Sheffield artists give new meaning to ‘slow art’ – with tortoises

Budding artists may prefer to focus on a still life as their first subject, rather than a live animal – and one Sheffield teacher is offering the best of both worlds.

Claire Cort, who runs the Ay Up Art class at the White Lion pub in Heeley, had offered dogs for her students to draw, but found the models reluctant to sit still.

Luckily, local reptile owners gave her the perfect compromise, with the beginners honing their skills on tortoises.

Cort said: “It was a crazy idea and people were laughing at me going, ‘What? You’re going to draw tortoises?’ And I’m like, why not?”

Cort, better known as CJ, is a former design, technology and arts teacher who became keen to offer art and craft sessions in her community.

She said: “I started Ay Up Art in 2024 and I started my classes to create affordable events in the area that I live in, which is Heeley.”

The 49-year-old said: “I’m not ashamed to say I’ve suffered from depression for many, many years and I’ve always found that being creative to me is my happy place, my escapism from a very overthinking mind and it relaxes me.”

Cort spent 14 years as a secondary school teacher but said it “took over her life” and the long hours meant she was “neglecting” her dog, Maggie, a Westie, who is now 12-and-a-half years old.

So she gave up teaching to become a dog walker full-time, a job which allows her to spend more time with Maggie and but still follow her passion for art.

Cort felt there was a gap in the market for total beginners and those who doubted they had any artistic talent but wanted to try.

“They may have been told at school, ‘you’re not good at art’. I want to instil confidence in people.

“I think a lot of beginner artists think you’re going to be judged and it’s not to do with judging.”

Cort believes people should be able to express themselves creatively no matter their age.

“Adults deserve to play and experience the capabilities of their imagination.”