the following days and weeks to come... you will leave armed with the skills to never need to buy another sketchbook. You may want to add your own paper types into the sketchbook to create variety.
Sarah will share some of her personal sketchbooks and original drawings for her publications The New Sylva (Bloomsbury 2014) and Botany of the Artist (DK 2010), and she will use these works to talk about drawing and the practicalities of working outdoors.
Optional 1st day on 10 July 2025
Sketchbook making
plus
11-13 July 2025
Drawing from nature
N.B Sarah will also be teaching:
Anatomical drawing from life on 5 July 2025
and
We have a variety of accommodation options if you would like to stay for all days, with opportunity for self guided drawing in Wernog Wood or the surrounding hills, walking
or visiting Ruthin Craft Centre.
Tuition fees
4 days - Optional Day 1 - sketchbook making
(recommended but not obligatory!)
£420 plus £45 for materials
3 days - Arrive on Day 2 for three days of drawing from nature
£320 tuition fee plus £35 materials
Tea, coffee and simple lunch included in your course price.
We also offer accommodation & evening meals
Click here to see what we offer
This course is aimed at adults, aged 18yrs + and is suitable for beginners to those with some experience
Dr. Sarah Simblet is an artist, writer and broadcaster, who teaches anatomy at the Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford, as well as short courses in anatomy, botany and drawing at the Royal Academy of Arts amongst other places.
Her drawings can be found in national and private collections including the Royal Academy of Art in London, and the Ashmolean, Oxford. Sarah has written three books ‘Anatomy for the Artist’, ‘The Drawing Book’ and ‘Botany for the Artist’ and has also co-written 'The New Sylva'.
Sarah enjoys dry stone walling, enhancing old gardens, scrambling in the mountains of North Wales especially if she can hunt for a good tree to draw.
Stories from our students
I've admired Sarah's work for a long time and already owned a couple of her books, so meeting her was really exciting for me... but I wasn't expecting the extent to which it blew me away and changed the way I think about drawing. Sarah's teaching was nothing short of inspirational - she is so knowledgeable about a wide range of topics relating to art and really has a talent at passing that onto students in a very accessible, fun & engaging way!
Sometimes it can seem like botanical drawing is something that you have to study and learn the 'proper' way, so it can seem a bit inaccessible as an adult who hasn't had any formal art education. I had been trying to find a 'way in' for a while and honestly, was feeling a bit overwhelmed by it. Sarah inspired me to follow my own lead and that by being self-taught I can be a lot more expressive & true to myself in my work, and this was my most important take away from the course. - Jess
Sarah was a most engaging and experienced tutor; who despite having a general framework for the course, worked with the group to also pursue their interests. - Karen
I have come home with the knowledge to make my own sketchbook - my aim is never to buy one again! Overall the whole experience was just incredible, and I left feeling full of energy and buzzing with ideas! Thank you so much Sarah - it was really, really special. - Jess
After a busy start to the week it was a treat to take time off in my 3rd home for what turned out to be a really good fun, and at times hilarious, Drawing From Nature course run by Dr Sarah Simblet, how very fortunate 😀. We learnt so much. It didn't matter at all that my melon, pineapple and feather duster ink drawing resembled a rugby ball, loo brush and hand grenade. - Helen
Sarah is a wonderful person, a great artist and an inspiring teacher - I could not wish for more. - Micha
I did the drawing in Nature workshop with Sarah Simblet. She was such a fantastic tutor and I came away a lot more confident in my drawing. It was so nice to be able to carry on working in the studio after 5pm until we'd had enough. Really professional courses and looking forward to returning again next year. - Rachele
The tuition was top notch and the idyllic location in the woods, surrounded by beautiful walking routes made it hard to leave! - Jake
Upcoming Dates
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or
If you would like to attend a course but can't make it on the available date, you can register interest in future dates.