AN ARTIST from North Yorkshire is starting a new venture in the lead up to Christmas.

Every year, Mike and his family sit around a big table at home and paint their own Christmas cards. They use simple designs, so that family members of all ages and abilities can join in.

As part of his ongoing online painting workshops, Mike is offering step by step guidance, using photos of each stage of the painting, to members of the public who want to learn more about painting watercolours.

Mike has run art watercolour workshops around North Yorkshire for the past 30 years, with adults attending his regular art classes in Sowerby, Great Broughton and Northallerton. And recently, he set up a free art class in a community-owned pub in Exelby called the Green Dragon.

During lockdown, all these art classes, which were often attended by up to 20 adults, had to stop. So Mike began online art classes, sending stage by stage photos of a painting combined with detailed instructions on how to complete the painting, which have proved very popular.

Again, the classes have been free as Mike believes that regular creativity and painting is excellent for mental health and wellbeing.

Instead of payment, Mike has requested that students send donations to the NHS.

Call Mike Draper 01609 780087 for a free pack or for more information.