Soft Pastel Workshops near Wimborne, Dorset

Soft pastel weekly workshops in Holt, Dorset

Spend a day with me to learn new skills with soft pastels on my Art Workshops, based in Wimborne. My popular soft pastel workshops are weekly workshops run in the beautiful Holt Parish Hall opposite, The Old Inn in Holt, just outside Wimborne. They run from 10am – 3pm, with a break for lunch. You can take a meal at The Old Inn or you can bring a packed lunch. Take a look at my galleries to see more of what you can create with soft pastels. I can tailor your classes to suit you and what you’d like to learn how to create.

My Thursday workshops 10 am – 3 pm

2026 Soft Pastel Workshops in Wimborne

Autumn Term dates below

24, September
1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd October
5th, 12th, 19th, 26th November
3rd December

Small group sizes ensure one to one tuition. If you want to learn to paint animals, then I can help with techniques to improve your skills. If you’d like to paint in pastels more expressively, tell me more about what inspires you to have your sessions tailored to suit you.

It’s £65-00 per day or £550-00 for a 10 week term. Try a taster for £75-00 as a one-off session to include materials for the day. If you are wanting to join a workshop in 2026 and learn more about soft pastels, please get in touch, it’s good to chat through what you’d like to achieve. Places are booked in advance to keep groups small.

Attending regularly over a series of weeks gives you more time to develop your skills and techniques, you can also join for just one session. I supply a materials list which gives you ideas for types of materials to bring for your workshops. We go across to the lovely Old Inn for lunch, the menu is very reasonable or you can bring your own packed lunch.

Booking essential – my classes are popular, ring and enquire about booking a place – Nina 07967 736 762 or email thepastelartist@gmail.com

What to expect from my workshops

My soft pastel workshops near Wimborne are designed to be relaxed, friendly and encouraging. You don’t need to arrive with a finished idea or lots of experience. I’ll help you gain confidence and develop your own style. I can work alongside you, helping you achieve the skills you’d like to learn more about. I aim to work with individuals so that each session is bespoke to you aims rather than leaning a topic that you have no choice on.

During the sessions, we can explore subjects including landscapes, seascapes, animals, flowers and buildings. Alongside creating a painting, you will learn practical skills that can be used in your own artwork, such as choosing colours, simplifying a reference photograph, understanding tone, composition, creating texture and becoming more confident with pastel marks. Many of my students have studied with me for years and exhibit in local art groups and galleries.

If you are new to soft pastel, I can help you understand which materials you need without encouraging you to buy an enormous collection. You are welcome to contact me before attending if you would like advice about pastels, paper or anything else to bring.

More experienced artists are equally welcome. You may want to explore a looser way of working, improve a particular technique or simply enjoy having regular creative time in a supportive group.

The workshops take place at Holt Parish Hall, just outside Wimborne in Dorset. Class sizes are kept small so that I can spend time with everyone and offer individual guidance throughout the day.

Testimonials

I’ve been running classes for 25 years, I am happy to say that I have seen beginners through to confident artists with their own style and exhibiting with local art exhibitions and open studio events.

‘I have been attending Nina’s classes for nearly 5 years now and everyone I have met during that time has been friendly and have all, not only enjoyed the days, but learnt to produce amazing art work in a short time.’
Sue

‘Nina’s style of teaching seems to suit everybody, from beginners to more advanced and we are all encouraged to develop our own style and work on our own projects. It’s my favourite day of the week!’
Jacky

My husband bought me a ten week pastel course as a Christmas present five years ago and I haven’t missed a course since. It has been fantastic to learn a new skill among a group of such welcoming and supportive people many of whom have become good friends. Nina is a teacher who encourages us to develop our own style and guides us with a light touch enabling us to produce some amazing works of art.’
Gilly

Art Workshops for Art Groups.

I can offer online demonstrations via Zoom for Art Groups and group ‘draw along’ sessions for people to work in a virtual group using video calling plus 1-2-1 tutorials for those that want a more specialised session. The feedback has been so positive, I’ve been inspiring people to re visit old photos to inspire new artwork whilst we can’t visit the views we’d like to.

Here’s a link to my online demos via a Youtube Link or watch my favourite Tropical Beach Time-lapse, which covers a full length tutorial, to show you how the image is built up and give you a taster of what can be achieved when completing a ‘draw along with me’ full length demo.