Suffolk SketchFest 2025

Suffolk SketchFest returns with 3 days of sketching the maritime heritage & wildlife of the River Deben at Woodbridge.  Over 60 sketching events to join including... Read more

Starting at £100
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Date
01 Aug - 03 Aug 2025


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Location(s)
River Deben, Woodbridge
Woodbridge, Suffolk


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Workshop content
Outdoor sketching along the River Deben - art, learning, birds, boats, river, water meadows and fun


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Tutor(s)
Mary-Anne Bartlett, Claudia Myatt, Mark Boyd, Maxine Relton, Karen Pearson, Alice Angus, Hilary Geelan, Ian Sedge, Brin Edwards

Learn and sketch, having fun with the wildlife, boats, landscapes and history of Woodbridge.

Suffolk SketchFest returns with 3 days of sketching the maritime heritage & wildlife of the River Deben at Woodbridge. 

Over 60 sketching events to join including artist-led walks, demonstrations and workshops.

Suffolk SketchFest’s inspiring artist tutors include:- Mary-Anne BartlettClaudia Myatt, Julia Cassels, Mark Boyd, Karen Pearson, Maxine Relton, Ian Sedge, Alice Angus , Brin Edwards, Hilary Geelan and others!

We’re here to share our knowledge, experience and skills of drawing and painting outdoors – and to celebrate the River Deben.

This is the river that we look out on from Art Safari HQ, it’s where we live. The Deben is the lifeblood of our town, it’s a magical place for wildlife, for air, for meeting people, for skies, for all the water activities.  With every tide it changes.

The river’s heritage surrounds us: historic sites such as Sutton Hoo, buildings such as the Tide Mill, agriculture on the Kingston water-meadows, and the exciting re-wilding at Martlesham Wilds.

All this activity makes this River unique to sketch and paint.

Suffolk SketchFest is open to anyone who would like to have a go! 

Join for one, two or all three days

 

View the full programme here

Download the Full Programme

Itinerary

Friday 09.00 -09.30Registration & Welcome
Friday 09.30 - 17.00Demos, Walks and Workshops all day
Friday 18.00Music and Dinner
Saturday 09.00 - 17.00Demos, Walks and Workshops all day
Saturday 18.00Music and Fish n' Chip Dinner
Sunday 09.00 - 15.00Demos, Walks and Workshops all day
Sunday 15.00Final Gathering and Prize Giving
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Design your own Festival!

Choose your own workshops and demos.

 

Food:   

Join us for al fresco dining on Friday and Saturday evening.  On Friday a local restaurant brings a delicious meal here to eat at tables here on the river, £25 per head including a glass of something cheerful. 

On Saturday place your order on the day (before 11:00am) for a Fish & Chip supper which we’ll bring to you by pedal power to eat at tables here on the quay.  If it’s raining for either of these, we have indoor plans.

There are many enticing cafes to eat at and find refreshments during the day.

 

SketchFest Venue: 

The River Deben outside the Art Safari Studio, The Harbourmaster’s Office, Ferry Quay, Woodbridge, Suffolk 1P12 1BW

There is no parking available at the Art Safari Studio.  There is however a pay and display car park at the Woodbridge Railway Station.  It is a very short walk away!

PROGRAMME:

View the full programme here.

BOOK TIME WITH OUR ARTIST LEADERS

There are many exciting choices including demos, workshops, warm up sessions and guided sketching walks!!!!

Most of the events take place outdoors but we will have more indoor spaces too.

It’s three days of artistic activity with time to meet other artists, drink coffee on the quay, eat and draw in your own time.

 

ACCOMMODATION: 

Woodbridge is a picturesque Market Town on the Deben Estuary.  Find out more about the town on the Visit Woodbridge website.  Ipswich is not terribly far away and has larger hotels.

Here is a small selection of places to stay which Art Safari guests have enjoyed around Woodbridge:

There are many more options available, including boats and holiday cottages – have a look through Suffolk Secrets and Suffolk Hideaways for holiday rental cottages in the area.  Three night stays are possible.

For more about Woodbridge go to the Choose Woodbridge website here.

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View Details