CREATE with Helen Pestana - art and creative workshops for adults, and creative thinking for children and teenagers, in Gerrards Cross
Imagine./Explore./Make./Connect.
Art, making and creative workshops for adults.
Creative thinking and art for children and teenagers.
Imagination for everyone.
A welcoming creative studio where ideas are taken seriously at every age - with expert teaching, small groups and the freedom to experiment.
01Adults · all levels welcome
You don’t needto be good at artto begin.
- Drawing
- Painting
- Fused Glass
- Mixed Media
- One-to-One
- Small Groups
- Creative Workshops
- CREATEiviTEA
Whether you’re picking up a pencil for the first time or returning to something you once loved, you’re welcome here.
CREATE is a place to slow down, learn something new and enjoy making again. No pressure. No comparison. No need to arrive knowing what you’re doing. Just expert, encouraging tuition, interesting ideas and the freedom to explore at your own pace.
02Children & teenagers · 11-18
Children who learnto think creativelydon’t just getbetter at art.
- Creative Thinking
- Art & Design
- Design & Technology
- Creative Problem-Solving
- Arts & Crafts
- GCSE & A-Level Portfolio Support
They become better at having ideas, solving problems, taking creative risks and finding their own way forward.
At CREATE, young people draw, design, build and make - while developing something equally valuable: the confidence to think creatively and independently. They learn how to begin when the page is blank, experiment without fear of getting it wrong, solve problems when things do not go to plan and turn their own ideas into something real.
03Philosophy
More thanan art class.
Creativity is not a talent reserved for a lucky few. It is a way of thinking, seeing, questioning and exploring - and it can be developed at any age.
For young people, CREATE builds creative confidence and independent thinking. For adults, it offers the space and guidance to reconnect with creativity and enjoy making again.
- 01Experiment.
- 02Make mistakes.
- 03Learn.
- 04Try again.
“A mistake isn’t the end. It’s information.”
Helen Pestana
04For adults
Sip. Create. Connect.
Relaxed creative sessions for adults who want to make something, learn something and enjoy the company along the way. Come with friends or come on your own. Tea, coffee and cake - or a more celebratory version for private groups - can all be part of the experience.
Painting, drawing, wreath-making, paper engineering and changing seasonal projects. No experience needed. Private sessions and parties available by arrangement.
05Meet Helen
Creativity is notsimply what I do -it is who I am.
- Creative Thinker
- Designer
- Educator
- Artist
- Business Owner
CREATE is led by Helen Pestana.
Helen is a CEO, creative director, teacher and practising artist whose career runs across design, strategic communications, education and the arts. Trained in graphic design and marketing, she worked on the official communications for the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, working directly with Nelson Mandela, during which she also gave him a few tips on painting with watercolours!
Through Ibiz Consulting Ltd she works with a wide portfolio of clients and businesses, holds advisory and board-level positions, and gives her time to charitable initiatives built around education, opportunity and positive social impact.
She is a qualified teacher who went on to lead Art, Graphic Communication, Textiles, Ceramics, and Design and Technology as Head of Department, alongside her work as a Sixth Form tutor. Her advanced study of twentieth-century art history with The Open University shapes the way she teaches and the way she talks about art.
She paints. She makes. And she believes creativity is not a gift handed to a lucky few. It is a way of seeing, questioning and making, and it is open to anyone willing to begin.
CREATE is where all of it comes together.
“I hold a firm belief in the transformative power of creativity. Creativity is no longer a luxury. It is the skill the future demands.”
“Beyond expectations! Helen is a motivational tutor and brought her experience and expertise to the session. She is inspirational.”
“Helen is extraordinary, so talented, experienced, kind, generous, enthusiastic and energetic. A very enjoyable workshop. More please!”
“Working with Helen through her creative and art sessions has made such a wonderful difference to my child. I’ve watched my daughter’s confidence grow, as she has been encouraged to explore her imagination, express herself freely and feel proud of what she creates. It’s been inspiring to see that confidence extend beyond her art too.”
Make something that didn’t exist before you made it.
Make a mark.
06Visit us
Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire SL9 7AD
Ten minutes from the M25, five from the M40, one from the centre of Gerrards Cross.
Let’sCREATEtogether.
Looking for the right creative support for your 11-18-year-old? Thinking about picking up a pencil or paintbrush yourself? Tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll come back to you personally.