Why Book Our CPD Workshops
Join a vibrant community of educators who are developing confidence in teaching 3D wire sculpture, exploring how pupils can master creative construction techniques using chicken wire as an accessible and engaging medium.
This CPD session equips teachers with practical skills and classroom-ready strategies using wire clippers, bent-nosed pliers, and finger-friendly PVC-coated chicken wire. You’ll gain hands-on experience in the full sculpting process, enabling you to confidently deliver impactful 3D art lessons from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4.
Designed for flexibility, this CPD can be adapted to half-day, full-day, or extended formats, supporting staff development and embedding sustainable creative practice across your school.
How it works: Cut, Connect, Create… & Cover!
Teachers will explore how to guide pupils in using mini cutters to precision-cut shapes from wire sheets based on artist-designed templates. Through clear, step-by-step methods, they will learn how to support pupils in joining components using mini bent-nosed pliers to create a complete 3D sculpture.
The session also demonstrates finishing techniques, from leaving sculptures as clean wire frames to enhancing them with tissue paper for colour, texture, and pattern. Teachers will see how these approaches can be adapted to suit different abilities and key stages, from Year 3 onwards.
For older learners, the CPD explores how to extend outcomes through personal design work, breaking down themes into manageable components and supporting students in developing more independent, coursework-aligned sculptural pieces.
Artist Background
For over 35 years, artist William Ashley-Norman has transformed humble chicken wire into breathtaking works of art. What began as a serendipitous discovery, whilst helping his Father with fencing the garden, has become a lifelong passion, resulting in a captivating menagerie of animals, figures, portraits, and the delightfully unexpected.
An enquiry from a teacher during an exhibition of his work in his home town of Stamford led to the development of school workshops and the creation of ChickenWired.
Since this time, William has been sharing his expertise by conducting sculpture workshops in schools throughout the UK. By teaching tens of thousands of school pupils, he has not only passed on his skill but also inspired a new generation of wire sculptors. From this, a range of sculpture kits and subscription resources have been developed.
