Create Amazing Portraits - 1-day Workshops with Lesley Passey Sessions for beginners and all levels
"Lesley really is the most enabling of tutors - the atmosphere was so comfortable and it’s so great to come away having made new friends. " - Sandi
These exciting new workshops are an inspiring way for all artists with some experience to discover the secrets to creating amazing portraits in a new series of one-day workshops.
Lesley's new 1-day workshop programme encapsulates much of the learning from her 5-week courses and offers a good starting point for those painters new to portraiture, but also proivide plenty of new learning oppotunities for established artists.
Lesley runs four Create Amazing Portraits one-day workshops:
Charcoal Portraits using the Grid - £160 inc lunch and most materials
Learn how to use the grid effectively to create lifelike proportions
Using charcoal to create details, shading, shadows and highlights
The workshop combines tutorials, exercises and a portrait project to work on throughout the day
You'll learn how to use charcoal pencil, sticks, white charcoal, blending stumps and tortillons as you work
Workshop runs from 10am to 4pm (approx) at our Towcester studio
Portraits in Pastels - £160 inc lunch and most materials
Learn how to place the portrait on the page, tracing and using the grid to define the shape
Locate the light sources and identify lightest and darkest areas of the image
Learn essential mark-making techniques with pastels and colour mixing for skin tones
The workshop mixes exercises, demonstrations and a portrait to create from an image supplied
Workshop runs from 10am to 4pm (approx) at our Towcester studio
Portraits in Acrylics - £160 inc lunch and most materials
Learn how to place the portrait on the page, tracing and using the grid to define the shape
Locate the light sources and identify lightest and darkest areas of the image
Learn how to blend all the colours and tones you'll need with the Zorn palette
You'll learn with a range of exercises, small group tutorials and a portrait to work on using your new skillsAnimal Portraits in Pastels & Charcoal
Workshop runs from 10am to 4pm (approx) at our Towcester studio
Animal Portraits in Pastels & Charcoal - £160 inc lunch and most materials
How to draw eyes, noses, ears,
hair, and other details that give life and
personality to your animal portraits
Learn how to place the portrait on the page, tracing and using the grid to define the shape
Locate the light sources and identify lightest and darkest areas of the image
Work on an animal portrait while following exercises and smnall group tutorials
Workshop runs from 10am to 4pm (approx) at our Towcester studio
On all these workshops Lesley will provide plenty of demos, guidance on the media being used and general advise for those starting or developing their skills in portraiture.
These workshops are best suited to those who've done some painting or sketching before, even if this doesn't include portraits.
You will be asked to bring some basic materials and tools for each of these workshops - this information will be sent before the workshop begins.
These workshops are run by Lesley Passey, an accomplished artist, graphic designer and course creator. After a career designing and developing courses in further education, Lesley is now sharing her skills and introducing new artists to the joys of producing lifelike portraits they'll be proud to show off!
How to book your place - Create Amazing Portraits 1-day Workshops with Lesley Passey
The Create Amazing Portraits programme is structured as a series of individual workshops taking place on the dates below.
If you're ready to book, use the PayPal button below and select the session you want to join - debit / credit cards and PayPal accepted . We can also take personal bookings in our studio.
All bookings are subject to our class bookings Terms And Conditions.
If you have any questions or concerns get in touch and we'll do our best to help.
2025 Courses
Saturday 5th April - Charcoal Portraits Using Grids - fully booked
Wednesday 4th June - Portraits in Acrylics - 6 places
Saturday 2nd August - Animal Portaits in Pastels and Charcoal - 4 places
The Grid method - a smart way to create realistic portraits! Lesley demonstrating the Zorn palette of colours for portraiture
Student Ashley's acrylics portrait of a rather recognisable figure!
Create an amazing portrait of your own pet! Lesley working on a painting of 'The Hanging Judge'
About Lesley Passey
Lesley graduated from Bath Academy of Art in Graphic Design and Illustration. She has worked in Design consultancy in London and moved on to a Senior Designer Post at the Open University in Milton Keynes.
She later set up a degree course in graphic design at Milton Keynes College. She later graduated from the University of Northampton with a Masters Degree in print making.
Now fully retired from college life she sculpts busts in clay and works in 2D with oils, pastels and acrylics to produce portraits and landscapes. She often uses digital skills to enhance her finished artwork taking it in an innovative direction.