As summer winds down, we’re taking a moment to reflect on our very first season of courses - and what a season it has been!

In August, we had the privilege of hosting two very special courses with Tim Shaw, RA: the 3-Day Wax Modelling Course and the 7-Day Sculpture Course. Both were a tremendous success, bringing together talented participants who immersed themselves every day - so much so that we half-expected to find them secretly sleeping under the workbenches just to keep sculpting! The work produced was nothing short of extraordinary!

3-Day Wax Modelling Course

The 3-Day Wax Modelling Course offered an intensive, hands-on experience for both beginners and experienced artists as participants explored the fundamentals of sculpting the human figure using wire and wax, guided closely by Tim Shaw.

Each day brought a  different life model, giving participants fresh perspectives and new challenges to keep their observational skills sharp. The first model held a static pose, while the models on days two and three were more dynamic - pushing participants to capture movement and expression with greater confidence. As the course progressed, their sculptures grew increasingly sophisticated. By the final day, everyone had completed multiple works to take home, each one a testament to their dedication and growth.

7-Day Sculpture Course

The 7-Day Sculpture Course offered a deeper, more immersive experience, giving participants the time to tackle a more ambitious project and learn advanced techniques.

The week began with life drawing exercises, helping participants sharpen their visual awareness and, for anyone who hadn’t practised in a while, a chance to shake off the cobwebsand waken up their inner sculptor. By the end of day one, aluminum armatures were established, and with galvanised wire references for proportion, participants moved into sculpting clay in earnest, focusing on anatomy, movement, and expressive potential under Tim’s careful guidance.

Unlike the 3-Day course, which featured a different model each day, the 7-Day course had one incredibly patient life model who held the same pose for three full days! This rare opportunity allowed participants to study and sculpt every subtle detail of the figure over an extended period, refining their observation and modelling skills with remarkable depth.

As the week progressed, the studio became increasingly lively - and, thanks to technician Jordan MacDonald stepping in, it also stayed admirably tidy - while plaster waste molds and cement fondu casts added exciting new techniques to many participants’ repertoires.

Under the expert and discerning guidance of Tim Shaw, participants received invaluable personalised instruction, complemented by thoughtful group discussions and shared exploration. By the final day, each participant had refined their sculpture to a resolved point - though, as any artist knows, stopping can sometimes be the hardest part - and everyone left the studio as proud new members of the Higher Spargo School of Art alumni community, delighted with what they had achieved.

We are incredibly grateful to Tim Shaw whose expertise made both these experiences truly unforgettable for every participant.

Written by: Muirne Mackinlay Macleod