Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village – Educational School Trips & Fun Days Out

Schools and Colleges

Though presently unable to welcome you through our doors, we are working hard to ensure that you and your students stay connected to and inspired by our collection, site and story.

Find out more about our Watts at Home programme here and check back to this page where we will upload new resources and activities for your students to try at home or at school. You can also sign up to receive regular teacher updates here

Please do not hesitate to contact us by email sarah.jarvis@wattsgallery.org.uk if you would like to discuss any classroom work or future visits to Watts Gallery – Artists' Village.

As we work to develop new content we would love to hear from you to steer us in the right direction; what do you need? What would enhance your students remote learning? What do you wish you had at your fingertips to support your teaching? Please do get in touch with us to let us know.

Materials and Making workshops

Visit Watts Gallery – Artists' Village for the day with your group. Discover art and ideas in the galleries. See original paintings, sculpture, craft and designs and, with the guidance of an artist, experiment with materials, techniques and creative ideas.

All sessions include an interactive tour, space to sketch and explore the galleries and surroundings and an artist-led workshop in our dedicated creative learning studios.

4 hours, including a lunch break (students and teachers must bring a packed lunch)
£120 +VAT for up to 30 students (unless otherwise indicated). All materials provided.

2019/20 workshop themes:

Painting
Recommended for ages 11+
Visit the historic galleries before exploring G F Watts's studio to see materials, letters and unfinished paintings that reveal how he worked. Discuss Watts's materials and techniques with our conservator and create experimental paintings.

Sculpture
Investigate G F Watts's collection of plaster models, maquettes and sculptures and discover the monumental Physical Energy, inspired by the Parthenon frieze. Make sketches in the Sculpture Gallery before working with an artist to create your own 3D plaster sculptures.

Gesso Panels
Explore Mary Watts's studio to see original designs, sketchbooks and art recipes and visit Limnerslease, the artist's home to discover her original decorative gesso panels. Make sketches and collect inspiration from the galleries and surroundings, then work with an artist to design and make gesso panels of your own.

Printmaking
Explore paintings, drawings, designs and ceramics by the Wattses and the De Morgans and discover how Victorian artists were inspired by nature and symbolism. Explore the galleries and draw inspiration to make a relief-printed artwork.

Ceramics
(£120 per 15 students)
Discover the story of the Watts Chapel and how it was made by the adults and children of Compton village. Explore symbolism and Celtic design and visit Mary Watts's studio to learn how it was made. See William De Morgan's glazed ceramics and sketch in the galleries before working in our pottery studio to experiment with clay.

Craft Apprentice
(£120 per 15 students)
Become Mary Watts's apprentice for the day. Visit her Arts & Crafts house and discover bookplates, rug designs and ceramics in her studio. Learn about natural and cultural symbolism from peacocks to Celtic knots, before designing and making clay objects and gesso panels inspired by her work and the surroundings of Watts Gallery – Artists' Village.

Portraits
Explore portraits across Watts Gallery – Artists' Village. Discover faces of the famous and notable in G F Watts's Hall of Fame series and spot faces and bodies in paintings, studies, sketches and sculptures. Visit the artist's studio to learn about his materials and techniques and experiment with portraits in an artist-led workshop.

Studies in Nature
Immerse yourself in nature in and outside of the gallery. Tour the galleries to see different approaches to nature in art and discover how G F and Mary Watts were inspired by the environment that surrounds us. Work in beautiful woodland, collect natural materials and create prints and sketches to record what you find in an experimental sketchbook.

Self-guided visits

We welcome pre-booked self-guided class visits. Under 18s are free to visit Watts Gallery – Artists' Village and teachers receive concessionary admission. There is a minimum ratio of 1 adult to 5 pupils for self-led visits.
Download our De Morgan Collection Teachers' Resource Pack below.

Outreach

We deliver themed assemblies and portraiture sessions with costumes to Surrey schools. Please get in touch to register your interest and discuss possibilities.

Teachers' CPD

We plan bespoke training days for your department or whole school. Contact us to discuss your requirements and to develop ideas with our team.

Teacher Network

Sign up to regular teacher mailings to be the first to receive invitations to events and hear about artist projects and opportunities. Please email learningofficer@wattsgallery.org.uk to be added to our list.

Further information and how to book

For more information and to book, please contact the Learning Team on 01483 901805 or email using the contact form below.

When enquiring about a visit please include:

• A range of possible dates for your visit
• School address, telephone number and contact email address
• Group size and age of students
• Any ideas of workshop theme or focus to discuss