Absolute beginners guide to urban sketching with Len Grant

This gentle step-by-step approach to putting pen to paper will have you hooked on urban sketching. Len's popular classes help artists master techniques to capture the urban scene.

You'll meet at The Didsbury Pub for a quick intro to the day and then you'll head out and start sketching. We recommend you bring a water bottle, hat and suncream if it's a sunny day.

Recommended age 16+

What to bring:
A sketching pen, sketchbook and stool are the minimum requirements. We'll provide everyone with a A5 cartridge sketchbook courtesy of local independent art supplier Bromleys Art Supplies, but if you have one you want to use then bring it along. You can get items described below from Bromelys' online shop www.artsupplies.co.uk
Pen:
Some sort of waterproof fineliner like the Uni Pen. Get a thick one (0.8 or 0.9 or thicker) and a thin one (0.2 or 0.3). These are available at Rymans or online.
Colours:
If you have a little watercolour set then bring it along. Or even some coloured pencils. If not, then don’t worry, don’t buy anything specially.
A stool to sit on. This will be a great help when sketching outside. You can choose exactly where to sit and what view you get. Decathlon do an inexpensvie one.

Travel and access

You can get to the pub by bus which stops outside by the Fletcher Moss Gardens, by tram - Didsbury Village stop is about a 10 minute walk away, or by train - East Didsbury stop is 10 minutes walk away. Parking at the pub is for patrons only (you need to register your number plate), so if you do drive we suggest you park by the church on Stenner Lane.

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Host or Publisher Didsbury Arts Festival