ABOUT US
Well, to start with, when you think of a school you think of LOTS of lovely staff and, at the very least, some sort of reception. Really we're a small, but perfect, Art Studio in the centre of Henley and there's actually only one person who runs it!
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Jo Harris, (that's me) started the school as a Life Drawing School, teaching out of the Remenham Parish Hall, back in 2013. After a few years, the classes were growing too big and it became clear that the school needed its own Studio. As luck would have it, the world's most ideal teaching space became available and Jo (I) moved in to the studio at 30c Hart Street and made it my own. The Studio is based in the centre of Henley and is exceptionally beautiful, I was going to need to put more classes on to pay the rent, so I started to invite some of the very best artists in the area to come and join the team...
The Henley School of Art was born.
3 glorious, sometimes difficult, but very rewarding years went by; hundreds of students came through the doors and our thriving creative community had begun to expand - then the dreaded Coronavirus struck. Shutting the school was a very difficult thing to have to do; we were given some financial aid and our lovely Landlord was on our side too, but the Studio still needed to be paid for (even at a reduced rate) and we had a mountain of refunds to pay out - without any income it was looking pretty dire. I started to trial some online, unguided Life Drawing sessions, finding models from all over the world and it picked up enough momentum to make things feel a little less desperate.
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We don't know what the future holds, nobody does, but I'm intent on making sure we, as a school, can still provide the best in creative outlets that we possibly can. This may be online for the time being, but the minute I feel it's ok to get back into our beloved Studio to teach, you can bet your boots we will be doing just that.
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If you're interested in the tutors we normally have teaching at the studio (including myself) - please have a look below...
OUR TUTORS
JO HARRIS
Illustrator, Life Drawing Tutor & Director of the School
Jo is in her 4th year as the Director of the Henley School of Art and had 3 years running the Henley School of Life Drawing before that. Jo began Life Drawing over 25 years ago and her passion for it (and art in all it's forms) is evident in her enthusiasm for teaching - she regularly teaches Life Drawing classes and Workshops.
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To Learn more about Jo, click HERE
CATH BALDWIN
Printmaker & Printing Tutor
Cath has been working & exhibiting, both locally and nationally, for just over 15 years. Her inspiration comes from all over the place; a headline in a newspaper, an overheard conversation, a line in a book or even something said by one of her children.
To read more about Cath, click HERE
CEIRA CRAINER
Printmaker & Printing Tutor
Ceira is a Textile Designer and Printmaker, recently graduating from Winchester School of Art with an MA in Textile design. Her work explores texture, colour and tactility. Ceira often combines different techniques such as collage, printmaking and digital processes to create striking prints and patterns.
To Learn more about Ceira, click HERE
EMMA BENZ
Watercolour Artist & Watercolour Tutor
Emma is a Henley based Watercolour Artist who has a very direct & colourful style & works exclusively with Japanese specialist watercolours. Emma has been professionally trained in gilding & often incorporates passages of real gold leaf in her work.
To read more about Emma, click HERE
FIONA GURNEY
Mosaic Artist & Mosaics Tutor
Fiona has, over the last 10 years, developed a mosaic making business - designing and creating everything from large scale public work to jewellery. She teaches regular workshops and continues to rummage for broken pots and take on new design challenges.
To read more about Fiona, click HERE
HARRIET RIDDELL
Textiles Artist & Textiles Tutor
Harriet is a Textile Performance Artist. She grew up in Oxfordshire & travels the world with her sewing machine pitching up in challenging locations from the slums of Nairobi to the tea fields of the Himalayas. Through free motion embroidery she captures her surrounding environment & the people she meets.Adventure & interaction are key elements to each piece of Harriet’s work. Behind every ‘stitch’ lies a narrative of the people, place & culture.
To Learn more about Harriet, click HERE
JO WISE
Florist & Floristry Tutor
Jo is an Artisan Florist (working under the name: Floral Circus) combining a background in theatre and event design with a love and understanding of garden-grown flowers to create creative floristry and wreath-making workshops.
To read more about Jo, click HERE
JONATHAN NEWEY
Painter, Fine Artist, Painting & Drawing Tutor
Jonathan Newey is an award winning artist who lives and works in Reading. He comes from a strong artistic background and is a 4th generation artist. He works in a variety of mediums and subjects including paintings in acrylic, watercolour and sketches with pen, watercolour and watercolour pencil.
To learn more about Jonathan, click HERE
KATHRYN FELL
Professional Photographer, Photography Tutor
Kathryn is an award-winning Photographer living in Sonning Common - she's been taking photos since she was a teenager, runs an extremely successful Photography business and now leads sell-out courses in how to get the very best out of your SLR camera, understanding light and how to frame that perfect shot.
To Learn more about Kathryn, click HERE
LIAM BISWELL
Printmaker & Printmaking Tutor
Liam is an experienced and passionate Fine Art Printmaker with a wealth of experience in all printmaking techniques.
To read more about Liam, click HERE
LOU RALPHS
Calligraphy Artist & Calligraphy Tutor
Louise discovered her passion for modern calligraphy 4 years ago, and hasn’t put her nib down since. Trained in graphic design – with a love for typography – calligraphy was the natural next step in her career - she is delighted to share her passion with other creatives, or those who just want to try something new!
To read more about Louise, click HERE
LUCY MCGRATH
Paper Marbling Tutor
Lucy McGrath is one of just a handful of paper marblers left in the UK. She started her business Marmor Paperie in 2015 with a mission to breathe new life into the endangered craft. Lucy’s marbling is characterised by a fresh, contemporary colour palette and patterns that celebrate the chaotic qualities of marbling and her mission is to pass her knowledge on and keep this wonderful art alive!
To read more about Lucy, click HERE
MACHI DE WAARD
Jeweller & Jewellery tutor
Machi is a Designer, Jeweller and Jewellery Tutor. Jewellery has been a full time pursuit since early 2007, with work being shown at galleries, fairs and exhibitions. She combines her studio practice with teaching, having taught jewellery making for over ten years at various locations in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.
To read more about Machi, click HERE
NICKY SAVAGE
Multi Media & Fine Artist, Multi Media Tutor, Portfolio Prep Tutor
Nicky trained as a Graphic Designer & Illustrator & now makes her own mixed media work in relation to her continual ‘conversation with the natural world’. Nicky really enjoys helping people to understand & analyse their own work, to reach their potential and to immerse themselves in their own creative processes.
To Learn more about Nicky, click HERE
ROSEANNA CLARE
Screenprint artist & Screenprint Tutor
Roseanna Clare is the one woman band behind Squeeze Print Studio. Always drawn towards printmaking at School & College, Roseanna ended up specialising in it whilst at Winchester School of Art studying for her degree. She now has a small studio on the Thames next to her boat, where she gets to create her own work alongside artwork and commissions for clients.
To Learn more about Roseanna, click HERE
RUTH MARTIN
Candlemaker & Candle-making Tutor
Candle-making since 2016, Ruth is passionate about creating all-natural candles that are free from petroleum based wax and synthetic fragrance. She loves creating new and seasonal blends, from zingy scents that will put a spring in your step to soothing aromas to bring calm at the end of a busy day.
To read more about Ruth, just click HERE
SCARLET PAGE & CHARLOTTE SNOWDEN
Professional Photographers & Photography Tutors
Scarlet & Charlotte both have highly successful careers spanning nearly 3 decades in the photography industry. Between them they have photographed subjects such as Her Majesty The Queen, as well as Rock Royalty, Sir Paul McCartney. They have been teaching together locally for the last 2 years sharing their passion & experience for the medium of photography & now we get the benefit of their expertise at the Henley School of Art!
To read more about Scarlet & Charlotte, click HERE
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SHAUNA FOSKER
Fine Artist & Painting Tutor
Shauna is a professional artist who has a BA (hons) in Fine Art, with a particular passion for painting seas and skies. Teaching for over 23 years, Shauna works mostly in oils using palette knives to achieve the texture and fluidity of the natural environment. Recently she's been working on private commissions as well as building work for future exhibitions.
To Learn more about Shauna, click HERE
WENDY PENROSE
Jeweller & Jewellery Tutor
​Wendy Penrose’s jewellery is inspired by the richness of form and texture found in nature. Each piece is handcrafted from precious metal and gemstones in her workshop near Henley on Thames. In addition to selling her work thorough selected galleries and art shows across the country, Wendy also creates one-of-a-kind designs on a commission basis. During quieter times of year she likes to share her passion for making and teaches jewellery making with silver clay.
To read more about Wendy, click HERE