A recent layered drawing, where curves have been translated into straight lines and flat planes. Charcoal and pastel copyright Chris N Wood, Southsea 2023
TAUGHT EXPERIMENTAL LIFE DRAWING WORKSHOP :
Exciting News : October 2025
Exciting News : October 2025
After 30+ years Chris Wood Atelier is finally having a brief rest. Sadly the lease on the drawing room expired at the end of August 2025 and we had our very last teaching lesson in July. August was spent tidying up, evacuating and re homing 14 easels plus a mountain of other teaching equipment. I even vacuumed the floor ! Portsmouth City council, who own the Omega Centre, will be renovating and turning the building into a SEND school. Building work is scheduled to begin in Spring 2026.
Consequently, I decided to take the autumn term off and concentrate on my work as an artist but I will resume teaching in the Spring of 2026. We are currently looking for a new venue in Portsmouth or Southsea and hope to find somewhere that is accessible and large enough to accommodate all those easels plus a life model.
I will advertise the new courses on social media and keep everyone informed.
Chris Wood November 2025
PREVIOUSLY
SUMMER TERM 22.04.2025 – 01.07.25 : Every Tuesday (term time) at the DRAWING ROOM, OMEGA CENTRE, OMEGA ST, PORTSMOUTH PO5 4LP
The ethos of our adult education course is to learn new skills, build confidence and most importantly to have fun ! Each session builds upon and reinforces the previous one and each term we cover a new unit. The course is mixed ability and beginners are very welcome. If you are returning to drawing, after having had a break, this course will soon have you back on track and drawing fluently.
The Life Drawing Workshop is a very popular course – often selling out before the start of the term – so avoid disappointment and please book early.
TEACHING VENUE : THE OMEGA CENTRE, OMEGA STREET, PORTSMOUTH, PO5 4LP
Experimental Life Drawing Workshop in full swing !
HOW TO BOOK ONTO A COURSE
STEP 1 : RESERVE A PLACE email chriswoodartist@aol.com
STEP 2 : CONFIRM : and pay £150 deposit
STEP 3. Pay the remainder 14 days before the workshop begins
ADMIN ADDRESS : Chris N Wood, Studio, 3 ArtSpace Portsmouth, 27 Brougham Rd, SOUTHSEA PO5 4PA HAMPSHIRE UK
BAC’s PAYMENTS : email for details : chriswoodartist@aol.com
CANCELLATIONS : Refunds are only given up to 14 days before the commencement of a course.
FEES : £275 normal price or two instalments of £155 (one when you book the course and the remainder at half term)
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT PRICE £250
VOUCHERS : If you are unable to attend all 10 sessions, you can buy vouchers for 3 or 5 sessions and you can use them whenever you like – there’s no time limit !
GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE for LIFE DRAWING – £20 £50 £100 £150 £200 £300 Vouchers can also be redeemed against any artwork in my studio. If you would like to visit the studio please book a slot.
TEACHING VENUE : THE DRAWING ROOM, OMEGA CENTRE, OMEGA STREET, PORTSMOUTH, PO5 4LP. TUESDAY 19.00-21.00 hrs
TERM 1 : MEDIA & TECHNIQUES TERM 2 : FORM & SCALE TERM 3 : MIXED MEDIA
AUTUMN TERM 2024
session 1. 17.09.24
session 2. 24.09.24
session 3. 01.10.24
session 4. 08.10.24
session 5. 15.10.24
HALF TERM SATURDAY 19.10.24-03.11.24 (two weeks)
session 6. 05.11.24
session 7. 12.11.24
session 8. 19.11.24
26.11.24 PRIVATE VIEW OF “PRESS PRINT FIRE GLAZE” at Oxmarket Gallery Chichester 6-8pm – everyone is welcome ! NB : a group exhibition of Southern Ceramics Group plus 17 professional printmakers from the South : CHRIS WILL BE EXHIBITING A SERIES OF RECENT LINOCUTS.
session 9. 03.12.24
session 10. 10.12.24 drawing and end of term party !
TERM 2 JANUARY 2025 :
NB we may be starting slightly later due to ill health – watch this space for confirmation of date of first session
session 1 07.01.25
session 2 14.01.25
session 3 21.01.25
session 4 28.01.25
session 5 04.02.25
HALF TERM 15.02.25 – 23.02.25
session 6 25.02.25
session 7 04.03.25
session 8 11.03.25
session 9 18.03.25
session 10 25.03.25
EASTER VACATION
SUMMER TERM STARTS 22.4.25
session 1 22.4.25
session 2 29.4.25
session 3 6.5.25
session 4 13.5.25
session 5 20.5.25
HALF TERM 24.5.25 – 1.6.25
session 6 3.6.25
session 7 10.6.25
session 8 17.6.25
session 9 24.6.25
session 10 01.07.25
Preferred method of payment is by bank transfer – email chriswoodartist@aol.com for details
PRIVATE BESPOKE ART SESSIONS, individually tailored to meet your specific requirements : please ask for details . . .
one to one teaching, conveniently situated in the heart of Portsmouth at studio3 at ARTSPACE or in the comfort of your own home. NB: in the past I have tutored A LEVEL FINE ART students, art teachers, lecturers and even a professor !
ONE DAY WORKSHOPS . . .
CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES to LOCATION drawing and painting “
LOCATION drawing & painting in the ARBORETUM
at STANSTEAD HOUSE, Standsted Park, Havant, Hampshire PO9 6DX
Attractions Include :
Magnificent TREE COLLECTION from around the world.
Pavilion Tea Rooms
Dutch Walled Garden,
STANSTEAD Farm Shop (open 10-4pm)
Garden Centre and STANSTEAD Boookstore
PRICE still only £125
2026 DATE TBA
Itinerary
09.30 : Meet in the Garden Centre car park.
10.00 : WALK & talk St Paul’s Chapel & The Servants Quarters.
10.30 : Short Talk by Chris Wood in the education room
11.00 : DRAWING in the DUTCH WALLED GARDEN
12.00 : PAINTING in the Arboretum
13.00 : Lunch in the Pavilion tea rooms / en plein air
14.00 : PAINTING in the Lower Arboretum
16.00 : Debrief in Pavilion Tea Rooms
16.30 : end of session
CONTINGENCY : If the weather is less than kind we will take our inspiration from the fantastic INTERIOR of the Servants Hall, HISTORIC Kitchens and The Pavilion Tea Room.
CLOTHING : The day includes walking in wet grass – stout comfortable shoes and waterproof warm clothing is essential.
Materials : BRING OWN drawing and painting materials.
REFRESHMENTS are not included but there are some excellent tea, cakes and light lunches available on site – otherwise bring a flask and plenty of sandwiches !
Facebook : Chris N Wood
To book contact chriswoodartist@aol.com
Contemporary Approaches To Location Painting and Drawing”
DATE TBA (9.30-4.30pm) will run from the Arboretum at Stansted Park.
The arcadian Aboretum has a remarkable tree collection from around the world
“indART”, exploring iconic examples of industrial archeology,
architecture and other unique man made motifs.
2026 DATES TBA Two fantastic venues that proved very popular are, THE ROYAL ARMOURIES, Fort Nelson
Fort Nelson is part of a massive ring of brick, masonry and earth forts; it was built to provide the fire power to deter an enemy attack on Portsmouth from inland. Portsmouth was Britain’s premier naval dockyard, building and maintaining warships that were vital to the defense of Britain and her growing empire. Portsmouth faced the new French dockyard at Cherbourg, only a short 130 km (81 mile) journey for new steam-powered warships. The threat was not simply a direct naval assault. It was feared that a French invasion force might land elsewhere, occupy Portsdown Hill and fire their new, long-range guns to attack Portsmouth below from its landward side. However, despite strong words, the French did not steam across the Channel. By the time the Palmerston forts were completed, France had been humiliated by war with Prussia in 1870. Never used against invaders, the angular forts dominating the chalk ridge of Portsdown were soon called ‘Palmerston’s Follies’. Fort Nelson and the other Portsdown forts had cost a fortune to build. They were one of the biggest defenses ever built in Britain.
More exciting news later !
chriswoodartist
chriswoodartist 