Current workshop events at The Signal Box Studio

Workshops in ceramic and mixed media sculpture

I deliver fun and inspiring ceramics and sculpture workshops to individuals, private groups, schools, hospitals and other community settings throughout the UK.

You might want some one to one tuition to learn how to make ceramic sculptural pieces, have a team building away day or want something different for a birthday party the options for a workshop are many!

Individuals and Small parties of up to 6 people are most welcome to my Signal Box studio in Long Eaton, I can also come to your premises for a one off event or longer artists residency.

Prices vary depending on number of participants, location etc please contact me for a quote

Clients have included the following organisations: Air Arts hospital charity Derby, Quad LTD Derby, Mercurial Dance Birmingham, Derby Museum and Art gallery, Nottingham city hospital, People Express derbyshire, Derventio Arts, Platform 31, Level Centre Derbyshire, Spiral Arts derby, Nottingham city council, The Medical Museum at Derby Royal hospital.

Relevant skills:

• Over 20 years of practical experience coordinating, acquiring funding and delivering arts projects for a variety of clients and a number of established arts organisations.

• Experience of working with students in primary, secondary and further education throughout all year groups.

• Extensive experience of working with vulnerable groups of adults and children in healthcare and community settings..

• I have experience of delivering workshops online to groups and individuals.

• I am able to drive and can deliver projects across the uk.

• I have an enhanced DBS check, public liability insurance up to 5million, and up to date safeguarding training.

• I am experienced in providing workshop plans, risk assessment and monitoring and evaluation paperwork as requested.

• My approach to each project is a collaborative process, I aim to have a very fun, informative, adaptable and open approach to allow the participants to gain as much as possible from the creative process.

East Asian Cultural workshops:

I am of mixed East Asian and English heritage and have delivered a number of East Asian themed workshops and activities for schools, community projects and festivals. These include Large Chinese Dragon and Lion Dance puppets and Banners to smaller arts activities such as Chinese Opera masks. These workshops are fun and informative often incorporating interesting facts on chinese cultural traditions.

Reviews:

Catriona Kelly, Creative Education Producer, QUAD Derby: Ceramic sculpture project with the Horizons 6th form college, derby.

Thanks so much for delivering the workshops over the last four weeks - it’s been brilliant working with you!  The students really enjoyed it and, as we discussed, were the most experimental and creative that they have been all year.

Megan Dawes, Arts Coordinator, Nottingham University Hospitals: NHS staff wellbeing ceramic sculpture sessions over three hospital locations in central Nottingham.

Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Elaine for sculpture sessions. She is brilliant at communicating both with groups and in terms of planning sessions, incredibly flexible and nothing is ever too much trouble! Staff at NUH have absolutely loved their sessions and have been empowered to make a range of objects including things that are close to their hearts, and a tile to celebrate NHS 75!

Georgina Greaves, Environmental Studies Service Manager, Derbyshire Environmental Studies Service:

‘We worked with Elaine on a project in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.  The “Young Entrepreneurs Project” used heritage sites as a source of inspiration to design, create, manufacture and sell ceramic products.  Elaine was amazing with the young people participating in the project.  We worked with teenagers who are not in main stream education and students from a special needs school.  Her inspiration, patience, creativity and ability to share her skills effectively with the young people meant they all produced amazing ceramic products they were really proud of.  We would love to work with Elaine again in the future.’

Daniel Davies, Head of Art, Ecclesbourne School, Duffield, Derbyshire.  Artist in Residence Ceramic light Project 2016 onwards:

'“Elaine visited the Art department at Ecclesbourne School to work with a selected group of students from year 9.  The students were mixed ability but had decided to study Art at GCSE level.

Elaine delivered three exceptional workshops with our students.  She managed to extract some wonderful ideas and some extraordinary pieces of work from students of all abilities.  Her enthusiasm and energy permeated the studio and encouraged students to take risks and challenge themselves.  Elaine structured each day skilfully – they were full of pace and purpose.  Her experience of working with students apparent in all aspects of the planning and delivery in this project.

Students thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working with clay, making three dimensional work and most importantly working with an experienced artist and expert in her field.  The work was also a valuable contribution for assessment and target setting purposes.

The three workshops were incredible and enjoyed by all - boys and girls alike.  We are busy planning another workshop with Elaine this year and we can’t wait! –I’d highly recommend it!”