Art in the Wilderness
Art is an Expression of the Human Experience - Cheryl-Ann Hills
May Workshops at Cheryl’s Cozy & Bright Home Studio
Learn abstract painting, bring mom for a class, gain confidence as a beginner oil painter, and make an art nouveau styled paper mache lamp shade while learning skills that can improve your confidence and your artwork. Create beautiful things with me this May!!
Workshop Location: Cheryl’s Home Studio, west mountain Hamilton
In this exciting, fun and relaxing mixed media abstract painting workshop students will explore a variety of art materials and create a 12” x 12” abstract painting.
This is a supportive, non-judgmental space focused on exploration — not perfection.
📅 Saturday May 2nd | noon – 3 PM
📍 66 Elora Drive Hamilton
🎟 Limited spots available
What We will Do:
You will be using a variety of media including watercolour, oils, oil sticks and collage to create your stunning abstract painting. Students will be encouraged to explore the various mediums by layering shapes and colour into their canvas.
You’ll explore and expand your creativity in this fun and relaxing 3 hour class in a cozy home environment.
Using brushes and palette knives and other non-traditional tools on a prepared canvas your instructor will guide you through the steps of creating an abstract painting.
What You’ll Experience
Students will learn safe and sustainable practices using various mixed media materials
You will learn new skills and increase your creative confidence
You will leave with a completed 12” x 12” abstract painting
Class size is max 6 students to allow for maximum one-to-one guidance from Cheryl, your instructor.
Who This Is For
This beginner abstract painting workshop is suitable for adults 18+ who always wanted to try abstract painting but didn’t know where to start.
The emphasis is on exploration and fun as well as learning new skills.
Why This Workshop Is Different
This is a small, intimate group designed to allow for individual guidance, conversation, and creative freedom — not a crowded, step-by-step class.
Pre-registration Required. Payment accepted via etransfer, debit or credit.
Price:
$65 with Canvas Supplied, Student brings paints, brushes etc: (materials list will be emailed to you upon registration)
$95 All materials provided
Class Length: 3 hrs – noon to 3pm
Class size is limited to 6 students allow for maximum one on one time with your instructor, Cheryl.
This workshop is for Adults 18+ with or without previous experience. Beginners welcome!
Bring your Mom to this exciting, fun and relaxing mixed media abstract painting workshop students will explore a variety of art materials and create a 12” x 12” abstract painting. And after the class, gift your Mom your beautiful artwork!! This is a perfect activity for after Mothers Day brunch or before a special Mothers Day dinner!!
This is a supportive, non-judgmental space focused on exploration — not perfection.
📅 Saturday May 9th | noon – 3 PM
📍 66 Elora Drive Hamilton
🎟 Limited spots available
What We will Do:
You and Mom will be using a variety of media including watercolour, oils, oil sticks and collage to create your stunning abstract painting. Students will be encouraged to explore the various mediums by layering shapes and colour into their canvas.
You’ll both explore and expand your creativity in this fun and relaxing 3 hour class in a cozy home environment.
Using brushes and palette knives and other non-traditional tools on a prepared canvas your instructor will guide you and your Mom through the steps of creating an abstract painting.
What You’ll Experience
Students will learn safe and sustainable practices using various mixed media materials
You and Mom will learn new skills and increase your creative confidence
You will leave with a completed 12” x 12” abstract painting
Class size is max 6 students to allow for maximum one-to-one guidance from Cheryl, your instructor, however if we have greater demand I will expand the class to up to 14 students at a larger venue.
Who This Is For
This beginner abstract painting workshop is suitable for adults 18+ who always wanted to try abstract painting but didn’t know where to start.
The emphasis is on exploration and fun as well as learning new skills.
Why This Workshop Is Different
This is a small, intimate group designed to allow for individual guidance, conversation, and creative freedom — not a crowded, step-by-step class.
Pre-registration Required. Payment accepted via etransfer, debit or credit.
Price:
$65 with Canvas Supplied, Student brings paints, brushes etc: (materials list will be emailed to you upon registration)
$95 All materials provided
Class Length: 3 hrs – noon to 3pm
Class size is limited to 6 students allow for maximum one on one time with your instructor, Cheryl.
This workshop is for Adults 18+ with or without previous experience. Beginners welcome!
This class is for anyone who always wanted to paint with oil paints but was afraid to try. In this fun and relaxing introductory oil painting workshop students will learning how to use traditional oil paints in a safe and sustainable manner. You will learn beginner colour mixing, brushwork, palette knife uses and creating exciting landscape compositions.
This is a supportive, non-judgmental space focused on exploration — not perfection.
📅 Saturday May 16th | noon – 3 PM
📍 66 Elora Drive Hamilton
🎟 Limited spots available
What We will Do:
Students will be using traditional oil paints for this solvent-free sustainable materials workshop.
You will be encouraged to explore the paints and your own creativity in this fun and relaxing 3 hour class in a cozy home environment.
Using brushes and palette knives on a prepared canvas your instructor will guide you through the steps of creating a landscape painting. Reference images will be provided.
What You’ll Experience
Students will learn safe and sustainable practices using oil paints
You will learn new skills and improved confidence in their oil painting abilities
Students will gain confidence using oil paints and brushes
You will leave with a completed 9” x 12” oil painting
Class size is max 6 students to allow for maximum one-to-one guidance from Cheryl, your instructor.
Who This Is For
This beginner oil painting workshop is suitable for adults 18+ both beginner and experienced painters.
If you have never tried traditional oil paints before, this is a great class to start as the emphasis is on exploration and fun as well as learning the basics.
Why This Workshop Is Different
This is a small, intimate group designed to allow for individual guidance, conversation, and creative freedom — not a crowded, step-by-step class.
Pre-registration Required. Payment accepted via etransfer, debit or credit.
Price:
$65 with Canvas Supplied, Student brings paints, brushes etc: (materials list will be emailed to you upon registration)
$95 All materials provided
Class Length: 3 hrs – noon to 3pm
Class size is limited to 6 students allow for maximum one on one time with your instructor, Cheryl.
This workshop is for Adults 18+ with or without previous experience. Beginners welcome!
In this super fun and exciting 2-part workshop, students will use homemade, sustainable paper mâché materials to create a beautiful, decorative, art nouveau-inspired lamp shade suitable for a small pendant or desk lamp.
This is a supportive, non-judgmental space focused on exploration — not perfection.
📅 Saturday May 23rd | noon – 3 PM and Saturday May 30 noon to 3pm
📍 66 Elora Drive Hamilton
🎟 Limited spots available
What We will Do:
Week One: You will be using a traditional paper mâché materials to cover your frame. During this first class, students will also develop a design for their lamp shade and we will discuss materials and ideas for decorating the lamp shade during week two.
Week Two: Students will return with their now fully-dried paper mâché base to be decorated with various art materials and turned into a completed paper mâché art nouveau-styled lamp shade.
You’ll explore and expand your creativity in this fun and relaxing 3 hour class in a cozy home environment. Using a variety of materials your instructor will guide you through the steps of creating a paper mâché lamp shade.
What You’ll Experience
Students will enjoy using paper mâché to cover a lamp shade frame.
You will learn new skills, meet like-minded artists and increase your creative confidence.
You will leave with a beautiful completed paper mâché lamp shade.
Class size is max 6 students to allow for maximum one-to-one guidance from Cheryl, your instructor.
Who This Is For
This workshop is suitable for adults 18+ who always wanted to try paper mâché but didn’t know where to start and for experienced paper mâché enthusiasts!
The emphasis is on exploration and fun as well as learning new skills.
Why This Workshop Is Different
This is a small, intimate group designed to allow for individual guidance, conversation, and creative freedom — not a crowded, step-by-step class.
Pre-registration Required. Payment accepted via etransfer, debit or credit.
Price:
$125 for this two part workshop with ALL materials provided
Class Length: 3 hrs – noon to 3pm
Class size is limited to 6 students allow for maximum one on one time with your instructor, Cheryl.
This workshop is for Adults 18+ with or without previous experience. Beginners welcome!
Bonus: Participants receive exclusive access to original artwork discounts for 48 hours after the workshop.
Pre-Registration Required - Reserve your spot now — spaces are limited!!
“ Cheryl-Ann's workshop was truly enjoyable. We began with a short meditation to help open our minds and set the tone for the session. While the main focus was on creating a dreamscape landscape, Cheryl also shared thoughtful insights about leading a sustainable lifestyle. The class was small, which meant everyone had plenty of one-on-one time and support from Cheryl. I absolutely loved my finished piece and would happily take more workshops with her.
Thanks again for a fun afternoon, Jan Griese” — Previous Participant
You’re Invited!!
A Visual Story of the creation of Lake Superior told through the geological forms and rocks witnessed along its shorelines. Presented by Cheryl-Ann Hills at St James Gallery during the month of April 2026. Join us for the Opening Reception on April 12th, 2026 and listen to Cheryl speak about her experiences and discoveries while exploring and painting Lake Superior over the past 3 years. RSVP not required but appreciated.
Superior Rocks
Testimonials
"You are right about the positive impact your work has on people. I can't tell you how many times I look at the River Rock Rapids painting in our living room and it just draws me in, always bringing back memories of canoe trips up north and the beauty of the Canadian shield.
It's the perspective and colour combination of that painting that keeps drawing me to it. Hard to explain but River Rock Rapids felt like the perfect composition with an incredible harmony in design and colours and a certain dynamic within the shapes of the rocks that just made it outstanding in my view. I guess it's that combination of static, simplified shapes paired with perspective and dynamic, almost movement-like imprints of your brush strokes in the rocks that creates that dynamic tension in that particular painting that makes it stand out so much for me.
I feel exactly the same about your BC mountain painting. There again, I feel like there is a certain non-static, movement-like dynamic in the otherwise static mountains and a vantage point that just draws me into the actual scene. Your use of yellow throughout to represent the sun light just creates that sense of warmth from the sun on an otherwise cold winter day represented through the "cold" green tones.
It's an instant emotional attachment I feel to this piece of art of yours. Being able to create that emotional response in people through your work is something you rightly feel happy and proud about."
— Ulli, Ontario Canada
"Hi Cheryl-Ann, I hope you are enjoying the beautiful autumn weather we are having. I was wondering if the Tiffany Falls piece was available for purchase. If so, could you please let me know the details? I absolutely love this one . You make it difficult to choose!"
— Esther, Ontario Canada
"We have been looking for something to hold a space in our front entrance for a while. We stopped by Studio101 in Southampton today and just knew this was it. We have been looking for something that spoke to us, a feeling so to speak for the last year. This painting spoke to us and the colors as well. We wanted an Ontario artist. So happy to have this beauty in our home. Brought joy and love today. We thank Michael Cannon for his thoughts and wonderful chats as well. Anyway just wanted you to know it now has its rightful place in our very loved home in Port Elgin. Magic was afoot."
— Julia and Richard, Ontario Canada
Land Acknowledgement
"As an artist who paints and writes for the land, I recognize that the landscapes I love are part of the traditional territories of the Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ and Cree peoples. My commitment to these waters, forests, and wildlife is intertwined with their enduring stewardship. Through my work, I will continue to honour their teachings by inspiring care for this land—not as a resource, but as a relative."
Book a Studio Visit
Art is best experienced in person. Up-close. With all senses.
As a recent (2020-2025) grant recipient I would like to thank the Ontario Arts Council and the Government of Ontario for their support. The funding and support from these organizations help Ontario artists to continue their arts practice.
