Online Courses & Zoom Classes
“Mary does not ‘teach’ as such; she introduces a painting (or an artist, or an idea) and then enters a process of mutual discovery as a co-explorer, always stimulating an attitude of ‘gazing’ and encouraging a heart response. She fosters the development of individuals having an openness of vision to perceive what is going on in themselves as well as what the basic intention of the artist might be. Mary’s classes are inspirational. They have a spiritual dimension in the broadest sense, and encourage the participator to find their ‘inner eye’ to perceive not so much facts and figures about artists and art history, but how art can change us. At the same time, Mary is very kind and attentive to all her students, and respects everyone’s contribution. Her classes are wholly accessible both to folk who have in-depth experience of ‘art appreciation’ and those who have little.”
Veronica Bennetts

The Art of Seeing – £10 per household
Once a month, next session Thursday 11th February 2021, 7-8pm by Zoom
“If the doors of perception were cleansed,
everything would appear to man as it is,
infinite.”
William Blake

THE WORLD IS SPEAKING TO US – HOW DO WE REPLY?
(Inspired by Joseph Milne – the world is always speaking to us, it is how we live that is our reply)
“The modern quest for security and certainty…has closed the door on the great mystery that actually shines everywhere, and which does not need to be mastered, but rather received as a gift of grace.” Dr Joseph Milne
A six-week course: February 10 – March 17 2021
Wednesdays, 10:00am – 12:00pm, via Zoom with Louise Livingstone and Mary Attwood
In these unprecedented times which we are all experiencing, is it possible to discover deeper ways of engaging with the world? In this course, art, Nature and deep listening come together to offer us a reminder of something more, a different perception. How is the world speaking to us – and how do we reply?
Over six weeks, join Mary Attwood and Louise Livingstone as they explore how expanded ways of seeing and knowing carry the potential to alter our way of perceiving and consequently engaging with the world. Through the Renaissance eye as window to the soul, Heart Sense© and Goethean enquiry, Mary and Louise will explore the starved version of normality that many of us live in today in contemporary society; opening our eyes, hearts and minds to ancient ways of knowing that honour our intuitive senses, and our imaginal consciousness. This will be participatory and will include a combination of lectures, group discussions and practical exercises. In this course, we take seriously the image, experience and feelings, using them to lead us into more subtler realms of our reality. If you have a nagging sense that all is not well with the world and our current worldview, and do not know how to speak about what is arising for you, then this course is for you!
You will engage in meditative and contemplative exercises including reflective writing and meaning- making through personal story and images of art and Nature.
Week one: Noticing, Now (seeing, listening, feeling) part 1
Week two: Noticing, Looking Back (seeing, listening, feeling) part 2
Week three: Opening (creating space)
Week four: Reclaiming (the push-pull, bringing something else into alignment)
Week five: Acting (rebirth)
Week six: Re-visioning (closing the spiral)
Cost – £65 – 12 hours
A note on recordings: The sessions will be recorded. For those who have paid for the live course and miss some lectures, the recordings will be available free of charge the week after the lecture. Email us to let us know you missed a session and we will send it to you.
For those who are not able to attend any of the live lectures – a composite of the recordings will be available for purchase.
Lives of the Great Artists – Six Week Course,
Mondays 10am- 1pm, 22nd Feb – 29th March 2021 – live online classes via Zoom
Women Artists & Patrons of the Renaissance
Friday 29th January, 10am- 3.30pm – live class via Zoom
This one day session will present a fascinating insight into the Renaissance women who were artists – and patrons – of the arts. From Isabella D’Este’s patronage of great artists from the Court of Mantua to the Caravaggio-inspired artist Artemisia Gentileschi, this session will bring into the light some of their brilliant work. Spaces for this session are limited. Price – £40.
Romanticism in Art
Friday 12th February 2021, 10am – 3.30pm
This session will look at the Romantic artists that arose from out of world of the Enlightenment and subsequent industrialisation. In a world changing faster than they could keep up with, where the machine and industrialisation was reducing the living world to something dead, these artists sought to address the growing imbalance they could see in the world by painting both its harsh realities as well as the inner and outer reaches of the mind and imagination. We will look at works by Theodore Gericault, William Blake, Casper David Friedrich and more.
The Art of Romanticism
Friday 12th February 2021, 10am- 3.30pm live class via Zoom
This session will look at the Romantic artists that arose from the world of the Enlightenment and subsequent industrialisation. In a world changing faster than they could keep up with, where the machine and industrialisation was reducing the living world to something dead and inanimate, these artists sought to address the growing imbalance they could see in the world by painting both its harsh realities as well as the inner and outer reaches of the mind and imagination. We will look at works by Theodore Gericault, William Blake, Casper David Friedrich and more. £40.
Caravaggio- Master of Light and Dark
via Surrey Adult Learning, Friday 9th October 2020, 10am- 1pm – ZOOM class
The Hidden Secrets of Masterpieces
Five Week Course via Buckinghamshire Adult Learning, Tuesday 3rd November – 1st December 2020, 7.00- 8.30 pm, ONLINE classes
Leonardo Da Vinci – His Life and Work
Two week course via Surrey Adult Learning, Wednesday 4th November and Wednesday 11th November 2020, 7- 9pm – ZOOM classes
Reclaiming Beauty – Sculpture: from Myron to Michelangelo
via Surrey Adult Education, Friday 20th November 2020, 10am – 1pm – ZOOM class