I’m Katy Dynes, an illustrator specialising in book illustrations, teaching art workshops and painting murals.

As well as illustrating, I am often asked to come into schools to work with students on a variety of projects.

My workshops are fun, inspiring and engaging; all focus on inclusivity, positivity, building self esteem and confidence and promoting personal development.

The workshops include: working with many aspects of illustration, including character design, hand drawn techniques, mark making, storyboarding, writing, comic books, card making, sketching and internal and external murals (working with students, staff or on my own).

I am usually asked to run morning or day workshops – working with groups of children, with or without a given topic or theme. I have discovered that illustration workshops can be ‘used’ in many ways, providing a complimentary, creative and visual way of teaching ‘challenging subjects’ i.e literacy.

I am also often asked to come into schools with authors to take part in readings, book signings and illustrating the children’s reactions to a story/author/piece of writing.

In 2014, I was selected by Bedford Borough Council to work on a project called ‘Reach for the Stars’, focussing on ‘aspirations and self esteem’. I worked with over 120 students from 5 different schools, culminating in an exhibition at the Borough Hall, curated and organised by myself. The Mayor opened the Private View and the exhibition was open to the public in June-August 2014.

In 2016, I was one of 10 selected artists running workshops within schools for the Harpur Trust 450th Anniversary Competition, with artworks being exhibited at the Higgins (Museum and Art Gallery) and other venues in and around Bedfordshire.

Since moving to a little village on the Northamptonshire/Leicestershire border in 2017, I am delighted to be taking children’s and teen’s holiday/After School workshops at the Leicestershire Craft Centre in Market Harborough and have also been invited to run ‘Creative and Art week’ workshops in a few local schools. I have also maintained my School contacts in both Bedfordshire and MK, frequently work-shopping in both areas.

I am often asked to paint both external and internal murals for schools and private clients. I am either given a brief or a free reign working to a specific theme.

I absolutely love painting murals despite whatever the ‘good old British’ weather ‘throws’ at me (windy days are definitely the worst!). I relish the challenge of either working on my own or with the school staff and children. We are all always very excited to see the results.

If you would like to know more about the workshops I offer, please do feel free to contact me