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Kitty Hillier
It’s always great to hear that after trying some of these quick mark-making and drawing exercises, people are keen to repeat them at home regularly as a way to relax or reset. My approach encourages play, experimentation and trust in our gut intuition.
Based in Cornwall, Kitty lives and works at Islington Boatyard, Penryn. Her work is rooted in what’s above and below the surface, with a belief that all things are connected. Walking and gathering (flotsam, phone pics, words) is always the starting point for finding abstract forms through drawing, assemblage and painting. Layers of overlapping biomorphic shapes are distilled from everyday details. Paths are captured crudely at the time or half-remembered and shaped by imagined stories, histories and unseen realities.
Kitty graduated from Bath with a 1st BA Hons in Painting. Over the last 12 years she has partnered with Newlyn Art Gallery, Somerset Art Works and Grays Wharf to lead workshops. In February 2021 she was selected for Doorstep’s Anatomy of Design Residency, and commissioned to work on filmmaker Rachael Jones’ project Moving Landscapes in partnership with Sensory Trust.
Website: Kitty Hillier – Artist, Falmouth UK
What our students say
Kitty was so brilliant throughout and created and encouraged a magical atmosphere of calm, alongside furious productivity. I enjoyed every second of it, it was exactly what I needed to loosen up my style and I will be embedding many of the techniques into my own practice. Wonderful people in a truly inspiring space!
Kitty has a lovely relaxed meditative approach and is so generous in sharing her personal processes.
It was delivered in a calming, easy to understand way. Kitty was supportive and encouraging, and pushed us out of comfort zones enough to get the best out of every student.
Kitty was so brilliant throughout and created and encouraged a magical atmosphere of calm, alongside furious productivity. I enjoyed every second of it, it was exactly what I needed to loosen up my style and I will be embedding many of the techniques into my own practice. Wonderful people in a truly inspiring space!
This course has inspired me to kick start my practice.
The course was excellent, Kitty really enabled me to re-frame the way I think about art and creation, giving us the tools and the space to be free to explore and experiment. It’s been an incredible experience that has reignited my creativity and left me buzzing with ideas.
Transformative in terms of artistic process.
The course was really well designed, and Kitty Hillier was clear, coherent and very patient. She created a really special learning environment.
I enjoyed the pace and range of materials that Kitty covered. The course has given me lots of ideas and things to think about over the next few weeks. We were lucky enough to see Kitty’s piece in the exhibition at the Penzance Exchange, and it helped understand her thinking. The studio was really well organised – lovely to be able to have coffee and biscuits too!
The course was very well organised, Kitty was very experienced and enthusiastic. The experimental side was fantastic. Thank you!
Kitty supports and guides you down your own path in a non-judgemental manner, providing you with lots of information and ideas. Although the three days were challenging, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
This course surpassed my expectations. Completely liberating.
The course exceeded my expectations. Kitty Hillier is an excellent tutor and her passion for the subject was obvious throughout.
I had a great time and learned to experiment and explore and keep the playfulness as a main focus in my art practice.
Just thankful for the wonderful course.
I learned that my natural instinct to play and experiment with the elements of art is the right path for me. The instructor made it clear that allowing yourself to play without judgement is truly the way.
Transformative in terms of artistic process.
Courses with Kitty Hillier
Abstract Coastline
Art Courses - Mixed Media - Abstract
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000ISTXH
Active Instance: a02Nz000009Bs1VIAS, 25-Jul-2025
Create abstract and experimental compositions in collage and watercolour inspired by the Cornish coastline.
| 25 - 27 Jul 2025 - 3 days - £425 | Book |
Abstracting Nature
Art Courses - Mixed Media - Abstract
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000K5jCK
Active Instance: a02Nz000009BtvFIAS, 26-Sep-2025
Draw inspiration from the work of various artists including Eileen Agar, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham and Sandra Blow, to inspire your own creative journey, discovering your unique colour stories, how to create successful compositions and how to resolve your abstract collages and paintings.
| 26 - 28 Sep 2025 - 3 days - £425 | Book |
Collage & Surrealism - Eileen Agar
Art Courses - Mixed Media - Abstract
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000FIivu
Active Instance: a024J00000CzMb9QAF, 01-Sep-2026
Spanning painting, collage, photography and sculpture, Eileen Agar transformed the everyday into the extraordinary.
| £30 | Book |
Experimental Drawing + Collage
Online Pre-recorded - Mixed Media - Landscape
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000IRoIM
Active Instance: a024J00000C1ZcNQAV, 01-Sep-2026
Enjoy creating experimental and abstract compositions inspired by your everyday surroundings in this recording.
| £30 | Book |
Mindful Ways to Abstraction
Art Courses - Mixed Media - Abstract
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000K2sNf
Active Instance: a02Nz00000ALMjCIAX, 02-May-2025
Capture the Cornish landscape in reduced and simplified forms, using the drawings and paintings of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham as a starting point along with the sights and sounds around St. Ives for inspiration.
| 2 - 4 May 2025 - 3 days - £395 | Book |
Seabed, Cove + Coast
Online Pre-recorded - Mixed Media - Landscape
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000FGhII
Active Instance: a024J00000CjgA2QAJ, 01-Sep-2026
Enjoy creating dynamic reliefs inspired by the landscape around you in this four-part online course.
| £90 | Book |