Welcome to the ArtWorks School of Art!

On a typical day in the Artworks studio you will find every student immersed in their own unique project.

This is what makes Artworks special

Fostering the creative journey of children as individuals is foundational to our ethos and has withstood the test of time.

Over 35 years ArtWorks has developed a reputation for sowing essential early seeds for the future successes of its alumni. Students have gone on to be artists, filmmakers, set designers, writers, university lecturers, cultural critics, illustrators, musicians, animators, fashion designers, architects, curators, museum directors and even the occasional Turner Prize winner.

Our Approach

Our classes have an ‘art school’ feel about them. We foster an atmosphere of friendly curiosity where students are encouraged to inspire and be inspired by each other to try new things, nurturing a wonderful cross-fertilisation of ideas and processes.

We begin each term with a group starter project featuring a new technique in depth so that students have the opportunity to expand their knowledge base; this is a springboard for independently devised work. Students may choose to continue with their new skill, apply it in a different way… or something else entirely!

Subsequent projects are supported from conception to realisation by our outstanding tutors. This allows students to further advance the skills specific to their idea.

Our years of experience has shown that the project-to-project model, rather than more generalised teaching, is what sticks. Our one-on-one approach supports children to begin thinking like a practising artist at a young age, building the confidence, independent creative thinking and passion which are the essential foundations for excellence. This helps each child refine their abilities and develop their interests at a level appropriate to them as individuals.

We offer

All types of painting. All dry drawing materials. Charcoal. Ink drawing. Bleach painting. Textiles. Printmaking. Model making. Introductory plaster casting. Mixed media. Drawn and stop motion Animation. Drawing from life. Portraiture. Felt making. Sculpey and air-dry Clay. Mosaic. And much much more.

Support with GCSE, A level, portfolios and scholarships

Our qualified teachers can support the GCSE and A-level syllabus. In the run up to exams we can offer an open studio arrangement so students can stay for longer than their usual lesson to get their final exam preparation done.

We have a large Art and Art History lending library and with an active interest in the History of Art.

We can give essay advice via email in between lessons to GCSE and A-level students.

Arts Award

We guide students through the Explorer, Bronze, Silver Arts, and Gold Awards - which are accredited Awards set up by the Arts Council and Trinity College.

ArtWorks runs after school, weekend and holiday classes. Please see COURSES for more information.

To contact us and for further information please see our CONTACTS and DIRECTIONS page.

The Team

JO ACTY

Jo Acty was born in Maidstone Kent, studied Fine Art at Maidstone Art College, Winchester School of Art, and Brookes University, BA in Fine Art and a Pcert in Artist Teacher Practice.

She started ArtWorks in 1989 and has been a freelance artist and teacher within the Oxfordshire area and Devon for over 35 years. She has worked in Schools (Nursery, Primary and Secondary), Museums. Hospitals, libraries, Nature Reserves, secure facilities, and with youth groups.

She loves teaching and sharing skills and is especially excited by materials. She works in a variety of media and works to commission and has exhibited in Oxford, London, and Devon.  Her own work explores painting and printmaking as a vehicle to record life. https://www.instagram.com/joacty/

Jo is an Arts Award Adviser, (Arts Council Award Scheme)

HELEN EDWARDS

Helen Edwards was born in South Africa, grew up in several countries overseas as an ex-pat, and returned to the UK at the age of 15. She studied Fine Art (BA) at Brookes University, specializing in printmaking, performance Art, and Film. After gaining her PGCE in Secondary Art, Craft and Design she has taught in several schools in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Helen has 23 years of teaching experience, including Montessori Nursery, Primary, Secondary, and Adult tuition, and has been a tutor at ArtWorks for 16 years, as well as being ArtWorks’ lead Advisor for the Arts Award. Helen also runs her own tutored classes and holds weekly sessions in Portrait and Life Drawing Classes.

Her work is primarily focused on culture, water, and communication, influenced by her transient childhood. Helen exhibits during Artweeks and other venues in and around Oxford.

JAYA MANSBERGER

Jaya was brought up in Hawaii, Nepal and Oxford. She studied at the Slade School of Fine Art and has exhibited her paintings in galleries in London and Oxford. Her work has been shortlisted for international art competitions and she has curated various exhibitions at the Old Fire Station gallery in Oxford. As well as developing her own painting Jaya has also worked in home education for young people on the autistic spectrum for several years, mainly using art and yoga therapeutically to help them realise their potential. She has also worked on creative projects with children in both school and community group settings. Jaya loves helping the students at ArtWorks to explore their own personal artistic vision and sharing her skills and knowledge of art with them. http://www.jayamansberger.co.uk/ Jaya is an Arts Award Advisor (Bronze and Silver)

ISABEL TAYLOR

We are very excited to have Isabel in our team! Details to follow ….

OUR WONDERFUL PAST AND VISITING TUTORS HERE