Smitten with Ink
Read more +
I really enjoyed this workshop & Smitten with Ink were brilliant! This was also set in great surroundings, and the sunshine helped to add to the excitement. Helene was such a great teacher, and she worked at our pace. Another 30mins or hour would have been great to practice more under her guidance, but even so she was just brilliant and I'm being selfish in wanting more time as I was having so much fun! It was a small class of 4 people which was just perfect in getting the most out of this class. Helene was very helpful and informative, she knows her stuff! Such a great workshop... I couldn't wait to go home and keep practicing! Definitely a workshop I would recommend to others!
PrinaLovely instructor, patient and great at teaching. Great class.
shaunaHélène went to so much trouble to ensure this class went ahead. I feel very fortunate that I was able to attend the class 1 on 1 and get some much needed time away from a screen and get creative with calligraphy. The class expanded on what was taught at beginners class and I cannot wait to get practicing. Hélène was so patient and informative and created such a calm atmosphere. It really gave my calligraphy the boost is needed. Would definitely recommend :)
LauraI was gifted this experience for Christmas and it honestly was the best present ever! The venue at the edge of a lovely park in Wimbledon got me feeling inspired just sitting in the studio. Helene had prepared a little place name and pack for everyone on the course, such a lovely touch! She was so calming and patient when teaching the class and gave really helpful tips throughout. I was surprised at how much we could learn in one class! Would definitely recommend Helene to anyone wanting to try out a new skill :)
Laura WhittleThis was lovely! Hosted in a beautiful London park, I even drove all the way from West Sussex but was not disappointed. It was a couple of blissful hours of focusing on one thing and letting the world slip by around us. The teacher, Hélène, was patient and gave each person her individual attention in order for each person to make the most of their session. It was over far too soon and will definitely be booking another calligraphy class sometime this year. Thank you Hélène and Obby!
AlexandraI have been interested in Calligraphy for a while now and was grateful this class was in my local area. Helene was friendly, informative and provided all the equipment with very useful notes and tips on technique. It was a really great introduction to calligraphy and I have been practising ever since. I would like to improve my technique and then try the next level class.
Mevani JagodageThank you Hélène for such a lovely introduction to calligraphy. We both thoroughly enjoyed the class and look forward to continuing our new hobby.
BethniHad a lovely afternoon, in a beautiful park setting. Helene went over the foundations very well, gave us lots of good advice, and everyone got one-on-one time so we were all able to get personal feedback on technique and have our questions answered. We got a pack of materials to take away, so I am very excited to carry on practicing what I have learnt!
TanyaWas good to hear her experiences. But it was hard to see when she was doing demos.
MandyIt was a wonderful afternoon learning the basics of calligraphy. I really enjoyed it. We covered enough for me to feel like I could go away with enough knowledge to get practicing! I highly recommend it. Helene was great!
Felicity GriffithsHelene was lovely, and took the time to answer everyone's questions. It is a good class because each participant was able to work at their own pace through the workbook, so no one feels impatient or gets left behind. The class gives you very good foundations to build on and keep practicing.
JenniferHélène was a fantastic teacher. She was very supportive and friendly. I feel that I have really learnt a lot about calligraphy by attending this course. I am so impressed of how much I have improved! The venue was lovely. It was so nice to see the beautiful park from the window.
FlorenceThere was so much about this class that I loved... the location, the sociable and friendly atmosphere, the lovely teacher Hélène, the beautifully set up classroom with refreshments.... but mostly I loved that I had done something different, it made me feel really good afterwards. I can’t stop writing people cards now and practicing whenever I can. One of the best things I’ve done on a long time!
AmyHelene was an excellent teacher and incredibly helpful passing on her knowledge of Modern Calligraphy. I LOVED the class - the two hours flew by and I know it is something that I will continue to practice. I left feeling a combination of frustration about how difficult it is, but elated at what I had achieved and incredibly zen as it was such a lovely, mindful way to spend 2 hours. Also another thing I loved, while I was there with a friend in this instance, most of the class was individuals there to learn a new skill on their own. If you are looking for something for yourself, this is a really nice class to do just that. Hugely enjoyable and can't recommend highly enough.
Gems DuncanHélène is very knowledgable and provided me with a great foundation in Beginner Modern Calligraphy. It was great to learn using an oblique pen holder which was easier than I thought. She’s encouraging, puts you at ease and gives helpful tips that I’m able to apply and see the difference straight away. Hélène gives great recommendations on alternative equipment to use when travelling and it’s inconvenient to take your nibs and ink with you but you want to practice.
AndreeAfter years of wanting to dip my toe into Calligraphy, this course was the perfect start. Helene makes it easy and comfortable to start your journey. Beautiful setting, easy to understand and follow instructions and the tools to take home and practice this lovely craft.
BarbaraAnother fun session with Helene Thion, this time teaching us about flourishing and bouncing techniques, and the use of metallic inks. Hugely enjoyable creative session. I like the fact that Helene gives us a clear steer on which papers and inks to try out; without that it could be bewildering to choose the right things. I have found calligraphy immensely relaxing; it is such a good way of turning off one’s mind from worries and just concentrating on making beautiful lettering. Highly recommended
Ann MarkoweHélène gave us a wonderful and informative class in a beautiful location. We learnt about flourishing and writing ‘bouncy’ modern calligraphy plus using metallic ink and even got to take the ink home to practice with! The chocolates and drinks were a welcome treat. I’d highly recommend this class 😀
Susie WThis was my second class with Helene and I enjoyed it even more than the first one. She has a great way of making everyone relaxed and I have already started practicing the new flourishes that I learned. Got some good recommendations for different inks (and how to use them) which will add some sparkle to new projects. Lovely venue too, and the chocolates always go down well! Thank you Helene - another great afternoon doing something I love.
ClareGreat workshop as always! It would be great to see more advanced classes and maybe just a class where people of all different stages come together to practise and learn tips and tricks etc!
LauraWe absolutely loved our course. Helene was perfect; so patient and so knowledgeable. The atmosphere was fun and friendly and everyone got along so well even though we had only met that morning. Helene put us all at ease and no question was too much trouble. I'd definitely go again.
LucyHelene was lovely, a calm and clear teacher. She provided good quality materials which we took home. She also gave lots of individual attention. Lovely venue in a park and she sweetly provided drinks and sweets too.
philippaHaving never done any calligraphy before, I attended this class on 9 February 2019, and came away inspired to pursue this new hobby further. I now find that practising calligraphy is wonderfully therapeutic - a great way of slowing down the mind. Our teacher Helene was very friendly, and gave us clear guidance on everything we needed to know to make a start. Calligraphy seems to be one of those subjects where different experts have different views, and for a beginner that can be confusing and daunting. But Helene gave us clear guidance not only in the class; she also kindly agreed to give advice if we texted her afterwards, and she has given me some very helpful steers. She inspires confidence that she knows what she is talking about, and so I intend to book another class with her soon.
AnnThis was an excellent introduction to modern calligraphy. The venue was good and easy to find. The teacher was very friendly and informative. She had prepared the room well and made sure that she gave everyone individual help and instructions. We learned how to hold the pen and make basic letters. The teacher also gave ideas for further practise. A very enjoyable afternoon.
Lesley ForsterHelene was friendly. I arrived late with about 16 minutes past and she recapped with me everything she said before I arrived. The venue was quite small. It was very far for me coming from North West London. It was quite difficult driving around the streets of Hammersmith. I think £50 is too expensive for the single pen, nib and ink one get.
MarinaHelene was informative and friendly. She explained the strokes - giving us time to practise and get used to the pen. Helene frequently walked around the group offering advice and tips to individuals. There was a lovely atmosphere in the workshop and suggestions on equipment and further tuition if we wanted to continue. It was a lovely couses and I came away equipped to continue to practise at home.
Rita KedgeHelene was a great teacher and this was a wonderful class, she made it really easy and fun to grasp and I would absolutely recommend taking this class!
LauraWhen I signed up for this class, I did not have any experience in calligraphy. Helene was very attentive and walked us through the process step by step. It also helped that she provided all materials needed. It was a very fun experience and the time went so quickly! I would definitely recommend this class for beginners.
NicoletteI really enjoyed Helene's class. It was a nice small group and the pace was just right. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have a go at this beautiful hobby. It has inspired me to learn more about calligraphy and I'm now looking forward to the intermediate class!
ClareReally good fun and with very good instructions . I was really surprised how much we were able to do by the end . Would recommend!
JoannaVery good! I had a great time, the location was lovely and Helene was great and full of advice. The class was informative and fun, didnt notice the time passing!! I was surprised and happy that we got to keep the ressources to keep on practicing at home which I didnt expect. Thank you so much Helene, would definitely attend a class for next level.
ANNE-FRANCEWe were all made to feel very comfortable and had all the equipment needed to get stuck in. The time flew by and then as soon as I got home I sat for a further couple of hours practising. I've since ordered all the materials so I can continue developing this new hobby at home!
JillHelene was welcoming and made us feel at ease. The pace was good. I learnt a lot in the 2hours and time passed very quickly
MaggieFantastic workshop. There were 8 of us in attendance, making it small enough to be able to get personal questions answered. The pace and flow of the session was good, and it has ignited a new passion! Helene was also an excellent teacher. I was the first man ever apparently hah
NickHelene was a fabulous teacher for my first foray into calligraphy. She was informative, skilled at her craft, could answer any questions and wasn’t overbearing when learning the first strokes. The class was in a lovely garden room which was the perfect escape to a cold and damp Saturday afternoon. Would highly recommend this class!
SusieReally enjoyed this workshop on a wet Saturday afternoon in Wimbledon. Helene was a lovely host and had everything beautifully prepared for us. The session itself whizzed by but we were able to take everything home with us so we could continue to practice. Would definitely recommend!
HelenMy daughter & I attended Hellenes class in Wimbledon Park as a birthday treat. It was very enjoyable & a nice small class size. The information provided was very helpful but I do think it may have been good for Hellene to have had a large board to demonstrate on too. We’ve both been practising since, can’t wait to write my Christmas cards with style this year !
GillWhat a lovely way to spend an afternoon! Helene is a fabulous teacher - patient, kind and fun. The class size was really small so she was able to get around everybody and help with individual requirements and levels. I'd love to do more classes with her in the future!
CamillaThis was a beautifully relaxed (& relaxing) class. Helene was very informative & approachable, welcoming all questions. The materials & equipment provided to take home was of good quality making this class great value for money.
ClareHelene is a lovely tutor and very easy to get along with. Very happy to help with calligraphic problems - and I learned quite a few tips during the class. She is also very encouraging. Very nice relaxed class. Thankyou
JaniceI really enjoyed the class with Helene. She certainly knows her craft and this showed throughout the class in her enthusiasm and her instructions. The venue was small, but the group was also small. This allowed Helene to offer additional support to those that needed it. The time flew by and I couldn’t believe it when the class was over. The materials were well prepared and Helene followed up with links and additional information to help us keep going. I recommend this class for beginners to calligraphy. - Zenia
Zenia McintoshThe course was excellent. Helene was a great teacher, very helpful. I would recommend this class for beginners and improvers.
MarieHelene was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. I started the workshop as a complete novice but left feeling that I had learnt lots and had the confidence and resources to practise and develop my new skills further. I can’t believe how quickly the two hours went. The work pack and follow up email with further information were very detailed and helpful. The venue was beautiful and the chocolate was appreciated! Thank you for the enjoyable afternoon.
Nicola VI had been looking forward to this class for weeks, and it didn't disappoint. It was a small class of 7 of us which allowed Helen to give us a lot of one to one time and help. Helen was engaging, approachable and her love for calligraphy was clear. The learning pack is really helpful and I came away feeling confident that this was a skill I could master. I have been practicing every day since.
FlossieReally good, informative and great fun
SylviaHelene is knowledgeable and also very helpful in providing me additional information for a left-handed writer. Enjoyable class set within a beautiful park!
XiaoI loved this workshop for so many reasons! The location was so unique, a little classroom setting within a park. The table set up was so lovely, we each had a pack laid out with all the materials we needed and name cards that had been handwritten in calligraphy which was a wonderful special touch. It was a small intimate class of 4 people which was great as it meant Helene got to help each of us more. She was super helpful, very patient and encouraging as I was really struggling with holding my pen correctly in the beginning but she stopped and helped me until I got it right. Helene was also most hospitable, regularly offering refreshments through the workshop. This is a great beginners workshop and I couldn’t recommend it more!
sabbaI really enjoyed this workshop & Smitten with Ink were brilliant! This was also set in great surroundings, and the sunshine helped to add to the excitement. Helene was such a great teacher, and she worked at our pace. Another 30mins or hour would have been great to practice more under her guidance, but even so she was just brilliant and I'm being selfish in wanting more time as I was having so much fun! It was a small class of 4 people which was just perfect in getting the most out of this class. Helene was very helpful and informative, she knows her stuff! Such a great workshop... I couldn't wait to go home and keep practicing! Definitely a workshop I would recommend to others!
PrinaLovely instructor, patient and great at teaching. Great class.
shauna