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CREATE
Gerrards Cross0.
CREATEwith Helen

01CREATE for Adults

You don’t need to begood at art to begin.

Whether you’re picking up a pencil for the first time or returning to something you once loved, you’re welcome here.

Helen Pestana and an adult student painting an expressive portrait together
  • Qualified Teacher (QTS)
  • Former Head of Department
  • Small groups of four to six
  • One-to-one available

Dates, prices and week by week

Adult courses

Six week courses in drawing, painting, mixed media and fused glass, with the full week by week detail and what each one costs.

Helen Pestana guiding an adult student through a drawing at the studio table

Who it’s for

No experience required.Just curiosity.

Perhaps you have never drawn. Perhaps you have not held a brush in years. Or perhaps you simply want a few hours away from screens, responsibilities and everyday noise. Any of those is a good enough reason to start.

CREATE is for adults who want to learn, make, experiment and enjoy the process without pressure or comparison. You will be properly taught and gently encouraged, whether you choose one-to-one tuition, a small supportive group or a creative workshop.

Sessions are led by Helen Pestana, a qualified graphic designer and teacher, former Head of Department and Sixth Form tutor, practising creative professional and artist, with advanced university-level study in twentieth-century art history through The Open University.

An adult student building a mountain landscape in torn paper collage, with sketchbook studies alongside

01One-to-one lessons

Your time.Your pace.Your creativity.

Sessions are shaped around what you want to learn or make. Start with the fundamentals, return to a medium you once enjoyed, or bring an idea you have wanted to explore for years.

Helen will meet you where you are and help you move forward with structure, technique and encouragement.

A full drawing class at work in the CREATE studio

02Small group sessions

Learn together.Develop individually.

Small groups create the best of both worlds: conversation and shared energy around the table, with enough time for individual guidance.

Courses can build from drawing and observation into colour, painting and mixed media, helping you gain confidence rather than simply copy a finished example.

Helen Pestana guiding a student carving a leaf design into a lino block

03Creative workshops

One session.One new experience.

Standalone workshops are ideal if you want to try something without committing to a full course.

Depending on the programme, sessions may include fused glass, life drawing, mixed media, seasonal making and playful drawing exercises designed to change the way you look and make.

04Tea, cake and painting

CREATEiviTEA

Sip. Create. Connect.

A more sociable way to be creative. Come with friends or come on your own for a relaxed session built around making, conversation and connection.

Projects change throughout the year, and private sessions can be arranged for groups and celebrations.

A CREATEiviTEA session making festive wreaths together around a table
Painting and watercolours in progress at a CREATEiviTEA afternoon
Guests painting at easels around a table laid for afternoon tea
Tea, cake, brushes and a watercolour wreath in progress at CREATEiviTEA

Explore

  • Drawing01
  • Painting02
  • Fused Glass03
  • Expressionism04
  • Mixed Media05
  • Creative Workshops06

And more. Ask about upcoming sessions.

Why learnwith Helen?

Helen brings together professional design experience, creative direction, art practice and years of teaching. Her approach is encouraging but purposeful: you are here to enjoy yourself, but you will also be taught.

Make something

  • 01Make a mark.
  • 02Try something new.
  • 03Get it wrong.
  • 04Try again.
  • 05Lose track of time.

Creativity doesn’tdisappear. Sometimesit just needs somewhereto come back to.

No pressure. No comparison. No need to arrive knowing what you’re doing.

Begin exactlywhere you are.

Tell me what you would like to try, or simply tell me that you are not sure yet. I’ll help you find the right place to start.