About Little Artists
& Miss Mel
Little Artists
Little Artists is an art school based in North Berwick at The Lighthouse. There are art classes for nursery, primary and secondary students, occasionally there are classes for adults too! We offer a variety of art projects each term with the emphasis on fun and being creative. Although perspective and colour choices are discussed, the main aim is to feel good about what is produced. Achieving a piece of art that has been enjoyable to make is very important.
Throughout the year, there are special events such as trips to galleries, our own exhibitions, Fringe by the Sea and the Christmas lights switch on.
We also offer holiday workshops, parties for kids and paint & sip evenings for adults.
Miss Mel
Mel Chambers has spent the last 50 years or so with a paintbrush or pencil in her hand. Either painting and decorating, then selling five houses or writing list after list to organise life with her five children. Arts and crafts have been used to improve environments, possessions and moods!
As a little girl, she loved to plunder the “useful box” her Mum kept in the utility room. Filled with glue, paints and cardboard, she would create miniature bedrooms for her dolls or seasonal collages for her noticeboard. Her love of all things arty developed further at school studying art and history of art, followed by an art course in Venice. Babies being born did not stop the fun, as they became her first little artists and regularly undertook art projects on the kitchen floor.
Recently, Mel has been building garden fairy houses and selling them online, mainly to USA. Please check out her instagram, fairyhouseshandmade.
Since her children are now leaving her with an empty nest, she needs a new collection of little artists to enjoy art with. After running drama, baking and card clubs within the local primary school volunteer system for over 25 years, she is experienced working with small groups of children. She thinks the way children approach art is special, the “can-do” attitude of kids brings unique outcomes and brilliant creativity. Happy to be outwith the confines of a traditional school classroom, she is a firm believer in lots of noise and laughter. The main element of her classes will be FUN!
Little Artists - Why Art?
Art is fun! So why not get started as early as possible developing artistic skills? Learning about arts and crafts is rewarding, relaxing and so useful throughout life. Children are regularly taught the rules of football or netball, yet rarely go onto a sporting career. Knowing how to mix and match colours, which glue is best for paper or metal and learning how to sew on a button are helpful skills for life. Having the confidence to choose colourful curtains or an interest to visit art galleries around the world as an adult, begins by fostering a curiousity in Art as a child. Art is life enhancing for all ages and particularly joyous for children.
Most small children believe they can draw anything and are excellent artists. This self-confidence is diminished over the years until in adulthood they pronounce they are not artistic and rarely draw or paint anything. There is nothing to be scared of, yet many adults feel apprehension when faced with a creative situation. We all have the ability to be artistic, inhabitions can hold us back from enjoying a more creative life. By putting in place some fundamental artistic skills in childhood, we are building an artistic confidence for the future.
Practising art brings many benefits:
Develops fine motor skills
Helps innovative thinking
Encourages perseverance
Improves visual learning
Advances problem solving
Progresses decision making
Collaboration opportunities
Builds memory & self-control
Art classes are a great way to try lots of new activities involving art. Each week we will approach a new project with all materials supplied. We are based in The Lighthouse, North Berwick where the space is perfect for exciting, messy marbling or splashing around while tie-dying. With lots of reassurance, encouragement and fun, our art classes will ensure all your Little Artists have the ability to become Big Artists too.