Peninsula Art Club

Peninsula Art Club (PAC)

PAC life with creativity.

PAC is an art school based in Little River, Canterbury, NZ.

PAC offers art and craft classes

PAC caters to kids, youth, and adults.

Are you ready to join the PAC?

Join the PAC!

Fuel Your Creativity…join PAC’s Membership.

At the Peninsula Art Club, we believe everyone has a story to tell and a canvas to fill.

Enjoy:

Discounted classes
Priority booking for popular workshops
Exclusive member-only events
Regular PAC community updates.

Our annual membership is more than just a pass—it’s your invitation to inspire and be inspired.

For $28/year, you’re officially an insider.

Non-members are always welcome at our events, but as a member, the Peninsula art scene becomes truly yours.

Sign up today and let’s make something beautiful together.

What’s On: Classes & Events

Discover the Art of Graphite: Silvereye Drawing Workshop

Location: The Little River Inn

Date and Time: Sunday, July 26, 1-4 pm.

Unwind, grab a drink, and master a beautiful new skill right here in Little River! Whether you’re a complete beginner who hasn’t picked up a pencil since school, or a local creative looking to refine your shading, this immersive, hands-on workshop is designed for you.

In this session, we will be capturing the beautiful, delicate details of the native Silvereye (Tauhou). Under step-by-step guidance, you will learn how to render soft feathers, create depth in the eye, and achieve lifelike realism. Best of all, you’ll walk away with a finished piece of art and techniques you can easily reuse at home to keep creating.

The Details

The Subject: The charming Silvereye—an ideal subject for learning texture, contrast, and fine detail.
Materials: All-inclusive. We provide premium, professional-grade graphite pencils, specialty drawing paper, and blending tools. Just bring yourself!
Venue: The Little River Inn. Enjoy a fantastic local atmosphere while you create (perfect for pairing with a coffee, wine, or lunch!).
Date and Time: Sunday, July 26. 1-4 pm
Skill Level: Adults (14 yrs+) . No prior drawing experience required!

Why You’ll Love This:

“There is nothing better than drawing our local wildlife in a warm, welcoming space. By the end of our 3 hours together at the Inn, you will be amazed at the depth and realism you can achieve with just a few simple pencils.”

[Book Now]

Youth Art Studio: Bring Your Vision to Life!

Unleash your creativity and create the masterpiece you’ve always wanted to make. Whether you’re obsessed with painting, drawing, or mixed media, this 8-week course gives you the space, tools, and guidance to design and build a project that is uniquely yours. No rigid assignments here—you choose the project, and we help you make it a reality.

What to Expect:

Weeks 1–2 (Technique & Planning): Brainstorm your ideas, sketch your concepts, and learn the specific techniques you’ll need to pull it off.
Weeks 3–8 (The Creation Phase): Dive into production! Spend six weeks bringing your masterpiece to life with hands-on support every step of the way.
Everything Included: No need to run to the craft store. All high-quality materials and tools are fully provided.

The Details:

Youth – 10 to 18 years old
Thursdays, 4:45 PM – 6:00 PM
From July 23 to Sept 10
Little River Service Centre
All materials included

Spaces are limited to ensure plenty of individual workspace and one-on-one guidance. Grab your spot today and start creating!

[Book Now]

Kids Afterschool Art Class:

Learn • Play • Create

Unleash your child’s imagination and watch their creativity grow! The Peninsula Art Club is thrilled to host a fun, hands-on afterschool art program designed specifically for young creators.

Our classes offer the perfect blend of artistic learning and playful exploration, giving kids the freedom to make, mess, and masterpiece!

Why Join Us?

Grow Creative Confidence: We focus on the joy of process art, helping kids develop fine motor skills and unique self-expression.
Hassle-Free for Parents: No hidden costs or messy cleanups at home—all materials are provided!
A Nurturing Environment: Led by passionate instructors who love helping kids discover the magic of art.

The Details

Ages 5–12 years
Thursdays from 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
July 23 to September 10 (8-week term)
Little River Service Centre

Spaces are limited to ensure every child gets plenty of individual guidance and encouragement.

Ready to create?

Secure your child’s spot today and let the making begin!

[Book Now]

Mindful Making: Art to Calm the Mind

Quieten your inner critic. Awaken your inner calm.

In our fast-paced world, finding a moment of true quiet can be a challenge.

Mindful Making is a 4-week creative sanctuary designed to help you slow down, breathe, and connect with the present moment through the joy of hands-on creation.

This class isn’t about producing a flawless masterpiece or mastering complex techniques—it’s entirely about the process of making repeated patterns. We focus on the soothing, tactile rhythms of patterns as a tool to relieve stress, reduce anxiety, and quiet a busy mind.

Is this class for me?

Never picked up an ink pen? Perfect. This is a judgment-free zone where there is no perfectionism.
Already creative? Wonderful. This is a beautiful way to strip away the pressure to create while reconnecting with the pure, therapeutic joy of mark-making.
Looking for a mid-week reset? You’re in the right place.

Zero experience required. Whether you consider yourself deeply artistic or haven’t touched a crayon since primary school, you are warmly welcome here.

What’s Included?

All Materials Provided: From premium papers and pens to unique tools, everything you need is ready and waiting for you. Just bring yourself!
Guided Mindfulness Practices: Simple, accessible activities to help you transition from the hustle of your day into a creative, relaxed headspace.
A Supportive Community: Enjoy a warm, peaceful evening at the Little River Service Centre alongside like-minded locals.

The Detail

Spaces are limited to ensure a cozy, calm, and attentive environment for everyone.

Dates: Four consecutive Thursdays (Aug 6, Aug 13, Aug 20, Aug 27)
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Age: Adults (14 yrs +)

Give your mind a break and your hands something beautiful to do.

[Book Now]

Coptic Bookbinding with Tori

Ditch the digital and create something real with copic bookbinding!

Join local multi-media artist and bookbinder Tori Batt for a hands-on, 4-hour Coptic Bookbinding Workshop.

You’ll learn to fold signatures, upcycle hardcovers, and master the beautiful, exposed chain-stitch technique that allows your notebook to open perfectly flat—ideal for sketching or journaling.

Whether you’re making a gift or a personal treasure, you’ll leave with a completed book and the skills to make many more.

Date: Sunday 9 August
Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Little River Inn
Age Group: Adults (14yrs+)
Cost: $120 Members / $135 Non-members

All materials are provided!

Turn your afternoon copic bookbinding class into the ultimate outing. Why not head over early to the Little River Inn for lunch before we start, or wrap up the day with dinner afterward? Meal bookings are independent of the workshop. Reach out to the team at the Litte River Inn to reserve your table.

[Book Now]

Unlock Your Vision: NCEA Art Support

Where technical skill meets raw creativity. Don’t just finish your portfolio—own it.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the demands of NCEA Level 1, 2, or 3 Art? It’s time to stop stressing over the internal deadlines and start falling in love with your practice. Our support classes are designed to turn your ideas into a cohesive, high-achieving body of work. Whether you are aiming for Excellence or just trying to find your unique artistic voice, we provide the space, tools, and mentorship to get you there.

Core Pillars (The “Why Choose Us” Section)

Discover Different Mediums

NCEA rewards experimentation, but it can be terrifying to try new things when your grade is on the line. In our studio, we push past the comfort zone.

What we do: We break down the barriers between traditional and contemporary art.
The Experience: You’ll get hands-on guidance to explore painting, mixed-media collage, printmaking, digital manipulation, and drawing.
The Goal: Find the exact medium that speaks to your concept and makes your portfolio stand out to the moderators.

Focused Creativity

A great portfolio isn’t just a collection of pretty pictures; it’s a visual argument. We help you cut through the noise and channel your inspiration into a structured, powerful narrative.

What we do: We teach you how to systematize your creative chaos.
The Experience: Through guided brainstorming, systematic research methods, and spatial planning, we show you how to regenerate and clarify your ideas from Board to Board.
The Goal: No more “creative block.” You’ll learn how to establish a strong central proposition and develop it with depth, logic, and artistic maturity.

NCEA-Specific Strategic Mentorship

Let’s be real: NCEA Art is as much about understanding the assessment criteria as it is about making art. We know what the NZQA moderators are looking for.

What we do: We align your passion with the achievement standards.
The Experience: Get feedback on your formatting, your “links and transitions,” and how well you are showing the regeneration of ideas. We offer mock moderation panels and strict but supportive timeline management so you never have to pull an all-nighter before submission day.

The Student Journey

From Spark to Resolution

The Spark: Concept development, artist research, and initial drawing. Resulting in a bulletproof proposition.
The Expansion: Medium experimentation, color theory, and scaling up. Resulting in diverse, rich evidence for each board

3. The Resolution: High-level synthesis, editing, and portfolio layout resulting in a cohesive submission.

[Book Now]

Unlock Your Child’s Imagination: Homeschool Art Classes

Looking for a way to enrich your homeschool curriculum with creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on fun? Welcome to our Homeschool Art Classes—where young minds transform big ideas into beautiful realities!

We know that flexibility is everything when you run a home classroom. That’s why we work around your life. Contact us today to discuss a time and date that suits your children’s schedule.

Why Choose Our Art Program?

Art is so much more than paint on a canvas. Our curriculum is specifically designed to nurture the whole student through interactive, engaging projects.

Hands-On Creativity & Problem Solving: Through diverse, tactile activities, students don’t just follow instructions—they innovate. Every project challenges them to think outside the box, experiment, and solve visual puzzles.
Learn to ‘See’ to Create Art: We teach students the foundational skills of observation. By learning how to truly see shapes, light, and perspective, they gain the confidence to recreate the world around them.
Learn to ‘Read’ Art: Art is a language. Your child will learn how to look at historical and contemporary masterpieces, decode their meanings, and understand the stories and emotions behind them.

What to Expect

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” – Pablo Picasso

We provide a supportive, inspiring environment where your child can explore mediums like drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed media. Whether your child is a budding Picasso or just looking to try something new, our classes cater to all skill levels.

Ready to add some color to your school week? Let’s chat about creating a class time that fits seamlessly into your routine.

[Book Now]

Meet Your Instructors

PAC is proudly owned and operated by local artist Tricia Hewlett. While Tricia will be your main guide for our regular art classes, we love keeping things fresh!

We regularly invite talented guest artists and specialty teachers to step in and share their unique expertise with you.

Tricia Hewlett

Tricia Hewlett is a vibrant educator and creator whose life is anchored by a deep devotion to teaching, art, and nature. Believing that creativity is a universal language, she has spent years cultivating her unique artistic voice through a collaborative pathway. Her artistic ability is proudly community-taught, forged through the shared wisdom, techniques, and inspiration of many amazing artists she has crossed paths with over the years. This rich, grassroots foundation infuses her work with an authentic warmth and a profound appreciation for collective storytelling and the natural world.

Driven by a desire to understand the deeper mechanics of communication and expression, Tricia pursued the formal study of creativity at Massey University. This academic exploration culminated in a Bachelor of Communication, specializing in Expressive Arts and Marketing. This powerful blend of qualifications allows her to bridge the gap between raw, imaginative concepts and impactful, real-world connections, giving her the tools to not only create meaningful art but to champion the creative journeys of others.

Tricia’s extensive teaching career is a testament to her versatile and inclusive philosophy, spanning every educational milestone. She has shared her passion with learners across Tertiary, Secondary, Intermediate, Primary, and Pre-school levels, as well as within diverse community organizations. Having worked alongside all ages and walks of life, both in Aotearoa/NZ and overseas, Tricia thrives on unlocking the unique potential within every individual.

Whether you are picking up a skill for the first time or looking to deepen your existing practice, joining Tricia promises a positive, nurturing, and truly inspiring learning experience.

Tori Batt

Based on Banks Peninsula, Tori Batt is a dynamic multi-media artist whose work beautifully bridges the tactile world of traditional craftsmanship with the cutting-edge realm of technology. Widely celebrated as a journal maker extraordinaire, Tori transforms raw materials into deeply personal books and journals.

Never one to be confined by a single medium, Tori has boldly stepped into the digital frontier with her innovative Dorkis AI range. This collection showcases her ability to blend whimsical artistic vision with artificial intelligence, creating a series of characters and visuals that are unique, quirky, and full of personality. By seamlessly navigating the space between handmade heritage journals and forward-thinking AI art, Tori continues to push boundaries and capture the hearts of collectors both locally and globally.