Drawing Course

Paintbox Tutor, Jemma K Derbyshire, answers some questions about our new Drawing Course to give you an insight of what to expect....

Tell us a bit about the new Drawing Course:​

Well, for the last 4 years we’ve been running a “City Drawing Course” - this met up each week in the City Centre and involved spending the morning sketching in lots of different locations.  Over time, we have realised how important it is for people to have focused and structured drawing time.  So, we’ve built on this to offer a once a week, full day drawing course.  The course will involve going out on location throughout the area surrounding the studio, as well as into Edinburgh to learn to develop a very thorough and well rounded drawing practice - essential for any Artist.  There will also be studio set ups, working from the figure and a full in depth exploration into a huge range of materials and processes that come under the drawing umbrella.

What kind of materials will you be using?

Drawing in the modern sense, is incredibly expansive subject.  Traditional materials such as pencil and graphite are still of great relevance, but now Artists draw with everything from torn paper and thread, to paint and print.  Throughout the year, we will explore many materials, and look at how you can develop your own investigative and expressive voice through both mark and surface.

How do you use drawing in your own practice?

I love drawing!  I was obsessed with it from a young age, and my love for drawing was really the main reason I went to Art Collage.  I studied Drawing and Painting, and the need for both a strong academic and expressive understanding of drawing really fuelled my enthusiasm.

I now use drawing for lots of different things.  Firstly, it is my looking and understanding.  To understand anything visually, I have to draw it.  I use it to read form, to find connections, to understand light.  My sketchbooks are my constant sidekick and I draw from reality, I draw to make compositional ideas and I draw to plan exhibition hangs.  I also make “working drawings” - these are large scale monochromatic drawings with paint, that I use to translate observed information, into something I can respond to to make paintings.  Finally, I make coloured drawings with Oil Pastel, and trace print drawings to free me up.

What are your essential drawing kit items?

I have a tool box that I travel with everywhere - is that weird?!  In it I have my drawing kit, to cover most eventualities.  This kit consists of -

6B and 8B fabrinano, thick pencils - absolute favourites
Indian ink
Coloured pencils
Ink pen and biro pen
Sennelier Oil Pastels
Unison Soft Pastels
Charcoal
Copy Paper

What can people expect to achieve by the end of the year on the Drawing Course?


By the end of the year, I hope that everyone will leave with an in depth knowledge, and a truly rigorous drawing practice.  Each student will leave with a portfolio of finished, expressive, developed and observed drawings, sketchbooks of investigative drawings and ideas, and a large body of exploratory drawings that have been made while developing skills with materials and surface.  What better way to explore the world around you than through drawing!

Drawing Course

Tuesdays 9.30am - 3.00pm (Full Year)
Paintbox Studio, Cockenzie House & Gardens

TUTOR- Jemma K Derbyshire

£450 per term

For more information and to sign up for this courses visit our Courses page or email us at paintboxart@outlook.com