Pastel Society | Events Programme 2025
- - Times vary | Mall Galleries
EVENTS PROGRAMME
The Pastel Society presents a series of special events during the Society's Annual Exhibition 2025.
Unless otherwise stated, the events will take place in The Studio (East Gallery) and are free with exhibition admission.
An Informal Workshop: Pastel & Pixels | Sarah Bee and Simon Hodges
Wednesday 22 January, 11am and 2pm
Pixel painting project: Visitors are invited to undertake a painting or drawing of any subject in pastel or dry media that will be photographed and shown on the Pastel Society website after the exhibition as part of a 'pixelated image'.
All materials are supplied. Use subjects in the exhibition, phone images, photographs, memories or invention to create your image. If you do not want to have your work photographed, please let a member of the team know. All artists may take their finished work away.
Demonstration: The Benefits of Water-soluble Pastels | Simon Hodges
Thursday 23 January, 11am
Simon Hodges demonstrates and talks about the benefits of this lesser-known pastel.
Demonstration and Workshop: The Wonders of Oil Pastel and Dry Media | Richard Rees
Thursday 23 January, 2pm
Richard Rees holds a workshop showing how oil pastels and mixed media give another option to the artist. All materials supplied.
Soft Pastel Demonstration: An Interior | John Tookey
Friday 24 January, 12pm to 2pm
John Tookey demonstrates how to work up an image of an interior from start to finish whilst answering any questions that you may have, both during and after the session.
Water with a Dry Medium? A Demonstration and Discussion | Simon Hodges
Friday 24 January, 3pm
Simon Hodges demonstrates and discusses how and why mixed media is often referred to and why water still has a place in the 'dry' painting process.
A Demonstration of Pastel and Mixed Media | Felicity House
Saturday 25 January, 11am and 2pm
Felicity House demonstrates her use of watercolour and pastel. She will be working from a live model and a volunteer to sit for the work may be requested.
Demonstration: The Benefits of Water-soluble Pastels | Simon Hodges
Sunday 26 January, 11am
Simon Hodges demonstrates and talks about the benefits of this lesser-known pastel.
Demonstration and Workshop: The Wonders of Oil Pastel and Dry Media | Richard Rees
Sunday 26 January, 2pm
Richard Rees holds a workshop showing how oil pastels and mixed media give another option to the artist. All materials supplied.
Workshop: Sketchbooks, DIY, Help and Advice | Simon Hodges
Monday 27 January, 11am
The sketchbooks of Simon Hodges done in various media including those done in the last year will be displayed. Take the opportunity to look through these at your leisure, ask any questions and try out a variety of pastel and dry media. All materials are provided.
An Illustrated Discussion: Your Finished Work; What to Think About | Simon Hodges
Monday 27 January, 2pm
Simon Hodges gives some personal insights on the subject of what to do with your painting once finished, including framing and selling. There will be a digital presentation with plenty of chances to discuss and ask questions.
A Demonstration in Soft Pastel | Roger Dellar
Tuesday 28 January, 11am and 2:30pm
Roger Dellar undertakes two demonstrations, one a townscape using a photograph and the other a portrait of a live model. He talks through his demonstrations and shows how a pastel painting can be completed in one sitting from whatever material is available.
Art Event Evening
Tuesday 28 January, 6pm to 8:30pm
The annual Pastel Society Art Event Evening brings together two models for a themed drawing and painting session with Pastel Society members on hand. A glass of wine is included in the price of admission. A prize is presented for the best pastel/dry media work by a non-member.
Easels and drawing boards are provided on a first come, first served basis. Artists should bring their own materials.
What to Expect:
5:30pm: Doors
6pm: Artists commence painting or drawing from two clothed models
7pm: A short break, including a complimentary glass of wine
7.15pm: Painting and drawing resumes
8.15pm: Judging commences, after which the winner will be declared
Tickets £12 for participants, £10 to spectate, £6 for Friends of Mall Galleries.
Workshop: Sketchbooks, DIY, Help and Advice | Simon Hodges
Wednesday 29 January, 11am and 2pm
The sketchbooks of Simon Hodges done in various media including those done in the last year will be displayed. Take the opportunity to look through these at your leisure, ask any questions and try out a variety of pastel and dry media. All materials are provided.
Workshop: Sketchbooks, DIY, Help and Advice | Simon Hodges
Thursday 30 January, 11am
The sketchbooks of Simon Hodges done in various media including those done in the last year will be displayed. Take the opportunity to look through these at your leisure, ask any questions and try out a variety of pastel and dry media. All materials are provided.
Colour and Atmosphere in Pastel Painting | Martin Goold
Thursday 30 January, 2pm (45 minutes)
A themed tour of the exhibition looking at a variety of ways in which pastel artists have suggested and evoked atmosphere in their paintings. Martin will focus on a small number of paintings in the exhibition and look at different uses of colour in a range of subjects including landscape, portrait and still life as well as more abstract approaches. Discover some of the secrets about how this wonderful versatile material can really be used.
Suggesting Depth and Distance in Pastel Painting | Martin Goold
Thursday 30 January, 4pm (45 minutes)
A themed tour of the exhibition looking at a variety of ways in which pastel artists have suggested depth in their paintings. Martin will focus on a small number of paintings in the exhibition and look at different methods used to give the feeling of being able to look from foreground to background. See how traditional perspective methods might have been used as well as some less obvious approaches. Discover some of the secrets about how this wonderful versatile material can really be used.
Workshop: Sketchbooks, DIY, Help and Advice | Simon Hodges
Friday 31 January, 11am
The sketchbooks of Simon Hodges done in various media including those done in the last year will be displayed. Take the opportunity to look through these at your leisure, ask any questions and try out a variety of pastel and dry media. All materials are provided.
Informal Exhibition Tour (on request) | Christine Watson
Friday 31 January, 11am
An Illustrated Talk: A Painting, Narrative, Composition, Drawing, Tone and Colour | Simon Hodges
Friday 31 January, 2pm
Simon Hodges gives a brief digital presentation and discussion into why a successful painting is the combination of five components, whatever the media.
Workshop: Sketchbooks, DIY, Help and Advice | Simon Hodges
Saturday 1 February, 11am
The sketchbooks of Simon Hodges done in various media including those done in the last year will be displayed. Take the opportunity to look through these at your leisure, ask any questions and try out a variety of pastel and dry media. All materials are provided.
Demonstration: The Magic of Graphite & Pencil | Curtis Holder
Saturday 1 February, 2pm
Curtis Holder, a new member of the Pastel Society and past winner of Sky's Portrait Artist of the Year, demonstrates how he sketches people in graphite and pencil in 10 minute sittings. Volunteers will be requested for each sitting and artists are encouraged to join in if they wish but should bring and use their own materials.
Workshop: Sketchbooks, DIY, Help and Advice | Simon Hodges
Sunday 2 February, 11am
The sketchbooks of Simon Hodges done in various media including those done in the last year will be displayed. Take the opportunity to look through these at your leisure, ask any questions and try out a variety of pastel and dry media. All materials are provided.
A Demonstration and Workshop: The Wonders of Oil Pastel and Dry Media | Richard Rees
Sunday 2 February, 2pm
Richard Rees holds a workshop showing how oil pastels and mixed media give another option to the artist. All materials supplied.
Workshop: Sketchbooks, DIY, Help and Advice | Simon Hodges
Monday 3 February, 11am
The sketchbooks of Simon Hodges done in various media including those done in the last year will be displayed. Take the opportunity to look through these at your leisure, ask any questions and try out a variety of pastel and dry media. All materials are provided.
A Demonstration of Soft Pastel: A Close Up of Surface and Cornish Waters | Tanya Avchinnikova
Monday 3 February, 2pm
Tanya Avchinnikova, a new member of the Society, will demonstrate her use of soft pastel and talk about the subjects that excite her.
The Art of Charcoal | Andrew Barrowman
Wednesday 5 February, 11am and 2pm
Andrew Barrowman demonstrates and talks about how to capture atmosphere in your work with charcoal and other dry media.
Workshop: Sketchbook, DIY, Help and Advice | Simon Hodges
Thursday 6 February, 11am
The sketchbooks of Simon Hodges done in various media including those done in the last year will be displayed. Take the opportunity to look through these at your leisure, ask any questions and try out a variety of pastel and dry media. All materials are provided.
An Informal Illustrated Discussion: My Process - From en-plein to the studio | Simon Hodges
Thursday 6 February, 2pm
Simon Hodges uses digital slides and materials in the studio to illustrate the way he works, whether sketching or undertaking finished work. Open for discussion throughout.
A Talk with Q&A: The Pastel Society, FBA and Mall Galleries | Simon Hodges
Friday 7 February, 11am
Simon Hodges talks and answers questions about the Pastel Society, FBA and Mall Galleries. Do you want to know about the Pastel Society? Want to become a member or Friend? Would you like to see your work on the PS website? What does FBA stand for? What else happens at Mall Galleries? Personal experience has given him a few thoughts that he is happy to share.
Informal Exhibition Tour (on request) | Christine Watson and Jane Hodgson
Friday 7 February, 11am
Workshop: Sketchbooks, DIY, Help and Advice | Simon Hodges
Friday 7 February, 2pm
The sketchbooks of Simon Hodges done in various media including those done in the last year will be displayed. Take the opportunity to look through these at your leisure, ask any questions and try out a variety of pastel and dry media. All materials are provided.
Workshop: Sketchbooks, DIY, Help and Advice | Simon Hodges
Saturday 8 February, 11am
The sketchbooks of Simon Hodges done in various media including those done in the last year will be displayed. Take the opportunity to look through these at your leisure, ask any questions and try out a variety of pastel and dry media. All materials are provided.
A Demonstration and Workshop: Wonders of Oil Pastel and Dry Media | Richard Rees
Saturday 8 February, 2pm
Richard Rees holds a workshop showing how oil pastels and mixed media give another option to the artist. All materials supplied.