art and nature

A gentle screen-free art journey inspired by the seasons, materials and the natural world

What happens when children are given time to slow down, notice the world around them and create with their hands?

Art and Nature is a calm, joyful four-session creative project where children explore the changing seasons through painting, clay, drawing and nature-inspired making. Using a rich variety of materials; including ink, watercolour, clay, acrylics and chalk pastel, children create a small collection of artworks inspired by leaves, flowers, trees, textures and natural forms.

Each session introduces a different material and artistic approach, keeping the experience fresh, engaging and full of discovery. Along the way, children build core creative skills while also developing patience, observation, confidence and a deeper connection to the outdoors.

A neon-lit digital clock displaying the time, with a modern, futuristic design, ambient glow, and purple and blue hues.
Silhouettes of three people with glowing outlines in blue, purple, and pink, against a dark background.

5 to 12 years old

A purple and blue digital illustration of a clock and an hourglass.

90 min. 4 sessions.

Monday, Saturday and Sunday

Nature-inspired Art

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Ink

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Watercolour

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Clay Sculpture

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Drawing techniques

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Nature-inspired Art - Ink - Watercolour - Clay Sculpture - Drawing techniques -

Paint, sculpt and explore nature

Art and Nature is designed for children who enjoy making, experimenting and discovering, as well as for families seeking a creative experience that feels calm, meaningful and connected to the real world.

Across four sessions, children explore the colours, textures and shapes of the natural environment through a range of hands-on artistic processes. They may paint the softness of petals, sculpt organic forms in clay, make marks inspired by branches and leaves, or experiment with colour and movement in ways that reflect the changing seasons.

Because each session offers a different technique, children stay curious and engaged while also building confidence across multiple forms of making. The result is a project that feels varied, stimulating and satisfying, with beautiful handmade outcomes to take home and treasure.

Enquire about this project
Infographic with four sections highlighting benefits of a children's art program. The sections include icons and text about screen-free creativity with film cameras, trusted and safe delivery, projects tailored to your child with meeting checklists, and tangible outcomes like paintings and sculptures.

Art Inspired by the Outdoors

Nature offers children a wonderful starting point for creativity.

It encourages them to slow down, look more carefully and respond to what they see, feel and imagine. A leaf, a flower, a tree trunk, a changing sky; all of these can become inspiration for drawing, painting, sculpting and mark-making.

This project helps children recognise that creativity does not need to come from screens or fast entertainment. It can begin with simple observations, real materials and the pleasure of working with their hands.

The natural theme also brings a gentle rhythm to the sessions. It supports a quieter kind of focus and invites children into a more mindful creative experience, one where art and wellbeing naturally meet.

Gray clay leaves on a white surface, some are curled or bent.

Little Artists, Big Nature Energy

One of the most special things about this project is the balance it offers: it is calming, but never dull; structured, but still playful; educational, but full of imagination.

Children are encouraged to experiment freely while also being guided through core techniques and artistic ideas. They learn that art can be expressive, sensory and exploratory and that there is joy in trying something new, making discoveries and following ideas where they lead.

The variety of materials also helps children stay open and adaptable. One session may feel fluid and painterly, another tactile and sculptural, another detailed and observational. This keeps the creative energy alive while allowing different strengths and preferences to emerge.

  • Children will learn key creative skills including observation, abstraction, proportion and colour theory.

    Across the four sessions, they will explore elements of art such as shape, form, texture and tone while experimenting with ink, watercolour, clay and mixed media techniques.

    Drawing is gently introduced throughout, often as a warm-up exercise, helping children build confidence and improve focus.

    Families are encouraged to have a sketchbook so children can revisit ideas and keep practising between sessions if they wish.

  • All tools and materials used are age-appropriate and guided carefully.

    Sessions can be adapted to suit different ability levels and learning styles and activities can be adjusted depending on whether children prefer more structure or more freedom.

    Where outdoor drawing is suggested, sessions can also be done indoors if weather or space doesn’t allow.

  • By the end of the project, children will create a small portfolio of artworks including:

    • Four ink and watercolour paintings (Trees through the Seasons).

    • Several ceramic-style leaf sculptures made with air-dry clay.

    • One or more floral ink and chalk drawings using expressive mark-making techniques.

aims & benefits

Creative

Experiment with a variety of materials: ink, watercolour, clay, acrylics, chalk.

Learn colour mixing, composition, texture, form and mark-making.

Build confidence through both guided activities and open-ended exploration.

Environmental

Deepens connection to nature and the changing seasons.

Encourages appreciation of found natural materials (leaves, sticks, flowers).

Supports screen-free time through real-world observation and creativity.

Well-being

Encourages calm focus through gentle, nature-inspired making.

Supports confidence and emotional expression through creative play.

Offers a relaxing screen-free experience that feels rewarding and mindful.

  • Ink

  • Straws

  • Watercolour

  • Air-dry clay

  • Found leaves

  • Acrylic paint and varnish

  • India ink

  • Kebab sticks

  • Found sticks

  • Small brushes

Graphic of a stack of coins next to a single coin, with a gradient color scheme of purple and blue.
Outline of a closed toolbox with a handle, in gradient colors transitioning from blue to pink.

materials

‍ ‍ Provided by the artist

ESTIMATED COST

£160 for 4 sessions.

Get started today

Start a project enquiry

About the Project Leader

monica

Painter & Art Educator

Monica is an internationally experienced art educator with over 15 years of teaching experience across the UK, Europe and the United States.

She has taught at institutions including Marvegos Fine Art School (California), International School Hilversum (Netherlands), Studio 30a (Amsterdam), Parliament Hill School (London) and Tudor Grange Academy. Monica holds an MFA in Painting from the Slade School of Fine Art and a BFA in Painting and Drawing from California College of the Arts.

Her sessions combine rigorous fine art training with warmth and sensitivity, helping children build strong visual skills while developing their own artistic voice. Monica is DBS certified.