Why is that spider dancing? (6 to 14 years)

Dr Simon Pollard is a spider biologist and award-winning natural history photographer and writer. He has written and illustrated a number of children’s books.

Simon has also been an advisor, scriptwriter and presenter on a number of natural history documentaries, including the BBC’s Planet Earth. Since 2009, Simon has been Adjunct Professor of Science Communication at the University of Canterbury.

Join us to learn more about arachnid's aka spiders, and pose your questions to our spider biologist expert. Then grab a pencil and work alongside Margaret as she guides you through sketching different types of spiders. Learn hints and tips for their texture and blending colour in coloured and metallic pencils. You can add a realistic background or let your imagination loose and go a little more surreal!

Creative Director of Art Grooves, Margaret Taylor graduated from The Learning Connexion (Diploma in Art & Creativity) over 13 years ago. Her popular art education programme for children and adults at KAC in Wellington received consistently high satisfaction ratings. She now tutors at WEA in mixed media for children and adults, and generates positive feedback from those attending.