Welcome!

​I am a highly qualified and experienced creative tutor, with a passion for nurturing artistic talent and inspiring creativity in all my students, whether you are a beginner or seasoned artist.

​My range of online courses are designed to enable you to progress creatively from skills to concepts; with each step enabling you to move forwards and create work that is authentic to you!

Follow the menu tabs to find out more, or scroll down to view my current course programme…

Online courses

I run two types of online creative courses; scheduled and self-paced, you can find out more and see what courses are currently available below.

What courses are available now?

  • Free EXPLORE! courses – these are a bite sized courses designed to give you a taste of my teaching style, and to enable you to make a small project.
  • Short self paced – these are short courses to help you develop your skills.
  • Longer self-paced – are more in-depth, available as a discounted bundle or as individual sections, you can start with the first section or dip in to where you feel your skills allow. These courses have a place to share, ask questions and chat with other students.

What will you need to join a waiting list for?

My scheduled courses run over 6 or 8 weeks. New course content is available each week of the schedule, and I am with you on the course on a daily basis to answer questions and join in discussions. You will be learning alongside a group of other students, and there’s often vibrant discussions, sharing of work and encouragement amongst participants. I suggest you sign up for an email alert if you are interested in taking one of these courses as I limit places – details of this are available on the course pages.

All my courses are run on the specialist teaching platform Ruzuku. I don’t use Facebook groups alongside my teaching, but most courses have places to share, ask questions and chat with other students. All of my courses have lifetime access.

I am confident you will find the course you have been looking for and I look forward to helping you on your creative journey. If you have any questions just email me.

Self-paced courses

My self-paced courses offer you instant access to all of the course content, and they can be done at your own pace and at a time that suits you. Take a look at my current range of creative self-paced courses below, and click here to view my free EXPLORE! courses.

Short courses

CREATIVE THEMES

A short self-paced course for artists who want to develop a personal theme

MAKE TOOLS - MAKE MARKS

Learn how to make your own artist tools, and disrupt your creative process

DISCOVER PAINTING WITH OIL & COLD WAX

An introductory course to painting with oil and cold wax medium

Longer courses

MONOTYPE: MATERIALS & METHODS

Learn about a range of creative monotype techniques with this three part course

COMPLETE CREATIVE COLLAGRAPHY

Discover an experimental approach to intaglio printmaking with this three part course

TETRA ETCETERA

Learn how to use Tetra Pak®, cardboard boxes and other boxes to create prints

COLLAGE CREATIONS

Discover creative collage techniques and use your prints to create fabulous mixed media collages with this three part course

COVER TO COVER

Explore a range of creative artists’ books, and learn how to fill them with exciting prints with this three part course

PUSHING PAINT PARTS 2 & 3

Develop your skills using oil and cold wax or acrylics in this two part course

“Just when you think you have learned all there is to learn…. along comes a new Sally Hirst course. Informative, fun and inspirational. By far the best available online and great value for money” Megan

Scheduled courses

Currently I offer three scheduled creative courses, which run for 6 -8 weeks and during that time I am there daily in the group to answer questions. Registration opens a few weeks before the course starts and places a limited so that I can give individual attention. Take a look at my current scheduled courses, and see my upcoming scheduled course dates below…

APPROACHES TO ABSTRACTION

For artists confident in their chosen media who want to develop a more abstract approach

CONFIDENT COMPOSITION

Discover and explore a range of approaches to composition and design

URBAN EXPLORATIONS

Explore the surfaces, textures, signage and shapes of the urban environment

Testimonials

“Thoroughly recommend Sally’s workshops. They are so well thought out and Sally communicates so clearly. I have been painting for years but doing Sally’s courses are such an inspiration and I am learning so much. Come and join the fun”

Meg

Monotype: Materials & Methods

“Just when you think you have learned all there is to learn…. along comes a new Sally Hirst course. Informative, fun and inspirational. By far the best available online and great value for money”

Megan

Monotype: Materials & Methods

“I found it ridiculously inspiring and loved how you guided us through a clear structure and process. Your examples and written instructions makes this course easy to follow and accessible. It’s brilliant and you are a genius!”
Clare

Urban Explorations

“I love the detail and thoroughness of your explanations and demos. So well thought through and taking nothing for granted. I have no formal art training so found the idea of posting my work with such talented people rather daunting but the positive comments and your encouragement have been most appreciated.”
Alan

Complete Creative Collagraphy

“Last year I took two popular online courses. I absolutely loved both courses and learnt a huge amount however my problem was that there was this element in both courses of ‘now go off and paint something’ and I didn’t know what to paint! I then spent some months nearly signing up for courses but feeling that they were not quite what I was looking for – though I didn’t really know what I was looking for. Then along came Approaches to Abstraction. Wow Sally this was it – this was what I needed. I feel I have a toolbox to which I can constantly refer and I am incredibly grateful that you have given lifetime access because I know that every time I get stuck I will revisit the modules”
Bridget

Approaches to Abstraction

“Sally’s courses are always overflowing with information, best value workshops on the market”
Sue

Monotype: Materials & Methods

“You are without doubt the most generous teacher I have ever had. There seems to be no end to the amount of effort you put into teaching and supporting your students. It certainly makes the whole experience incredibly fulfilling and I can’t tell you how much I’m enjoying your courses”
June

Cover to Cover

“This is a wonderful course, so much to try and enjoy. The textures concertina has been especially great for me. I have enjoyed every minute of this and I cannot begin to tell you how much pleasure the making and the result has given me. Thank you.”
Christine

Cover to Cover

“Thank you, Sally. So appreciated your clear, measured delivery; your enthusiasm and encouragement; your dedication to those on the course and your vast experience and knowledge. The lessons I will take and mull over for a lot more time yet!”
RB

Confident Composition

“What can I say!!?? What a brilliant course. Thank you so much for opening myself and my practice up to the wonders of Collagraphy.  You have covered everything through the videos, the booklet, the troubleshooting guide, the supply list and your feedback online. Your attention to detail and delivery is second to none. The Ruzuku platform is excellent, I had never heard of it before, but what a great way to deliver an online course and the fact that we can all share our work and learn from each other ad infinitum is just wonderful.“
Fran

Complete Creative Collagraphy

“I liked the structured approach to each module and that there was plenty of really useful content as well as exercises to challenge and enable us to learn. I loved seeing other student’s work and comments too. Your videos are very clear and instructive.”
Leila

Confident Composition

Course FAQs

What is an online course?

An online course consists of videos and downloads to enable you to learn new skills and improve old ones. All my online courses are stored on a specialist teaching platform, you do not have to join a Facebook group, and the courses have lifetime access*

The self-paced courses can be done at any-time that suits you, whilst the scheduled courses are set for a specific number of weeks.

Each course has its own private ‘classroom’ that only people that have registered for the course can access. All videos are pre-recorded and you can watch them at your convenience, with additional written content in the form of downloadable PDF’s.

Is there tutor support available on your online courses?

My self-paced courses are designed to be studied independently, and should contain information you need. If you do have questions I will be available to answer them on the course forum, and you can always email me at [email protected].

On my scheduled courses new course content is available each week of the schedule, and I am with you on the course on a daily basis to answer questions and join in discussions. You will also be learning alongside a group of other students, and there’s often brilliant discussions, sharing of work and encouragement amongst participants – although there is no pressure at all to join in or share.

What is a 'forum'?

I realise that not everyone is on Facebook, and so I wanted to provide a dedicated place for you to feel free to share your work with others in the course.

All participants of my self-paced courses are invited to post images in one of the course forums, but there is no obligation to do so! 

My scheduled courses have areas with each activity where students can post images and join in discussions.

What if I get behind on a course, will I be able to catch up?

All of the videos on my courses are pre-recorded and available to watch, and re-watch at your convenience.

For scheduled courses I am only available during the schedule of the course, but you get lifetime access* to the course content and all the discussions and posting from other participants.

*lifetime means as long as I am able to communicate, or as long as the platform is in existence.

How do I enrol on a course?

At the very top of each course page on my website there are buttons for you to click to enrol and pay for a course. Clicking this will take you to the Ruzuku platform and payment will be taken securely by credit card. The Ruzuku platform is where all the courses are kept.

The payment is set in GDP as I am in the UK but when you pay it will convert to your own currency. Payments are made via Stripe, a safe and secure payment platform, using a debit or credit card.

Once you have paid for a course, you will be asked to create a Ruzuku account using your email and a password. Note that this will also happen only the first time you enrol, you do not have to create a new account for each course. All of your courses will all be available in the ‘My Courses‘ section on Ruzuku.

I live outside of the UK, can I still enrol on a course?

Yes of course! I would love you to come and learn with me, and I have people signed up from all over the world. The payment from your currency will convert to GBP.

If there are any live elements, for example a meeting of students on Zoom, I make sure there are options for different time zones available.

Where can I find my course?

When you enter Ruzuku at the top you will see ‘My Courses’. If you click on that you will get a list of your courses. Just click on the relevant course name to enter that course.

If you have any technical problems, find the top right menu and click on ‘Support’ to access the Ruzuku support help-desk.

Can I download the course videos?

No, unfortunately you cannot download the videos due to copyright, but once you enrol you will have lifetime access to them and can return to them at any time.

What internet connection and device will I need?

To get the most out of the class you will need to have a high speed internet connection, and a newer computer or mobile device that is equipped to stream video off of the internet. If you have any questions about this please do get in touch.

My videos are compatible with all devices including iPads, tablets and mobile devices. Please do test out different browsers if you have any issues – Safari is the default browser on an iPad, but Chrome is actually the better browser for a lot of people.

Can I share the course content with others?

My courses are priced very reasonably, and I have worked very hard to give you an in-depth and inspiring range of courses full of content. As such please do not share your login and course access with others. I would love to have your friends join in the proper way by registering, and if you are interested in a discounted group rate then please email me.

I love it when you share the work you are making on my courses, and celebrate your successes, and I understand that we all love to show what we are making!  Photos of work in progress, images or a video of your final outcomes are fabulous and thank you to all of you who do that and mention me! You are more that welcome to share images of your own work on social media but please do not share, cope or distribute any of my course content or techniques.

Also, if you create work that is clearly based on my demonstration pieces, please do not attempt to sell it as ‘yours’. More details about my intellectual property rights can be found in the Terms and Conditions

 

Can I share the course content with others?

All of the course content is my own intellectual property, built up from over 40 years as an artist and teacher. You are not permitted to share demonstration/how-to videos of yourself using the techniques I am teaching you.

Of course many general, individual techniques are already out there in the public domain, and no one can claim ownership to those, but it is the sequence of techniques; particularly some of the tools and equipment used, as well as the methodologies and concepts taught on my courses that are not to be shared. More details about my intellectual property rights can be found in the Terms and Conditions.

Using students' work for promotional material

Sometimes I will share students’ work from courses, either to promote the course but mostly to just celebrate your success!

All students are asked to give their permission on enrolling, I will only share work from those who grant permission, and there is no obligation to do so.

Do you offer refunds?

I do not offer refunds for self-paced courses as the course descriptions give a very full account of the content. In the unlikely event you have booked a course that is not right for you, please let me know before you start accessing the content.

With my scheduled courses if you feel they are not right for you I will refund you within a week of your booking/the course starting, (less an admin fee) or a full credit towards another class.

Help! I can't get the videos to play...

If you’re having difficulty watching the videos try these tips:

  1. Close down any open applications and exit out of any extra windows in your browser. These all take up memory on your device and cannot effect the ability to play video smoothly.
  2. Refresh the page.
  3. Restart your device if you have not today.
  4. Make sure your device is updated. (including the operating system and browser)
  5. Try a different browser.  My videos have been verified working with:
  6. Firefox (Windows and Mac)
  7. Internet Explorer (Windows)
  8. Google Chrome (Windows, Mac and Android [4.1.2] tablet)
  9. Safari (Mac, iPad and iPhone)

*I cannot guarantee that our videos will play on your device. There are too many variations in each person’s scenario.

Blog

 

New Explorations from Brisons Veor

New Explorations from Brisons Veor

    As a result of my week on Cornwall I have arrived back in Norwich with piles of collaged sketches, photographs, filled sketchbooks, monoprints and of course, ideas. I was particularly drawn to the geology of the area the origins of the industry. My studies of the...

Brisons Veor Residency

Back in UK and off to Cornwall for a week long residency at Cape Cornwall. I took more kit than anyone would need but set myself FOUR challenges 1. To not make final outcomes 2. To play as much as possible with Mark-making 3. To leave the audience at the door 4. To...

Leaving Spain for the summer

Leaving Spain for the summer

After the busy time at the Art Walk in Competa and family visiting I just had time to start some large paintings that I will finish on my return in September, and to finish a large one to take to Galeria de Bellas Artes Competa. I made two panels to bolt together as...

Easter in Andalucia

Luckily it rained most of March so I managed to get a lot of work done for the Art Walk in Competa. I decided to make lots a new things...some smaller circles and experiment further with encaustic. I took the large painting from Motril and sold it on the first...

Encaustic journey in January

I went on a two day encaustic workshop in Brighton. Lovely media...layers, colours, embedding what's not to like! Unfortunately the tutor used a mix with paraffin wax which I've since found out creates lots of smoke..and we made work on non-absorbent surfaces..so may...

Exhibiting in La Azucarera

I met Emma Plunket at Easter 2017 when I took part in the Cómpeta Art Walk. She contacted me during the Summer to say she was inviting artists to take part in an exhibition and would I be interested? Little did I know how amazing the venue she found would be....the...

Collage frenzy!

Collage frenzy!

  After the mountain I climbed for my solo show it was great to spend August creating plates and printing again for Norwich Print Fair. I wanted to take forward the principles I had applied to my paintings: contrast, composition, colour etc but also work more...

Past, Present, Imperfections

 I wanted to write about how my solo show went this summer. Putting together a solo show is an amazing experience, it pushes an artist to delve deep, to reflect and respond. It can also be a bridge between past creative practices and future ones. When I began the...

Art Walk in Cómpeta, Spain

Art Walk in Cómpeta, Spain

For the last nine years they have held an Art Walk in Cómpeta, Southern Spain. It's a beautiful 'Poble Blanco' with winding streets, cats on every corner and views across to the Mediterranean. I was asked to take part this year and exhibit at the Galería Centro de...

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions

Email: [email protected]

Sally Hirst, oneuppergoat studio, 1 Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, Norfolk, UK, NR2 1EW