Artist Bob Sutcliffe to hold art workshop at Holker Hall

The event is being held to offer people of all ages the chance to learn about drawing, painting, and artistic self-expression.

The session will be hosted in the Courtyard Exhibition Space at Holker Hall & Gardens on June 22 from 2pm until 4pm, where Mr Sutcliffe currently serves as the artist-in-residence.

Mr Sutcliffe taught himself to paint after a heart attack and recurrence of epilepsy. 

Over the past six years, he has not only done paintings for people across the world but has also managed to raise almost £1 million for charity through his artistry.

In recognition of his services to education, charity, and people with epilepsy, Mr Sutcliffe was honoured with the Order of the British Empire during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Birthday Honours in 2022.

He is also the founder of The Creative Health Trust UK, the only charity in the UK dedicated to funding creative therapies in hospices for residents and families.

Mr Sutcliffe said: “The workshop is a chance to dabble with some paints, have fun and get some tips along the way – for free.” 

Attendees will also get to experience his Good Souls Exhibition, which runs until October and highlights several of his painting subjects – the ‘quiet heroes’ of Cumbria.

At 36, Mr Sutcliffe was diagnosed with epilepsy, an event that dramatically changed his life.

Misinformed by his first consultant that he would never be able to work again due to the frequency of seizures, it seemed as if his once-perfect world was collapsing.

However, with the unwavering support of his wife and parents, Mr Sutcliffe sought a different consultant, and was soon able to return to work.

Showing his determination to overcome challenges, Mr Sutcliffe underwent retraining to become a primary teacher.

However, at 46, Mr Sutcliffe suffered a heart attack.

This moment led him to channel his creativity into painting, an idea suggested by his older brother.

Mr Sutcliffe had no specific experience in painting fine art with watercolours, but always enjoyed creativity.

What started as a pastime became something more: his works started to get requests for commissioned pieces for charity, which then gave rise to the Bob On Paintings charity brand.

Balancing painting with part-time teaching, Mr Sutcliffe soon began to realise that his art wasn’t just helping others, it was helping him.

No prior booking is required for the workshop, but the number of attendees will be limited by the capacity of the seating available in the exhibition space.