Testimonials
Homepage > Testimonials
February '09 June '09 October '09
October '08
“I am very grateful to those of you who have taken the time to write testimonials. I hope that through your words you will inspire future students to experience the same gratification that the classes have given you. Through tuition, guidance and encouragement, you have all produced some fantastic pieces of work. It was a great pleasure teaching you and learning all new experiences with you along the way. Many thanks…Alison”
The work below has been completed by students of all levels, but mainly beginners. When asked to write out an evaluation sheet, there was a 100% feedback that their work had improved and an amazing realisation that they survived being pushed outside of their comfort zones! It proved time and time again that great results were achieved when boundaries were gently pushed to a different level.
 |
“I really enjoyed my art course with Alison and met a great group of friends. She is a very good teacher and wish I could draw like she can. There was just the right amount of students so she was able to give good individual attention to us all. I am extremely pleased with my finished portrait of my dog ‘Rory’, my family did not believe I had done it! This course has given me a taster for more art tuition so have already booked my next set!.” Fran Chambers. Tiptree, Essex |
 |
“I have always been interested in portraiture and have always admired Alison’s work. When Alison explained this course to me and her expectation of the quality of work we would achieve, I just had to ‘give it a go’! As a group, we were all made very welcome in Alison’s home and each class was a most informative and enjoyable experience. Alison’s teaching methods and experience were invaluable and I was thrilled to learn some of her most effective techniques. By the end of the course I was delighted with the piece of work that I produced and would recommend the course to anyone who wants to improve their own artistic ability.” Mary Parfitt. Tiptree, Essex (Head of Tiptree art group at St Lukes Church) |
 |
“Overall I have certainly gained a lot from the course and enjoyed experimenting with pastels, a medium I hadn’t really explored before. I felt I had come out of my ‘comfort zone’ and also felt that the course was well structured and Alison a very good teacher. I am so pleased with my finished result and would like to continue with pastels that I have booked another course with Alison to start in February.” Deborah Howard. Langham, Essex |
 |
“I really learnt a lot and I enjoyed the classes, especially the people that I worked with. I enjoyed doing the portrait and I felt a sense of accomplishment once it was complete. I felt that sometimes I struggled, but Alison was able to encourage me and help me get back to a workable level and I know I wouldn’t have been able to complete the work without her help and guidance. The methods we used were very interesting and brilliant in their own right. I would like to try more free hand art, but this all comes with experience. All in all, I loved the course and people and found the experience very challenging. Thankyou!” Jan Smith. Colchester, Essex |
 |
“I love painting pastel portraits amongst other things and wished to improve my work after seeing Alison’s work at Cressing Art and Design Show in 2008. Alison will help anyone to improve! The course is intensive, exciting, enjoyable and will help push anyone’s work to another level. I am thrilled to have been a part of the course and will recommend Alison to my Friends. Best value for money course I have ever come across!” Angella Horner. Colchester, Essex |
 |
“Alison has great enthusiasm and encouraged all of her students to achieve the best results they possibly could. I enjoyed the classes and the comfortable, friendly atmosphere. The skill and work involved using Alison’s method and technique is very impressive. Thank you very much Alison for such an interesting course, where you helped us all to achieve beautiful drawings.” Lesley Payne. Kirby Cross, Essex |
 |
“I was so impressed by Alison’s animal portraits but never even contemplated being able to do anything like that myself. Now, I am really thrilled with the dog portrait I have produced, and this was wholly due to Alison’s excellent tuition and help. She has made me look at things in a totally different way, seeing colours and shapes in what I am doing. She is an excellent teacher, giving confidence and knowledge to all her pupils.” J.M. Davies. Tiptree, Essex (Head of Great Totham art group) |
 |
“I was pretty sceptical that Alison could get me to produce a work of art anywhere near as good as hers. I would have been thrilled just to have improved my drawing skills, learnt how to mix colours on the paper and get things in proportion. However, with Alison’s help I have far exceeded those aims. I have gained confidence in my ability to draw and to actually have a go by myself! I am proud of what I have produced in these classes. Thank you!” Helen Longman. Messing, Essex |
 |
“I first saw Alison at the Cressing Barns Craft show in the summer. I was ‘blown away’ at her pastel drawings and very interested to see that she was offering classes. I signed up straight away and have enjoyed the experience very much. I found art was one of my better subjects at school and appreciated the opportunity to expand my skill and be taught by someone who exhibits such great talent. Alison is a very good teacher, pleasant and approachable and spends time with all students, imparting her skills and tuition in an accessible way. I feel that I have learnt the skills of pastel drawing and am pleased with my results, aided by Alison’s tuition. Travelling was somewhat of a problem for me – but the results were worth it.” Gill Burrell. Southend on sea, Essex |
 |
“As a young man I gained an apprentiship in the society of lithographic artists and Designers which had lay dormant for 50 years. Alison has reawakened that in me with her remarkable ability and outstanding patience. This has so impressed my family and friends that they now commission me to do drawings for them.” Arthur Coates. Messing, Essex |
 |
“Alison is an excellent teacher who pushed me completely outside of my comfort zone. I now have the confidence to attempt portraits at home in pastels, which I had never used before. The classes have been an invaluable experience and I hope to carry on with future classes in order to improve even more under her tuition.” Valerie. Essex |
 |
“I found Alison’s course challenging and inspiring. I was very impressed with my finished project, I would not have been able to produce a piece of work to anywhere near that standard on my own. Along the way, it was exhausting and at times frustrating – at myself not Alison! The whole set up was comfortable and very friendly with a lovely lunch thrown in…I was always very hungry for the next class. I would certainly take more courses with Alison in the future, she stretches you beyond your comfort zone and expects nothing but the best of your ability – its amazing what she can get students to achieve!” Aine. Messing Essex |
Hard at work with reflections and a more relaxed end of the year lunch.
