Autumn Winter 2026

Art Programmes

Classes: October – December 2026

Autumn / Winter 2026 PDF

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ATELIERISTA SERVICE / ART CONSULTANCY

Artist-in-Residence +

Fellow, Royal Society of Arts +

PGCE Qualified (UK, Art Specialism) +

EY 1-5 Yrs / Reggio Emilia Background +

Primary Experience 5-10 Yrs / UK NC Curriculum Design +

Secondary Experience 11-18 Yrs / High School / Curriculum Design +

University Experience 18+ Yrs / Curriculum Design / Portfolio Development +

Lifelong Learning / Owner, Drawing School Tokyo / Atelierista / Consultant =

20+ Years Experience in Art Education

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Art Team Builds: Make Values Visible

Art Curriculum: Design, Review, Development

Atelier / Art Studio: Set Up / Development / Facilitation

Fine Arts CPD: Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics, Art History

Curation: Professional Exhibitions / Displays / Murals

3 Tiers: Starting From Scratch, Reviewing Mid-Point,World-Class Provision

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Hand-Crafted Programmes with a Difference:

personally delivered and embedded through a bespoke service that takes you from where you are, to where you want to be.

All programmes delivered in English. Japanese support available

info@divyamariekato.com | Programme PDF *

* sample of programmes created by Divya, please enquire

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Drawing Foundation Programme

Flagship Programme:

5 Step Drawing Foundation (Professional Art Set Included)

info@divyamariekato.com

*Subject to availability, All Bookings First-Come, First-Served Basis

Think You Can’t Draw? Think Again! Artist Divya Marie Kato’s most popular, signature, five part drawing course, distilled from 20 years experience, is designed to give you all you need to develop a strong foundation – even if it has been a while or you think you can’t – and a gift for life.

Information

Gifting Season:

Drawing Foundation Course | 8 Week Artist Atelier Intensive

What better gift could there possibly be?

info@divyamariekato.com

* Classes: October – December 2026 *

Autumn / Winter 2026 PDF

Art Conversations: 3 Month Art Course

What is art for? Exploring the best story ever told, over a cup of tea (and my famous brownies), learning about the influences that have shaped our culture and how art can help us in the best and worst of times. My favourite art stories, art books and the art works that have saved me in more ways than one.

October 2026 – December 2026

3 Month Course: 1 x week for 3 x months (12 Classes)

October: 4 Classes

November: 4 Classes

December: 4 Classes

Classes: 60 minutes

Price: ¥5000 / Person / 60 Minute Class

Time: Wednesday / Thursday* +

* booking preference: first-come, first-served basis

+ availability: 8 places

info@divyamariekato.com

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8 Week Intensive: Artist Atelier

*Former student, ready for life’s next chapter, now creating and exhibiting work*

Develop the observational, technical and critical skills required to make stronger work as an artist. Let me help you get those big dreams out of their boxes!:

Week 1: Observation (Walk The Line With Confidence)
Week 2: Value (Dare To Defy 2D)
Week 3: Mark Making (Happy Accidents)
Week 4: Colour (Limited Palette To Full Scale)
Week 5: The Artist Sketchbook (Companion For Life)
Week 6: Visual Arts (Stories By Your Side) Week 7: Individual Work (Portfolio Progression)
Week 8: Presentation / Critique / Next Steps (Lifelong Learning)

October 2026 – November 2026 *** 4 Places ***

8 Week Intensive: 60 Minute Sessions (1 x Week for 2 Months)

October: 4 Classes

November: 4 Classes

Classes: 60 minutes

Price: ¥60,000 / person / course*

Time: Wednesdays / Thursdays ** +

* art set included

* booking preference: first-come, first-served basis

+ availabillity: 4 Places

info@divyamariekato.com

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Artist Development Mentorship: 1-1 Artist Atelier

*Work with a professional artist 1-1 for 2 months*

Private Tuition

Develop the observational, technical and critical skills required to make stronger work as an artist and receive 1-1 critique on your personal projects / portfolio development:

Week 1: Observation (Walk The Line With Confidence)
Week 2: Value (Dare To Defy 2D)
Week 3: Mark Making (Happy Accidents)
Week 4: Colour (Limited Palette To Full Scale) Week 5: The Artist Sketchbook (Companion For Life)
Week 6: Visual Arts (Stories By Your Side)
Week 7: Individual Work (Portfolio Progression)
Week 8: Presentation / Critique / Next Steps (Lifelong Learning)

October 2026 – November 2026

8 Week Intensive: 2 Hour Sessions (1 x Week for 2 Months)

October: 4 Classes

November: 4 Classes

Classes: 60 minutes

Price: ¥84,000 / person / course +

Time: Wednesdays / Thursdays * **

* booking preference: first-come, first-served basis

** availability: 2 Places

+ art set included

info@divyamariekato.com

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Winter Artist Intensive: 3 Day / 5 Day Programme

*STILL a marvellously magical moment: end of course group celebration!*

Farewell 2026, Hello 2027!

Winter Art Intensive Course: End the year DELICIOUSLY UNPLUGGED (yes these are fast becoming my favourite 2 words):

Art Studio Sessions with a Professional Artist-Educator for 3 or 5 Days

December 2026

Week 1 (5 Day): December 14th – 18th | ¥120,000

Week 2 (3 Day): December 21st – 23rd | ¥80,000

2 Studio Sessions/Day: 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm

Artistic Practice (Skills Focus)

Art History & Critique (Reflective Practice)

Exhibition Trips (Week 1: 2 trips, Week 2: 1 Trip)

Availability: 8 Places

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Art Weekends

Weekend Workshops & Retreats

Overnight trips to my favourite places!

Contact me with: group size, proposed dates, 1 or 2 night stays

info@divyamariekato.com

Beginners – Advanced

Classes: October – December 2026

Autumn / Winter 2026 PDF

info@divyamariekato.com

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Team Building Programme

Workshops

info@divyamariekato.com

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Story Of Art Programme

With artists (diligently diverse), artworks (prehistoric to modern) and activities tailored to ability, lesson plans and recommended art projects leading to final art exhibition (with that WOW factor).

Fine Art Areas: Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics*

*Experience founding ceramics, enquire for consultancy in setting up ceramics dept.

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Return To Reggio

Programme putting principles of the Reggio Emilia approach into practice with your own atelierista (artist in residence) providing specialist expertise in curriculum/display/documentation/CPD

A plan of action to support collaborative, whole-community (teachers, learners, parents/carers, wider) student-led projects that transform and raise the profile of the school’s visual language and communication (visible learning).

Embedding principles of Reggio Emilia approach in practice and through the process, develop the atelier as a the cultural vehicle of the school and ensure confident facilitation of environment and art materials.

Nurture cross-curricular connections and cohesion across departments, enhance documentation, enrich projects through inquiry, prompts and avenues of exploration to ensure progress. Artwork must be continually evolving – a living, breathing piece of art.

Putting Reggio principles into practice and embedding them through:
● curriculum and classes (weaving in projects that compliment school themes)
● atelier set-up (environment as a teacher) ● art materials/resources inventory and review (dialogue with materials)
● enrichment and engagement (wider community)
● trans-disciplinary opportunities to build literacy and oracy (cross-curricular connections)
● elevating profile of art throughout campus (displays, documentation, process)
● developing personal portfolio practice (learning diaries, teachers as learners)
● provision of prompts/provocations to inspire wonder (“Where could this go?”)
● facilitate emergent, learner-centred projects (the 100 languages of children)

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What Is Art For?

A Deep Dive Into Art History:

What Can Art Teach Us About Life & Work?

This programme, built around the book, Art As Therapy by Alain de Botton and John Armstrong, explores art history through 4 themes of love, nature, money and politics and guides participants to discover the answer themselves.

“The modern world thinks of art as very important – something close to the meaning of life… Despite all this, our encounters with art do always go as well as they might… What if art has a purpose that can be defined and discussed in plain terms? Art can be a tool, and we need to focus more clearly on what kind of tool it is – and what good it can do for us.”

– Art As Therapy, Alain de Botton & John Armstrong

This course, presenting a new way of looking at art, is designed to encourage participants to grow into enthusiastic, expressive, confident communicators – opening themselves and their ideas up to the wider world.

Together we will explore the functions of art and unpick the big question: What Is Art For? through four main themes that cover love, nature, money and politics. Our focus will be speaking and participants will strengthen their communication and collaborative skills through a combination of art assignments, exploration of artworks and discussion. Art assignments will allow for both personal reflection on topics covered and an opportunity for engagement and exchange in sharing work with others.

The exploration of artwork will span the story of art from cave paintings to contemporary practice and develop vocabulary and critique. Discussion will encompass the main themes of art and its purpose.

The course will culminate in a final presentation/exhibition celebration where participants select and share a favourite piece of work created during the course and celebrate a ‘breakthrough moment’ with the group.

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See It To Say It: Art for Oracy

From the youngest to the oldest, this programme is designed to support students in learning how to ‘read pictures’ (visual literacy).

It elevates their oracy skills through implementing a framework for discussion and builds their cultural capital in the process.

Enriching vocabulary (domain specific) and dialogue, the programme results in learners sounding like professionals working in art galleries! Here’s what a few of them had to say:

A few weeks ago, I couldn’t get the meaning of presenting in front of a class. The first week (presentation #1) I thought, why we have to do this? What is the meaning of this? Last week, I learned it is important since I can express myself very easily. I was listening to some advice. This helped me by making me a stronger as an artist. (EAL Learner)

When I first did the presentation, I wondered if this will help me. But after the second presentation, it gave me confidence and I thought it will help me in the future. For example, when I am trying to show some advertising… I want to become an architect so I want to be able to show my architect drawings. (Native level speaker)

Before in presentations, I was reading what’s in my portfolio, but now we can write ourselves. The questions helped me to search for points. (EAL Learner)

It helped a lot – now I will be able to say arty words! (SEND Learner)

Before I was really nervous and worried that I might not be able to explain very well. Now I am more confident and better at explaining specific things like scale, space etc. Overall, presenting to the whole class made me feel ready for my next school the next time I present something. Now, I can use these words which will make it sound more professional. (Native Level Speaker)

I was scared that I would say the wrong things, but after… I could be confident to present to the audience. (EAL Learner)

Now I can talk about light and shading and many other things – it (English) is not my first language so I never learned like this – I can’t speak English or learn about art like this if I’m not in this class. (EAL Learner)

In my opinion, these words helped me so much because when I just came this school I can’t speak English, but these word help me to learn more English and art – it’s really helpful. Also English is not my first language but it helped me and my English skill went up (EAL Learner)

I felt more confident than ever because of preparation. It was fun! It will help me present. We look at art in a gallery in Amsterdam. (SEND Learner)

In the beginning I had no idea what I was talking about and I didn’t have any experience talking about art. Now I feel really confident talking in front of people talking about things I’d never thought of speaking about. (Native level speaker)

It helped me for my future of being a musician. (EAL Learner)

Before I was only looking at my portfolio, but after I learn about 8 things, I feel more comfortable about oracy of art. I am very happy to do a presentation, even though my first language is not English. (EAL Learner)

Every year, me and my family goes to the National Gallery in London. My mum loves art and we have to stay for hours. So, it gets a little boring. But now, maybe I can entertain my dad by explaining the features of the exhibits, using the words we learned. (Native level speaker)

Thanks to Ms. Kato I can use arty words. I think that this can help me remember what features (are in) an artist’s painting. Now I can look at pictures without me being bored. The presentations helped me being confident. (EAL Learner)

Before I did the presentation, I was worried if I can do it good, but after I got more confident because these superpowers helped me speak more clearly. (EAL Learner)

It is very useful for my future because when I leave (school), I will go to another school then I can use these oracy skills in my work and make my art successful. (EAL Learner)

This will be very useful for me the next time I visit an art gallery! Line, scale, colour, space, light and dark (chiaroscuro), figures and materials and techniques! I learned a lot. But the amazing thing is that we got to learn these and presented to the whole class… not only did we learn arty words, but we also learned about oracy! I learned sooooooooooo much.. A bigggg thank you to Ms. Kato!

(Native Level Speaker)

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