AUTUMN 2026

DO NOT BE AFRAID

A series of four Art and Prayer workshops.

SEPT – DEC 2026

TUESDAY MORNINGS 10AM – 1PM

WEDNEDSDAY MORININGS 10AM – 1PM

Using the visual arts as a tool, these workshops provide a safe hospitable environment in which to reflect, imagine, express and explore the inner self and listen to the voice of God. The Art and Prayer Workshops were begun in 1999 at Leith School of Art and became foundational to the Soul Marks Workshop oeuvre. They have since been held in many different locations a – churches, retreat centres grand houses, and cottages and locations have ranged from Peebles to Inverness, Dunoon to Catterline and Ayrshire to Memphis, TN – and on a variety of themes. A series of online worshops began in 2020 due to the pandemic. These proved suprisinlgy and overwhelmingly successful and continue to be so. No artistic experience is necessary as people are encouraged to participate wherever they are on their own artistic and spiritual journeys.

Participants can sign up for all four workshops as a series (Tuesday mornings) thus creating an ongoing group or as individual workshops (Wednesday mornings or Thursday evenings). Places are limited to 8 persons per workshop. 

Series of 4 workshops: Please note our prices have increased:

Full price £160.00, Conc. £140.00 for workshop series

 Individual workshops: Full price £40, Conc. £35 per workshop 

GROUP SERIES: Tuesdays: 22^nd Sept/ 20^th Oct/17^th Nov/ 8^th Dec. 2026. 10am-1pm (9.45 registration) GMT. 

INDIVIDUAL WORKSHOPS: Wednesdays: 23^rd Sept/ 21^st Oct/18^th Nov/ 9^th Dec. 2026. 10am-1pm (9.45) GMT. 

Wk1.  Do not fear, for I am with you.

God ‘Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?  Says, ‘do not fear I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you.’ Isaiah 40: 12 & 41: 10, 13

Tuesday 22nd September – Group series Wk. 1. 10am-1pm (9.45 registration) GMT

Wednesday 23rd September – Individual Workshop. 10am-1pm (9.45 registration) GMT

Wk 2. When I fear, I trust in You. (Psalm 52) 

‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble; therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.’ Even when it seems as though the earth is shaking, we can be confident because God is with us. (Psalm 46:1-3). 

The psalmist encounters many dangers, and writes of many situations in which he is afraid but time and time again brings the fear to God, who is bigger than all these things and in whom he trusts. We will explore some of these psalms.

Tuesday 20th October – Group series Wk.2. 10am-1pm (9.45 registration) GMT

Wednesday 21st  October – Individual Workshop. 10am-1pm (9.45 registration) GMT

Wk 3. Do not be afraid, just have faith. (Mark 5: 36)

From the beginning of his ministry and through to his post resurrection appearances Jesus repeatedly challenges people’s fears and invites them through his actions to have faith, to believe in him. We will explore some of these stories and ask what and how they might speak to us and to our faith, or lack of it, today. 

Tuesday 17th November  –  Group series Wk.3. 10am-1pm (9.45 registration) GMT 

Wednesday 18th November  – Individual Workshop. 10am-1pm (9.45 registration) GMT

Wk 4. Do not be afraid…I am bringing you good news of great joy. Luke 2: 10

‘Do not be afraid’ is a recurring phrase in the Advent narratives, said to the elderly priest Zachariah, to the young girl Mary and to the group of shepherds tending their sheep on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Why is this the first phrase spoken by these angels? What fear is each one of these characters being asked to break free from, what gift is Jesus offering them instead?

Tuesday 8th  December   – Group series Wk.4. 10am-1pm (9.45 registration) GMT

Wednesday 9th December – Individual Workshop. 10am-1pm (9.45 registration) GMT

Materials

Basic art materials as below unless otherwise stated.

• A range of colour and black and white materials in the media of your choice:
  • e.g. coloured pencils/ pastels /paints
• A range of papers and sizes:
  • If working with coloured pencils, paint or oil pastels white cartridge paper or similar is preferable.
  • If you choose to work with chalk pastels you may want to work on a black or coloured sheet of sugar paper if you have any.
  • Alternatively use anything you want / can find – past participants have painted, drawn, collaged, stitched, crocheted…

To reserve a place on the workshops please email: Carol@soulmarks.co.uk

---

To be informed of future workshops please sign up to the mailing list: https://soulmarks.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=fac21c6c83d0c7e3e1fd94ffb&id=3471228dd9

---

Art and Prayer: An interview: Early in 2022 Carol was interviewed about Art and Prayer by Fiona Fidgin (Fidge), Learning and Development Officer at The Methodist Church.

I mentioned Joyce Cheverton in the above interview. Joyce introduced me to using art as a tool for prayer for the first time in on a Holy Week Art Retreat that she led alongside her husband David in 1992 on Iona at Bishops House. This was the starting point of my own journey using and offering the Art and Prayer workshops that I have now been leading for over 20 years.

Joyce, was born in Harrow in 1920, she had started creating art from an earlier age and continued to do so throughout her life produce artworks into her late 90’s. She married David Cheverton, an architect, who became a Church of England vicar. They were the parents of Mark Cheverton, who along with his wife Charlotte founded Leith School of Art. 

‘Previous Art and Prayer workshops can be found here. http://www.soulmarks.co.uk/online-workshops/previous-workshops/

Subcribe to mailing list to be kept informed https://soulmarks.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=fac21c6c83d0c7e3e1fd94ffb&id=3471228dd9

______________________________________________________________________________

 

•