Our tutors
At Yardley Arts, you will always be taught by a talented, professional artist, who will be accomplished in his or her own right. Through their own experienced teaching methods, our tutors will inspire and encourage you – whatever level you are. Many come from higher education and all are practicing artists in their professional lives. So whether you're interested in drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography or another medium, you know you will be in safe hands.
“Clare was unbelievably patient, helpful and inspiring.”
Chris Richbell
Watercolours and acrylics
Chris is a member and regular exhibitor with the Northampton Town and County Art Society and serves on their council. She paints mainly in watercolour or acrylic, and sometimes with mixed media or pastels. She is part of a group of painters from all over the country that annually enjoy painting together in Walberswick on the Suffolk coast. Painting outside whatever the weather, brings a whole new meaning to watercolour! Chris' work has been exhibited in London and nationally, and she has had work accepted by the Royal Academy.
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Sara Myers
Sculpture and life drawing
Sara was born in Wales but grew up in Berkshire. Following an apprenticeship with figurative sculptors John Doubleday, Lorne McKean and Edwin Russel she studied with Allan Sly at City and Guilds of London. An RA Aeneas Award then took her on a drawing scholarship to Rome and Florence and she won a Tussauds prize and an RI prize on graduation. She completed her Masters in New York, supported by the NYAA and awards from the National Sculpture Society. She continued to work in New York from a studio in Harlem, working on figures for Warner brothers, later sculpting and managing a studio in the heart of Soho for sculptor Rhonda Roland Shearer. She now has a studio in Northamptonshire. She has recently completed several public sculptures and private commissions. To continue reading about Sara, please visit Society of Portrait Sculptors
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“Chris, your thoughtful arrangements and quiet conversations throughout the day really got the best from all of us. I trust many of us will have caught the spark to carry on and get better.”
Kate nuttall
Watercolour
Kate achieved a Distinction in the Society of Botanical Artists Distance Learning Diploma Course in October 2007. In February 2008, she was made a Fellow Member of the Society and since then has exhibited with them every year at their Annual Open Exhibition in London. She also has work in the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation at the Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA.
Since 2009, Kate has run regular residential courses in botanical watercolour painting at Knuston Hall, Northamptonshire and, since 2011, weekly courses at the Ten2 Gallery in Hinckley, Leicestershire. She is currently a Tutor on the Distance Learning Diploma Course for the Society of Botanical Artists.
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Jane Roberts
Willow Weaving
Jane Roberts is an artist and maker with 20 years experience of delivering community based arts projects, in and around Northamptonshire. Her work is inspired by natural materials. After studying Fine Art at Northampton University Jane worked as a contemporary freelance arts worker delivering contemporary art exhibitions in non-traditional spaces. Since the mid 2000’s she has worked on various community arts projects, including the Yardley Hastings Lantern Parade. Jane is a founder of Yardley Arts and has recently exhibited at the South Northants Arts Trail with her willow creations.
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cordell garfield
Oil Painting
emma lindsay
Mixed Media Collage
After completing a Fine Art and Art History degree at Newcastle University, Emma has worked in heritage organisations and in education, whilst maintaining a love for painting, drawing and printmaking. Emma’s work has been published in various books and guides, and she has exhibited in Covent Garden in London and Hatton Gallery in Newcastle. Emma is now concentrating on running art classes for both adults and children.
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Cordell is primarily an oil painter who uses traditional classical atelier techniques. Portraits and figurative work feature strongly in his art. As a contemporary painter, he uses both the traditional or modern whether it’s technique, subject or even an approach.
Currently, the President of the Northampton Town and County Art Society, Cordell has exhibited extensively within the county and beyond notably at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists. Cordell’s work is held in collections outside the UK and he was awarded the Peoples’ Choice Prize at the Alfred East Gallery as part of their Open 13 exhibition in 2013.
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Kat Lendacka
Printmaking
Cathy Burnett
Mixed media
Kat is a linocut printmaker living and working in rural Northamptonshire. Her linocuts combine her love of nature, architecture and storytelling. Born and raised in a beautiful old town, Litomerice in the Czech Republic, she is inspired by the imagery from her childhood. When she is not working in her home studio, she loves to go on adventures with her two daughters and her beloved Spot, the whippet.
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Cathy is an experienced art practitioner who exhibits locally and undertakes commissioned work. There is a continual strand running through her work exploring memory. She has taught art and design for over 30 years across Northamptonshire to a wide range of age groups, and is able to foster confidence and enthusiasm in others.
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Beccy Gillatt
Gold and silversmithing
Based in Olney, Beccy teaches a range of different courses to suit all levels and interests in jewellery making. The finished pieces are made using traditional jewellery techniques and include precious metals and stones. A former winner of Goldsmiths Company Young Designer Silversmith Award (2000) and the Future of Design Award for Silversmithing (2001).
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Nicky Hunter
Watercolours
Nicky is an encouraging tutor who enthusiastically inspires others to enjoy and progress their skills in the exciting medium of watercolour and other related painting and drawing mediums. Her paintings are radiant ‘realism with a touch of romance', inspired by nature and ignited by colour, capturing the essence of the subject in an impressionistic style. Her painting and illustration skill set is diverse, due to the influence of two decades of designing print patterns for textiles for interiors and fashion, with designs selling globally.
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Martine Soldano
Paper Collage
sally mcrae
Fused Glass
Martine Soldano is the face and name behind Snips and Pieces paper collage artwork. Martine uses a mix of papers from various sources; hand coloured by herself, magazine snips and recycled papers to create beautiful artwork.
As a local artist and tutor, Martine has successfully taught sold out workshops for both adults and children in the Northamptonshire area under the name of ‘Snips and Pieces’ and has sold work in two retail outlets within the county.
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Sally is a glass artist from Northamptonshire. She has always loved the vibrancy of glass and loves to experiment with designs and techniques. There are so many things to make, different techniques to learn, firing schedules to develop the possibilities for experimentation are endless. Sometimes experiments work out and lovely unusual pieces are created, other times they don’t! The great thing about fusible glass is that failed experiments can be recycled into new things so there is no waste.
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Tracey Sherwood
Photography
Anne wagstaff
Fused Glass
Tracey is a Senior Lecturer of Photography at the University of Northampton. She conducts photography workshops and teaches photography commercially. As well as this, Tracey has shot features for numerous magazines and cookbooks and brings a fresh and sophisticated approach to her work. Her photographs reveal a love for natural light, a passion for good food and a meticulous attention to detail.
Anne is a fused glass artist living and working in rural Northamptonshire. Her work is often inspired by nature & by the colours and textures of the glass. She has worked with bullseye glass for several years and enjoys teaching others about this fascinating medium.
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Penny German
Oil painting
Penny is an artist based in Northamptonshire. For many years, she specialised in botanical illustration in watercolour, working on projects for the RHS and Oxford University Press. Ten years ago she discovered a love of oil painting and has since been working on capturing the effects of light in still lifes and portraits.
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Interested in running a course at Yardley Arts?
Yardley Arts is keen to expand their network of professional artists and teachers. If you are a practicing artist with a following, and would be interested in running your own courses at Yardley Arts, please get in touch.