The Art of the Sketchbook

Produce sketchbooks and journals as works of art in their own right and as inspiration for your further works.

Artists of all abilities will benefit from this course and much will be made of investigation, experimentation and exploring personal themes using a variety of media and using books/journals of different format and scale.

Several books will be produced during the course which will be artworks in their own right and also provide inspiration for your future larger works. Various book formats will be used such as concertina, handmade, square, coloured paper etc. and a variety of themes will be suggested, with guidance given on how to develop ideas and which materials to use.

Some resources will be provided by the tutor and others will be gathered throughout the course by observation and research. The emphasis will be on investigation of ideas rather than perfection. Some of the most renowned artists have made their best work in this small, intimate format, including David Hockney, Samuel Palmer, Van Gogh, William Kentridge and many will be used as references. Guidance and support will be given by tutor Jenny Grevatte at every stage, and extended study is offered at the end of each session for those who wish to push ideas further in their own time.

Tutor Jenny Grevatte is a professional artist of national and international standing and has been teaching at Attenborough Arts Centre since 1984. She is represented by the Goldmark Gallery in Uppingham and has several films about her work on YouTube. A new book about her life and work, Beyond Brushstrokes, is to be published this year by Goldmark Publishing.

All materials are provided.

Participants must be aged 18+.

This 5-week course will run on Wednesday mornings, 10am-1pm, starting on 12 November with the final session on 10 December 2025.

If the course you’d like to book is sold out, we do operate a waiting list - simply contact our box office team on or and ask to be added to the waiting list. We’ll then contact you if a place becomes available, with absolutely no obligation to accept it if you’ve made other plans!

Please ensure that you agree to our updatedTERMS & CONDITIONS before booking as courses/workshops are non-refundable in some circumstances.

We aim to make all our sessions as accessible as possible and carers/PAs are very welcome - just remember to book their free place when you book your session. If you'd like to talk to us in advance of booking or attending your sessions to discuss your access needs, our Box Office team is here to help! Email, pop in or call, open 7 days a week.

We have four blue badge parking spaces outside Attenborough Arts Centre, plus double yellow line roadside parking very close to the building for blue badge holders for up to three hours if our parking spaces are occupied.

Free parking for all customers is available after 5pm on weekdays and all day at weekends in the University of Leicester car park next door to Attenborough Arts Centre on Lancaster Road. The closest public car park for parking at all other times is Victoria Park, 5-10 minutes walk from us.