Keep Calm and Zentangle

 Decrease stress and increase your creativity and focus with the intuitive art of Zentangle. Discover how various shapes and textures fuse together to become tangles all your own.  Skills now stocks a wide range of Zentangle instruction books covering the very basics to designing zentangle mandalas, cards, and jewellery.

We stock the 10 piece zentangle tool set which comes in a handy wallet.   The set includes three black Micron pens, including a size 01, size 03 and a size 05. You will also find in this collection a pencil for laying down your dot, border and string, and for shading your finished tangles. Also included is a tortillion. This tool allows you to manipulate your shading and add an overall softness to your work. This set is complete with five ATC sized Zentangle tiles. This 2.5” x 3.5” tile is a fun alternative to our Original tiles and perhaps might inspire you to explore the world of artist trading cards (ATC). Whatever your vision is, you are sure to have fun using this set to get lost in the world of creating beautiful, non-representational art using the Zentangle method.

What is so special about Unison Soft Pastels?

Skills are the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire stockist for the top quality Unison soft pastel range.  Why do artists choose these particular pastels over other varities on the market?  The reason why they were created in the first place is due to creator John Hersey’s experience as a pastel artist.  He was dissatisfied with manufactured pastels available – which had poor colour vibrancy, inconsistent colour texture, and often crumbling and breaking soon after purchase.
John Hersey was born in 1925. He was a student at the Byam Shaw School of art in London where he won a Rome scholarship and lived in Italy for several years. On returning to London, he continued to paint and ran a business making fine art colour slides.

With his experience using pastels, John had a vision for the quality of pastel he would like to use for his artwork.  For several years he worked on methods of production, colour sequences and the texture of his pigment mixtures. In 1987 he decided to offer the results to fellow pastallists, with immediate interest.  Eventually sales expanded in the USA and now the Unison brand is known as a sought after artists quality pastel range.  Find out how the unison pastels are made.

Unison pastels are available to purchase at Skills individually in a pick n mix purchase and a special offer for 6.  Attractive boxed sets, including starter, bright, dark, portrait, and landscape are also available for a special Christmas gift.

Click on the wheel to view the complete range.

Frida Kahlo Memorabilia Framed

There is nothing that cannot be framed by Skills of Stony Stratford.  This quirky framing order has been completed of some Frida Kahlo memorabilia from a holiday including a visit to the Mexican Artist's Blue House.  Eight matchboxes featuring Frida Kahlo portraits complete with matches still inside. I'm sure you will agree look stunning!

Skills Christmas Window

If you haven't time to window shop in Stony Stratford then here is Skill's window to browse at your leisure.  The previous window was the Alice in Wonderland theme to join the fantastic windows in  Stony Stratford High Street for the lantern parade two weeks ago.  As Skills houses such fantastic Christmas gift ideas, this window shows off our fab adult colouring books, artist faber Castell quality marker pens - including a pack called 'Shades of Grey' though 6 rather than 50!  Our brand new zentangle range now in stock, along with art doodle books for the budding artist to try their hand at a Picasso or Degas.  The window easel displays our artist of the week Stony Stratfords own Derek Daniells.  This gorgeous framed acrylic painting of Stony Stratford under Snow delicately captures a scene of the High Street from the Old Stratford bridge, making a stunning winter centrepiece in our display.

Artist of the week - Derek Daniells

Beautiful Acrylic unvarnished, available varnished, framed size 450mm x 490mm £725

Derek Daniells was born in Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire in 1949. He is a professional artist who uses a variety of mediums such as oil, acrylic, mixed media and pastel with equal skill on a wide range of subjects.
From the initial abstract blocks of colour, Derek builds the play of light on form following the inspiration of earlier painters such as Vuillard, Degas and Turner. He prefers direct observation often working on site at any time of day or night. Derek's work shows his strong passion, excitement and sensitivity for his subject, always seeking to capture a moment in time. Searching out subjects that excite his eye, Derek has travelled extensively.
Derek exhibits internationally and at many galleries throughout the UK. He has exhibited in the open exhibitions of The Royal Society of British Artists (selected for the Daler Rowney painting award 2009), the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, the Royal Watercolour Society and Pastel Society. His paintings are part of many private collections both in the UK and abroad, including that of Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford.
Derek still lives in Stony Stratford with his wife Caroline and son Luke.

Artist of the week - David Pilgrim

David currently works from his studio in Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire and his work is largely based on landscape and figurative themes. His subject matter and techniques are constantly evolving as he strives to meet new challenges and explore different themes.
David has exhibited widely across the UK, including being accepted into the Royal Institute of Oil Painters annual show since 2006. In 2012 David had the honour of being elected as a full member of the Royal Institute of Oils Painters. His work has featured in several publications, having written articles for magazines such as The Artist (UK) and Plein Air (US) magazines. David is happy to consider commissions and all of the works shown on this page are now available for purchase.