Fulwood sisters hosting art sessions at venues around Preston

Sally and Lucie from Art Donkey — Sisters Sally and Lucie have done art their whole lives

Two Fulwood sisters have launched a new art venture in Preston.

Sally and Lucie Ward are starting up art sessions at venues in and around Preston under the name Art Donkey, with the first one taking place later this month.

The pair have spent their lives painting and drawing, with Lucie explaining the name Art Donkey is inspired by years of them “lugging art equipment around”.

These days Sally, who has a Masters in children’s book illustration, teaches adults art skills incorporated with wellbeing. Lucie has a BA Hons in fine art and teaches art in a local secondary school.

Alongside their day jobs, Sally and Lucie sell pet portraits and animal illustrations, prints and cards online and at markets as A Long Tale Illustration.

Now, with Art Donkey, the sisters aim to help people of all abilities enjoy being creative.

Lucie said: “Our aim is to create relaxed art sessions that are welcome to all in casual, fresh environments.

“Breaking away from a structured approach, we want people to feel at ease, grab a drink as they please, meet new people and enjoy the process of creating.”

The first session will take place on Tuesday 27 February at Chain House Brewing Co in Market Street West.

Lucie said: “We will be experimenting with abstract backgrounds using brightly coloured acrylic paint. We will then be illustrating Preston-based scenes over the top. Attendees will go away with a lovely gift or something to keep for themselves.

“Each session thereafter will be completely different. Although our work is illustrative we intend our sessions to be very varied and experimental.

“We think this is something that Preston needs and we hope that its popularity will grow. For now we are enjoying the process and looking forward to meeting people who want to join in.”

Places on the Chain House session cost £15 and can be booked by messaging @artdonkey_2024 on Instagram, where details of future sessions will be shared.

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