Soft Pastel Workshops Online & in Dorset

Choose the way you would like to learn

Enjoy a little creative time with my friendly soft pastel workshops, available live online, as recordings and in person near Wimborne in Dorset.

I’m Nina Squire, a professional artist, Unison Colour Associate Artist and experienced tutor. I have been teaching adults for over 25 years, helping beginners and established artists develop their skills, confidence and enjoyment of painting.

My workshops are relaxed and encouraging. I demonstrate my process step by step, explaining not just what I’m doing, but why I’m making particular choices about composition, colour and mark-making.

Live, recorded or in-person workshops from my Dorset studio

Some people enjoy the energy of a live workshop, while others prefer to pause a recording and paint entirely at their own pace. You can choose the approach that works best for you.

Live online soft pastel workshops

My live online workshops take place on Zoom and normally last two hours. You can paint along with me, watch the demonstration or use the recording afterwards to create your painting in your own time.

Each workshop explores a different subject and set of skills. We might look at coastal light, reflections, foliage, skies, buildings, animals or evening scenes, but the techniques can be taken into many other paintings.

Students join me from across the UK and around the world, creating a friendly and supportive online community.

Autumn Series 2026

Bookings are currently open for my Autumn Series 2026.

The series includes seven varied online workshops, four evening Q&A sessions and a bonus festive workshop. We’ll explore how to simplify busy subjects, choose what matters and use colour, light, texture and expressive marks with confidence.

Every workshop is recorded, so you don’t need to worry if you cannot attend live.

Discover the Autumn Series 2026 and book your place.

Recorded soft pastel workshops

If you prefer complete flexibility, you can choose from my collection of recorded workshops.

These allow you to pause, repeat and revisit each stage as often as you need. You can select a workshop by subject or experience level, or follow a complete series for a more structured learning experience.

Explore my recorded soft pastel workshops.

You can also choose a complete recorded workshop series.

In-person art workshops in Dorset

I teach small, friendly in-person classes near Wimborne in Dorset. These sessions give you time to paint alongside other artists, ask questions and receive individual guidance.

My classes welcome people with different levels of experience. Places are limited, so please check the current page for dates and availability.

Find out about my art workshops near Wimborne.

Are my workshops suitable for beginners?

Yes. You don’t need to arrive with lots of experience or an enormous collection of pastels.

I explain the process clearly and demonstrate each stage of the painting. Watching a painting develop from the first loose marks to the final details can make soft pastels feel much more approachable.

More experienced artists can use the same sessions to explore colour, loosen their mark-making and develop new ways of interpreting a subject.

Read my guide to getting started with an online art workshop.

What will I learn?

Each workshop has its own focus, but throughout my teaching we explore:

Choosing and simplifying a composition
Creating a strong foundation for a painting
Selecting and mixing colours
Building light, atmosphere and depth
Using liquid with soft pastel
Layering pastels without creating muddy colour
Developing expressive and confident marks
Deciding which details matter—and which can be left out

I want you to gain skills that can be used beyond the workshop painting and taken into your own subjects and creative practice.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to attend an online workshop live?

No. You are welcome to attend live, watch rather than paint, or work entirely from the recording. The access period is shown on the individual workshop or series page.

Do I need the exact colours you use?

No. I provide colour and materials suggestions, but you can use similar colours from your own collection. Part of the learning is discovering how to adapt a palette using the pastels you already have.

What materials will I need?

You will need a suitable pastel surface and a selection of good-quality soft pastels. Some workshops also use water or alcohol to liquefy the first layers. Materials information is provided before each session.

Can I join from outside the UK?

Yes. Artists regularly join my workshops from overseas. Live workshop times are shown in UK time, and the recordings offer complete flexibility if the time difference is inconvenient.

Is there somewhere to share my painting?

You can join my friendly Art Online Facebook group, where students share their work, encourage one another and enjoy being part of the wider creative community.

Find your next workshop

Art offers such a valuable escape from the demands of everyday life. My aim is to help you make time to paint, enjoy experimenting and feel more confident using soft pastels.

Whether you join me live, work from a recording or come to an in-person class in Dorset, you will be very welcome.

Explore all my online soft pastel workshops.

If you are unsure which workshop would suit you, please get in touch and I’ll be happy to help.

Here’s some of the recent feedback on Art Online

“I wasn’t sure if it would work but I have really enjoyed the workshops. Nice to see everyone, get help with problems , no one is critical and we have a laugh.”

“We share our work and can ask for help and constructive criticism from Nina to keep our work progressing. This is such a great way of teaching, learning and staying in touch.”

“I have found the online sessions fun, very engaging, productive and social. Demonstrations have provided a good insight on how to attempt and develop a range of subjects and techniques.”

“Group online sessions have created a productive, relaxed and engaging atmosphere. It means we interact with other artists on aspects of painting. It’s a friendly and helpful group of people.”