Book a Free Artist Workshop

We offer FREE workshops from professional visiting artists to guide pupils in artistic techniques to enter the competition. We also provide teachers with CPD workshops by professional artists to take back techniques to use in the classroom.

 

PUPIL WORKSHOPS

We have 35 workshops available to state schools in Bedford Borough, offered on a first come, first served basis, so don’t delay sign up today using our quick and easy form. The artists will liaise with you on a time convenient to come into your school and work with up to 30 pupils for a half day workshop between September 2025 and February 2026.

 

TEACHER CPD WORKSHOPS

We are offering 2 further FREE workshops specifically for staff which will be hosted at The Higgins Bedford. One workshop is aimed at primary art teachers, and the other is for secondary art teachers who might wish to explore a new medium. This workshop will involve a carousel of artists providing a range of ideas and techniques.

CPD workshop for Primary Art Teachers: 4-6pm. Date tbc
CPD workshop for Secondary Art Teachers: 4-6pm. Date tbc

TO BOOK: A school workshop and/or a teacher CPD workshop please fill in our form.

Below is a list of who the artists were last year, but for the 2026 competition we are expanding the number of professional artists who will visit the schools and provide the teacher workshops, to be able to offer a more diverse range of artists offering a wide variety of different techniques. This section will be updated once we have confirmed all the artists we’ve got onboard.

 

 

Anne Marie Abbate

Anne Marie Abbate is a mixed media artist, who has delivered quality, inspiring art workshops to students of all ages for 15 years throughout Beds, Bucks and Herts. When she returns to schools she will always try to deliver a different workshops so that schools do not have the same displays and experiences.

Her students range from preschool, primary school, secondary school, SEN settings, safe houses and community groups right through to care homes. She said she thrives when supporting students and watching them excel and realise their true potential and worth. She is an associate artist with The Higgins, MK Gallery, MK Art Centre and John Bunyan Museum.

Find out more at www.annemarieabbate.com

 

 

Katie Allen

Katie Allen is an illustrator based in Bedford who specialises in printmaking, typography and design. She has experience in art education since 2010, working with Key Stage 2,3 and 4 and has a particular interest in cross-curricular work.

As a working illustrator, she is passionate about making routes into the creative industry accessible, and enjoys working with students on ‘live’ commissions. Katie also provides art workshops for community groups and has extensive experience working with people living with learning disabilities. She also works with people who have experienced immigration detention, and loves finding common ground through creativity.

Find out more at www.katieallen-illustration.com.

 

Susan Erskine-Jones

Susan Erskine-Jones is an innovative art tutor with ten years’ experience delivering mixed media workshops to schools, centres and at festivals. She offers workshops to students ranging from Years 1 to 10. She is experienced at collaborating with schools to create age-appropriate workshops focussed on self-expression and creativity.

Her workshops provide fun and stimulating engagement for students of all ages. She works alongside teachers to create exciting workshops which also educationally relevant their curriculum. Students enjoy the learning process and finish workshops with pride in their achievements.

For further information visit workshops.erskine-jones.com/school

 

Amanda Silk

Amanda Silk is a ceramicist, artist, maker and educator based in Bedfordshire. Her practice now predominantly involves ceramics, glass, mixed media and drawing. As a qualified teacher she has passed on her knowledge, skills and passion for art and design, delivering specialist workshops, for Bedford Creative Arts, carrying commissions, exhibiting regionally and tutoring for art organisations, such as The Harpur Trust, Pride of Bedford, The Culture Challenge and Crafts Council.

Publications of her work is included in Ceramics Review, Boardroom Magazine and The Guardian Newspaper.

Find out more at amandasilkceramics.com

 

 

Art Tsymbal

Art Tsymbal are married artists Serhi and Maria Tsymbal who came to Bedford as refugees when their art studio and home in Ukraine were destroyed during the recent conflict. They now run the Art School Tsymbal in Bedford and beyond, offering various different art classes and children’s parties using techniques such as neon paining and marbling, as well as drawing, pottery and painting classes. T

hey have run various classes from The Higgins Bedford and at various events and art sessions across the local area. They always make it a fun experience.

Find out more at www.facebook.com/artschooltsymbal

 

Fiona Wilson

Fiona Wilson is a Bedford–based artist passionate about encouraging experimentation, self-expression and exploration through inspiring and accessible classes and workshops. Working from life or using music to draw on memories, imagination and the sub-conscious, her approach is expressive and semi-abstract with a foundation in observational drawing, mark making and art history. Her aim is to help capture emotive energies and draw on my experience in visual communications to aid pictorial design and visual narrative.

She exhibits regularly, has work in personal collections, undertakes commissions and is a Director of Balcony Art & Design Studio.

Find out more at www.fionawilsonart.com