Drawn to Nature with Ali Edwards

Slow down, look closely, and discover the artist in you — no experience needed.

This full-day workshop invites you to immerse yourself in Hepple's extraordinary rewilded landscape through the practice of nature sketching: drawing not as a test of artistic skill, but as a way of truly seeing the world around you.

Led by Northumberland illustrator and certified Green Sketching Ambassador Ali Edwards, the day combines indoor technique sessions with extended time outdoors, exploring the estate's habitats, flora, and seasonal details at a pace that lets you notice what you might otherwise walk straight past. Whether you've never picked up a pencil or you sketch regularly, this workshop will give you a fresh way of engaging with the natural world, and the confidence to keep doing it long after the day is done.

This workshop takes place on World Environment Day (5 June) - a fitting moment to reconnect with nature and be reminded of why it matters.

Nature Sketching in action

At a glance

• Arrive for a 10:30 start, finishing around 3:30pm with lunch included
• All sketching materials provided. Just bring yourself and a sense of curiosity
• Suitable for complete beginners through to more experienced artists
• Maximum 12–15 participants for a relaxed, personal experience
• Outdoor sessions on potentially uneven and boggy ground — sturdy footwear and layers essential

The Day

Research increasingly shows that active, attentive engagement with nature - really looking at it, rather than just moving through it - has measurable benefits for our mental and physical wellbeing. Sketching is one of the most powerful tools for this kind of attention. It asks you to slow down, look (at least) twice, and stay with something long enough to understand its shape.

The morning begins indoors, where Ali will introduce the core techniques and materials you'll use throughout the day, alongside the mindset that underpins her teaching: how to quiet the internal voice that says I can't draw and replace it with the simple, satisfying act of observation. From there, the day moves outside.

On a guided sketching walk through the estate, you'll focus on the small and intricate, such as a lichen-covered stone, a grass seedhead, a beetle making its way across a leaf, before widening out to take in the broader character of the landscape. After lunch, there's time for a longer, more personal session in which you'll develop your own response to what the estate’s habitats offer in June: be it beautiful fritillary butterflies foraging on wild angelica heads, young redstarts hopping around ancient oaks, or dragonflies perched on a ragged robin flower.

Golden-bloomed Longhorn Beetle - Stephen Moon, 2025 Guest

The day closes indoors with a relaxed sharing of sketchbooks and a conversation about how to carry the practice forward.

Ali encourages sketching in all weathers and the day is designed to embrace the conditions, but sessions can be adapted if persistent rain makes outdoor work impractical.

Classroom based session

Timetable

10:30 — Welcome, introductions, overview of the day
10:45 — Indoor session: sketching techniques, materials, and approaches to observing nature 11:30 — Guided sketching walk: flora, small details, and easy landscape portraits
1:00 — Lunch
1:45 — Extended outdoor session: personal interpretation of the landscape, with individual guidance
2:45 — Indoor close: sketch sharing, reflection, and next steps
3:30 — Finish

Some simple techniques picked up

Who?

The workshop is led by Ali Edwards, an illustrator and designer based in Berwick-upon-Tweed whose hand-drawn work explores place, landscape, and the natural world. Ali is a certified Green Sketching Ambassador — trained in a toolkit that uses art as a means of connecting people more deeply and intentionally with nature. Alongside her illustration practice, Ali leads workshops for adults of all abilities, bringing a teaching style that emphasises mindset and observation alongside practical technique.

"The relaxed atmosphere and encouragement — plus all the practical tips. Every art class should be like this."

"I left feeling curious and relaxed. It has given me the confidence to keep sketching."

"A very inclusive, relaxed atmosphere with no pressure to create a masterpiece. I really enjoyed the whole experience."

Ali Edwards

Also present on the day will be Hepple's ecologist and guide, Richard Thompson, who will be on hand during the outdoor sessions to share his knowledge of the estate's habitats and wildlife. 

What to Bring

• Sturdy, waterproof footwear suitable for uneven and potentially boggy ground
• Warm layers and waterproofs — weather in the Upper Coquet Valley can change quickly
• Something to sit on if you'd prefer not to use the ground (a small foam pad or folding stool)
• Water bottle

All sketching materials and tools and lunch are provided.

Small copper butterfly

Additional Info

This workshop is open to individuals aged 16+ of all abilities. Maximum 15 participants.

If you need to cancel your booking we can offer a full refund/rebooking to guests up to two weeks before the event. After this time we may not be able to offer you a refund but will aim to do so if we can resell your ticket. If Hepple Wilds need to cancel the event for any reason, we will offer a full refund or reschedule the event.

On booking you should be asked about your dietary requirements and any special interests you might have. Please get in touch if you think we need to know anything else.

In addition, this event is not dog friendly. We may be able to host pooches on our private/bespoke days, with prior arrangement.

We look forward to welcoming you to our home and to the beautiful Hepple Wilds.

Hepple Estate in June