OUR ART CLASSES

The Varley offers seasonal Adult, Children, Pre-teen, and Teen art classes! 

We offer art classes year-round in a creative and welcoming environment dedicated to foster your own personal approach. 

Learn more about our art classes! 

Taught by professional artists, our art classes provide guidance from an experienced and passionate perspective, surrounded by like-minded life-long learners. Learn more about our art instructors, information on how to register, and member discount perks.

Registering for an art class is easy! 

Follow any of the 4 steps below to begin your artistic journey with the Varley:

1. Use EZ Reg to register online.
2. Call 905-475-4867 to use FAST TRACK automated registration system.
3. Call the Contact Centre at 905-477-7000 extension 4731 to process your registration over the phone.
4. Fax completed Program Registration Form to the City of Markham Contact Centre at 905-479-7767.

Please note an additional $10 fee applies to each course for non-residents.

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Everyone likes a discount! 

Varley members receive an exclusive 10% discount on all art classes and camps! Don't forget to include your membership number with course registration to receive a discount! Become a Gallery member today and receive a 10% discount on courses and workshops, plus other exciting benefits. We provide 3 membership levels - individual, student, and Cultural Family. 

To learn more about our membership program, visit our Memberships page.

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Get to know our instructors! 

Taught by professional artists, our art classes provide guidance from an experienced and passionate perspective, surrounded by like-minded life-long learners. Our qualified and experienced art educators will help you explore your creativity, while teaching you new techniques and art concepts.  New ways of seeing and appreciating art are enhanced through interaction with the Gallery’s current exhibitions.  

Andrew Hamilton
Andrew is a Scottish-born artist transplanted to Canada and is inspired by the magnificent landscapes, especially the northland. Andrew is a painter of light in all its forms from landscapes to still life. Andrew was educated at OCAD in the interdisciplinary program majoring in drawing and painting. Andrew's work can be found in private and corporate collections in Canada, the United States and internationally

Caroline Doyle Keane 
Caroline is a Markham native, who received her degree in Fine Arts at York University, and has continued studies at the Ontario College of Art.  Caroline fully appreciates the power of art and the positive impact it has on our lives.  She works at the Varley, teaches privately and is an Artist in the School for the York Region Catholic School Board. She works in acrylics, pen and ink, pencil crayon, and watercolour.  However, Caroline enjoys experimenting with a variety of more non-traditional media. As a registered Art Therapist, Caroline fully appreciates the power of art and the positive impact it has on our lives.

Eva Fok
Eva is an artist and art instructor based in Markham.  Eva works predominantly in acrylics and watercolours, but also enjoys working in clay, and pen and ink.  She has showcased her works at public and private exhibits in Markham and Toronto.  In addition to being a proud supporter of Varley Art Gallery’s programs for the last 10 years, she is a strong advocate for children’s health and development. She continues to seek new ways to integrate art in fun and meaningful learning opportunities for children.

Sarah Bedley
Sarah is passionate about the creative process and its ability to help people heal. She pursued her graduate work at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute after completing her BA in British Columbia. Sarah had the pleasure of being an expressive arts teacher for elementary school age children in a unique therapeutic program. She currently uses art to help children who have experienced trauma and young women battling eating disorders. Sarah enjoys collaborating with organizations as an art therapist working both individually or as a group facilitator. 

Glenn Bernabe
Glenn is a Master Pastellist and a Signature Member of The Pastel Artists Canada.  He was awarded The Grand Prize at The Pastel Artists Canada Purely Pastel National Juried Exhibition in 2008 and has received other honours in several regional and nationwide juried competitions.  In April 2010 and 2003, Bernabe made the Top 100 in the Pastel Journal Magazine's Pastel 100 Annual International Juried Competition.  As an illustrator, He has worked with several publishing companies in the past like Orca Book Publishers, Scholastic Canada, and Cobblestone Publishing. Glenn Bernabe has been teaching many classes and workshops in pastel and portraiture to artists since 2003.

Shelly Burke
Shelly Burke is a graduate in Fine Arts from Ottawa University, as well as having a diploma in Visual Communication from Capilano College (North Vancouver). In addition, she has studied portrait painting with David Goatley (Victoria, B.C).  Since 1995, Shelly has pursued her love of plein air – some of her favourite painting trips have been to Wisconsin, Algonquin, Killarney, and this past winter, a month in Spain. From 2001 to 2015 the Uxbridge Studio Tour has profiled her studio and paintings. Shelly conducts painting workshops for various art groups in Toronto.

Kathryn Chelin 
Kathryn has a wealth of experience teaching art in both the Elementary and Secondary panels. For the past 25 years, she has taught enriched classes in Drawing, Painting, Illustration and Sculpture at Unionville High School, the designated School for the Arts in York Region. She regularly does figure drawing conferences for teachers and she continues to teach studio classes to art teachers at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

Lisa Fong
Lisa graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Ontario College of Art & Design University, majoring in Drawing and Painting. She has been a part of the Varley team for over eight years.  Her professionalism, creativity and talent are evident in her artwork and approach to teaching, as is her commitment to quality art education for kids of all ages. 

Melissa Manserra
Melissa Manserra is an Ontario Certified Teacher, who has recently completed her Bachelors in Education at York University, as well as a Specialized Honours degree in History and Theatre Arts. Melissa has been working at the Varley for six years in an art educational and administrative capacity, most recently as our Summer Art Camp Director. Currently, she is employed as an Occasional Teacher within The York Catholic District School Board. Melissa continues to share her passion for the arts, all within an environment that is inclusive to young learners.

Judith Livingston 
Judith has been an exhibiting, award-winning Markham artist and instructor for over 30 years.  She is a graduate of London's Ontario Teachers' College, attended OCA for Colour Theory and Design and studied with many contemporary artists in workshop settings.  As a past member of  the CFS, SCA, and CSPWC, she is able to bring her skills and experiences  to her students in structured, informative  classes and workshops.  Students explore techniques, materials and concepts to enable them to express their unique reaction to, and interpretation of, their subject matter. Class critiques, student exhibitions, and collaborative projects, give them the opportunity to share their ideas and appreciate new ones.  In return, Judith learns a lot from her students.

Les Luxemburger
Les is a professional visual artist, art educator, animator and graphic novelist. He is an art instructor at the Varley Art Gallery and the META4 Gallery. Les is completing a graphic novel with the goal of inspiring and engaging youth and the public to take action on environmental. He exhibits works in galleries and art fairs/festivals throughout Ontario; and is studying 3D Animation at Seneca College, with the goal of making short animated films about the environment. 

Francesca Pang
Francesca Pang is an Ontario Certified teacher, who has completed her studies in both Fine Art and Education, in the Artist in Community Education program. Francesca works predominantly in painting, but also enjoys printmaking, working in clay and experimenting with mixed media. She is intrigued by site-specific arts education and the way art can enrich our lives.

Sam Paonessa
Sam was born in Niagara Falls, Canada and graduated from the Ontario College of Art in Toronto. Showing early promise, Sam was awarded a studio scholarship upon graduation, which enabled him to further develop his talents in commercial art. He was then hired by an advertising studio for the next two and a half years. In 1983 Sam was offered employment at Hallmark Canada and has been on staff creating paintings and artwork for a variety of products over the past 27 years. He teaches classes and workshops extensively all over Toronto and the GTA.

Phil Shepherd
Phil is an honours graduate from Humber College in Photographic Technique.  He is a mechanical engineer, professional photographer, and the owner of Shepherd Photography. His expertise includes portrait and event photography. Specializing in Fine Art, he is part of the Richmond Hill Studio Tour and has a large permanent exhibit at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. His artistic philosophy centres on seeing the picture with less emphasis on technology.

Sarka Buchl Stephenson
Sarka is a professional artist who has been exhibiting her watercolour based monoprints throughout Toronto and York Region.  She has won several art awards for her one of a kind monoprints. Sarka graduated from OCAD in 1993, specializing in illustration and fine art and then went on to study printmaking and illustration at the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague, Czech R.  The “Open Studio” in Toronto represents and displays her work.   She has been instructing children and adult classes at Varley Art Gallery since 2000.

Olivana Tonon
From childhood aspirations to the reality of now, her journey as an artist is a never ending exploration. Olivana has developed inherent abilities to create her own style, using a broad spectrum of methods, materials and unique techniques. Enjoyed by local and international collectors, her work ranges from meticulously detailed realism to sculpted abstraction. She is a passionate artist who enjoys nurturing the inherent abilities of her students in their explorations of artistic expression.

Stefanie Trombatore
Stefanie is currently attending York University to complete her Bachelor of Education degree.  She recently graduated from Ontario College of Art and Design University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and a Minor in English.  Stefanie strives to apply her knowledge of the elements and principles of art within the classroom by facilitating diverse activities that utilize a variety of mediums.  Making connections with science, the self and the environment that surrounds us are a few focal points to look forward to in Mixed Media for Mini Artists.

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