Chris Lewis Jones two workshops £30 each
Hopton Hall Gallery is partnering with The Big Draw International Drawing Festival this October with a programme of exhibitions and creative workshops showcasing drawing in all its forms. The festival is the world's largest celebration of drawing, and the Gallery will explore drawing as both a finished artwork and a process for thinking, experimenting and discovering.
Gallery Director Ruth Matthews says;
‘Since 2003, I have taken part in and organised Big Draw events on and off, and I really believe in the power of drawing as an accessible and creative activity all you really need is a pencil!’
Two exhibitions will run throughout October:
On the first floor, Mixed Media Drawing celebrates experimentation and mark-making, showcasing the versatility and expressive power of drawing. The exhibition encourages visitors to consider that everything can be drawn. It really is a universal language and can be a way of connecting artists, audiences and the world around them. The exhibition is complemented by a programme of practical drawing workshops.
Solo Exhibition - Rebecca Morledge
On the ground floor, a solo exhibition of work by illustrator Rebecca Morledge offers a fresh perspective on familiar towns and cities. Her paintings depict streets and buildings from elevated viewpoints, revealing rooftops, architectural details and everyday scenes that often go unnoticed.
Influenced by children's book illustrators, particularly Shirley Hughes, Morledge's work combines strong storytelling with a sensitive observation of place. Her scenes suggest lives unfolding beyond the frame, encouraging viewers to look again at familiar surroundings and discover the stories and beauty within them.
Alongside the exhibitions, visitors can take part in a varied programme of workshops throughout October.
The programme begins on 3 October with The Big Drawing Tableau, a free drop-in collaborative drawing session led by artist and educator Liz Wellby. From 10.30am to 3.30pm, visitors can contribute to a giant artwork using line drawing, collage, oil pastel and watercolour. The finished work will remain on display throughout October.
Other events include Pen and Watercolour with Kate Dawes on 8 October, Drawing the Past in the Present with Chris Lewis-Jones on 10 October, and Masters of Drawing with Sue Blake MA SGFA on 17 October.
The programme continues with Pastel Pencils with Katie Wyke on 22 October and Charcoal Sketching with Diana Green on 24 October, before concluding with Chris Lewis-Jones' The Graphic Art of Psychogeography on 30 October.
With activities ranging from botanical illustration and charcoal to collaborative drawing and exploring the character of places, Hopton Hall Gallery's Big Draw Festival offers something for both experienced artists and complete beginners inviting everyone to explore, experiment and make their mark.
About the Big Draw Festival
The Big Draw Festival is the world’s biggest celebration of drawing and it takes place
across the globe every year from 1-31 October.
Since its launch in 2000, The Big Draw Festival has championed drawing as a
universal language and a powerful tool for learning, self-expression, and innovation.
The Festival is made up of thousands of drawing activities that connect people of all ages with schools, galleries,museums, libraries, heritage sites, village halls, refugee organisations, outdoor spaces, artists, scientists, designers, illustrators, inventors and each other.
The Big Draw Festival is for anyone who loves to draw, as well as those who think they can’t!
