Seasons Art Class® – Our Team

Our Beginner Art Lessons For Adults

Seasons Art Class® offers in-person art classes for complete beginners and improvers, throughout the UK.

What makes us different from other art courses?

Originally established in England, way back in 2009, we found there was a gap in the market for the type of art lessons that we wanted to offer. We wanted to combine:

  • exceptional art tuition
  • a varied curriculum that covered the fundamentals
  • step-by-step classes and expert techniques and tips
  • a range of mediums
  • a warm and friendly environment
  • a place where people could meet and make new friends
  • the ease of materials being supplied

Since then, we’ve developed a one-of-a-kind curriculum and class structure. Our 14-week course provides a well-organised programme within a relaxed and friendly setting, helping students feel comfortable as they build their artistic skills and grow in confidence.

As mentioned, Seasons Art Class® began its journey in 2009, in the charming West Sussex towns of Arundel and Petworth in the UK. From these picturesque beginnings, the popularity of the classes quickly spread across the country, gaining a reputation for providing fun and friendly art tuition for adults.

From humble beginnings…

A few years later, Mike Curry, the man behind the Seasons® concept – born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand – saw the opportunity to bring this successful model back to his homeland.

In 2019, Mike embarked on a mission to introduce Seasons Art Class® to New Zealand. Together with the appointed master developer for the region, he spent several weeks travelling across both the North and South Islands, exploring potential opportunities and identifying viable areas for new branches. After extensive research and careful consideration, Auckland was chosen as the starting point, with plans to gradually expand into surrounding regions.

This international expansion marked a significant milestone for Seasons Art Class®, reinforcing its reputation as a provider of high-quality art education and a welcoming space for adults to explore their creativity.

The introduction of Seasons® to New Zealand not only brought a beloved programme to a new audience but also highlighted the universal appeal of accessible, enjoyable art classes. Today, Seasons Art Class® continues to flourish, offering students around the world the chance to learn, create and connect.

Mike Curry, Our Co-founder

Mike Curry and Gen Woodford founded Seasons Art Class® in 2009.

Born and raised in New Zealand, Mike was an inspiring individual with a wealth of entrepreneurial spirit, an incredible work ethic and enviably bold, trailblazing vision.

Mike started working before he had even left school – a hotel porter early in the morning and late at night, to fit around his education. At just 19 years old, Mike started working as a DJ in New Zealand. This led him to become an agent for other DJs and he later became a nightclub owner in Hamilton.

Mike moved to Auckland where he founded Contours Ladies Fitness Gym – a name that became well-known in New Zealand and Australia. After selling his highly successful gym chain, he went on to start a wellness business in the UK – this is where Mike and Gen met. He also started a cruise/travel agency which he successfully franchised.

Later, Mike returned to Australasia, where he supplied state-of-the-art equipment to osteopaths and physiotherapists in New Zealand, Australia and beyond. He moved back to the UK, where he launched the concept for our art class franchise in 2009.

Sadly, Mike passed away in 2022. We believe it is important to acknowledge his huge contribution to Seasons Art Class® and its ongoing impact in New Zealand and around the world.

Mike’s legacy is a beautiful one. His influence has enabled thousands of people to discover their creative passion through art, fostering self-expression and building lifelong friendships along the way.

Our Team

Genevieve Woodford

Founder, Managing Director

In 2009, Genevieve (Gen) Woodford, alongside her partner Mike Curry, founded The Seasons Art Class®, a unique program offering beginner-friendly art lessons for adults.

At the time, Gen and Mike were living in the beautiful town of Petworth, West Sussex. It was during this period that they befriended the owner of a local art shop where Gen frequently purchased her supplies. When the shop faced difficult times during the recession, Mike began to consider how they could offer support. From this initial spark, a bigger vision emerged: to create enjoyable, accessible art classes that could also offer rewarding opportunities for business owners.

Their journey began with Gen and Mike running the classes themselves, fine-tuning the approach to ensure success. As demand grew, they developed a proven business model and began franchising their concept, allowing others to share in their success.

Sadly, in 2022, Mike passed away, leaving Gen as the sole director of The Seasons Art Class®. Despite this loss, her passion and determination remain unwavering. With the support of a dedicated team, Gen continues to grow the business, overseeing operations, developing exciting new projects, and connecting with franchise partners across the globe.

Her vision is clear: to ensure happy students, thriving branch owners, and a strong, supportive team, all while making art accessible to adults everywhere. Whether working late into the night on innovative class ideas or perfecting marketing strategies, Gen’s dedication to The Seasons Art Class® shines through in everything she does.

Marie McGregor

Owner, Seasons Art Class - East Coast Bays & Hibiscus Coast North Shore, Auckland

Marie McGregor is a passionate artist and dedicated educator who has been making a significant impact in the local art community since joining Seasons Art Class in early 2021. With a wealth of experience spanning a wide range of artistic disciplines - including photography, mosaics, scrapbooking, ceramics, cut flowers and window dressing - Marie brings a diverse skill set to her classes, enriching the creative experience for her students.

Marie’s artistic journey began in high school when she won the school art prize, igniting a lifelong passion for creativity. Over the years, her involvement in local art galleries and various creative fields has deepened her understanding of the art world, giving her a broad perspective that she shares with her students.

As the owner of two Seasons Art Class franchises, Marie has been devoted to running high-quality art classes in her two territories - East Coast Bays and the Hibiscus Coast. She offers four class options per week, with an emphasis on creating a welcoming and nurturing environment for adult learners of all ages. Marie is particularly proud of the strong relationships she has built with her students, many of whom return repeatedly to continue their artistic journey under her guidance.

Marie’s success can also be attributed to her proactive approach to professional development. She has maintained close communication with the Seasons Art Class franchisors, ensuring that she takes full advantage of all the training and guidance offered. Her willingness to embrace feedback and stay committed to the Seasons Art Class system has been a key factor in the success of her two thriving branches.

The areas of East Coast Bays and Hibiscus Coast are ideal locations for art classes, offering a serene, picturesque setting that inspires creativity. These 'lifestyle' communities, known for their beautiful surroundings, provide the perfect backdrop for artistic exploration, attracting a diverse group of students who appreciate the balance of nature and creativity.

Marie’s strong commitment to both the art education community and the success of her students has earned her a reputation as a leader in the franchise. She continues to inspire and empower her students, ensuring that Seasons Art Class remains a cornerstone of the Auckland art scene.

Genevieve Merrett

General Manager

I joined The Seasons Art Class® team in autumn 2018, initially supporting Gen and Mike by managing enquiries and overseeing bookings. Since then, my role has grown significantly and I now manage operations across all our branches in the UK, Ireland and New Zealand. My focus is on ensuring our licence owners have everything they need to run successful and thriving businesses while working alongside Gen and the wider team to support the company’s sustainable growth.

Before joining The Seasons Art Class®, I built a career spanning over 20 years in the motorsport and automotive industries. This included working with prestigious luxury brands, such as Aston Martin and Bentley, for an independent retail group. These experiences instilled in me the importance of delivering exceptional customer service, whether it’s working with external clients or supporting our internal teams.

Outside of work, I spend much of my free time at the stables with my shared horse, Gracie - an ex-racehorse I adore. I’m also pursuing my professional coaching accreditation to share my love of equestrian sports with others and inspire them to enjoy the same rewarding experiences.

Chally Spokes

Lead Trainer | Tutor Recruitment

Chally Spokes is a dedicated artist and experienced trainer with a passion for nurturing creativity and developing strong communication skills. With a professional background spanning education, media, and commerce, Chally has been a vital part of The Seasons Art Class® team since 2013.

Her role encompasses recruiting talented tutors for new classes and delivering specialised training to both tutors and class managers, ensuring they are fully equipped to inspire their students. Chally also offers continuous support to help branches flourish and contributes to the creation of engaging course content and exciting new art projects.

Alongside her training work, Chally is an established artist who successfully sells her own artwork.

Luisa Dominguez

Principal Trainer

I have been fortunate to work in the art world for most of my life, beginning with studies in fashion design before specialising in portraiture and life drawing.

In 1985, I moved to the Cotswolds, where I ran an art gallery and taught courses in portraiture, watercolour, and various painting techniques. This experience eventually led to an exciting opportunity as a Demonstrator for Caran d’Ache, where I showcased their materials at art fairs and societies across the UK while continuing to teach portrait, life drawing and watercolour classes.

In 2011, I met Mike and Gen and began supporting one of their flagship Seasons Art Class® branches, alongside running my own branch. Since then, I have been proud to hold a creative role within the company, contributing artwork for returner curriculums, developing training videos, and leading training courses for new branch owners.

Amanda Waite

Lead Artist

Amanda Waite is deeply passionate about the creative arts and helping others discover their artistic potential. She spent seven years teaching Seasons Art® classes across three locations, where she guided countless individuals on their artistic journeys. As one of our lead tutors, Amanda plays a key role in developing project handouts and creating tutorial videos for our in-person art classes.

Amanda’s professional career began as an in-house illustrator at an advertising design agency, where she honed her skills across a range of mediums, including watercolour, acrylic, oil pastels, oils, and digital illustration using Adobe software. Her projects spanned a variety of high-profile clients, such as BP, Elf Enterprise, Asda, the Royal Scottish Orchestra and the International Youth Festival.

Her work has gained recognition, earning her a 7th place award at Painting of the Year in Eindhoven in 2021 and a place on the long list for the Ruth Borchard Portrait Prize the same year. Whether sketching in the life drawing room or walking the stunning northeast Scottish beaches, Amanda finds endless inspiration in her surroundings.

Rowan Crease

Systems Support Lead

Rowan Crease joined The Seasons Art Class® in 2023 and has played a pivotal role in transforming the efficiency of our central operations. Her dedication and keen eye for detail quickly led her to manage a small but highly effective team, ensuring our systems run seamlessly and our branch owners receive the highest level of support.

Rowan’s role encompasses overseeing essential back-office tasks, including managing invoicing, streamlining administrative processes, and ensuring branch owners have timely access to all the necessary intellectual property and resources via Dropbox. Her tireless work behind the scenes allows the business to operate smoothly, delivering a first-class experience for both branch owners and students alike.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Rowan is an enthusiastic creative, with a love for exploring a wide range of arts and crafts in her spare time. Her personal passion for creativity aligns perfectly with The Seasons Art Class® mission to inspire and empower others through art.

With Rowan’s organisational expertise and commitment to excellence, she is an invaluable member of the team, helping to keep the business running like clockwork.