Silence the
Inner Critic.
A four-hour inner critic workshop for creatives who want to quiet self-doubt, create more freely and experience the process in a supportive small-group setting.
The inner critic has been running the show for long enough.
If you've ever sat down to create and heard a voice saying "this isn't good enough" or "who do you think you are" — you already know what this workshop is about.
That voice isn't really yours. It was learned early, quietly, and it has been commenting on your creativity ever since.
Most of us never think to question it.
Ignite helps you recognise that voice for what it is, understand where it came from, and begin loosening its grip — so you can create with more freedom and less inner critic interference. In this in-person workshop, you’ll have the space to explore that process alongside a small group, with time to make, reflect and respond as we go.
This isn’t just another art workshop. It combines practical creative exercises with the deeper inner work that helps you understand why you stop, hesitate, compare or pull back in the first place.
I bring both sides together: years of working as a therapist, alongside my own experience as an artist and creative mentor.
"The difference between those who create anyway and those who don't isn't talent, training, or permission. It'sthe decision to keep going despite the voice."
Four hours. Six elements. Space to explore, make and reflect together.
We trace the inner critic back to its source — where it came from, why it feels so convincing, and the question that begins to loosen its grip.
One of the most powerful distinctions we make: separating fact from belief. Much of what the inner critic tells you isn’t fact at all — it’s a story you learned to accept as true.
A guided visualisation created specifically for creatives — helping you step out of analysis, quieten the critic and reconnect with the more instinctive part of yourself.
After the Ignite Process, we make. Paper, paint, collage — whatever feels right. In the gallery setting, you’ll have more time and space to explore, experiment and create without the inner critic taking over.
Not affirmations. Something more useful: carefully framed questions that encourage your mind to look for evidence of your own creative capability — and notice what it has been overlooking.
You’ll leave with a simple daily practice to help you notice when the inner critic shows up, interrupt the pattern, and keep choosing creativity after the workshop ends.
The Ignite Process is a guided visualisation I created specifically for creatives who find themselves overthinking, second-guessing or stopping before they have really begun.
It draws on my background in hypnotherapy and creative practice to help you step away from the analytical part of the mind, quieten the commentary of the inner critic and reconnect with a more instinctive way of creating.
You do not need any experience of hypnosis or visualisation. You simply follow the process, notice what emerges, and then take that quieter state straight into the making that follows. This is one of the elements that makes Ignite different from a conventional art workshop: we are not only changing what you make — we are working with what happens inside you while you make it.
In the gallery, we’ll move straight from that quieter state into making — giving you time and space to follow what emerges without rushing towards an outcome.
- You’ve always wanted to make things, but never quite given yourself permission.
- You used to create and stopped — and you’re not quite sure why.
- You create, but the not good enough voice is never far away.
- You compare your work to others and almost always come up short.
- You hold back, overthink or second-guess what you make.
- You’ve been telling yourself you’re too old, too late or too far behind to start.
- You create more freely when you’re alongside other people and enjoy the energy of making in a shared space.
- You’re ready for something deeper than another technique — you want a real shift.
I spent twenty years as a professional photographer — close to the creative life I wanted, but never quite in it. The inner critic had done its job so quietly, I hadn’t even noticed.
Today I’m an abstract mixed-media artist and a qualified therapist specialising in the mindset and inner world of creatives.
Ignite brings those two parts of my work together: practical creative experience, alongside the therapeutic understanding of why we hold back, compare, second-guess and stop.
I know from the inside what it costs to carry a belief that was never yours.
What people say about Ignite
My inner critic had squashed my creativity. After a wonderful workshop with Mark, I created the picture below in ten minutes, and I'm feeling inspired once again. He has helped me silence my inner critic — I'm ready to begin to create again.
Shirley Ann Chessman
I went in open-minded but not feeling creative — and found myself very pleasantly surprised. I didn't realise where my inner critic had come from or how long I'd been holding onto it, but how effortlessly Mark made me realise I could make it quiet, or even silent.
Laverne Jack
We garnered tools to quiet that voice — where it came from and how to acknowledge it — and allow it to dim in the background. It gave me a feeling of freedom.
Maria Landis
- Live 3-hour workshop via Zoom
- Your personal workbook PDF
- Post-workshop recap email
- 7-day Ignite Challenge guide
- Live 4-hour Ignite workshop at Galeria das Borboletas
- Your printed Ignite workbook
- The Ignite Process guided visualisation
- Guided creative exercises and making time
- Materials guidance before the workshop
- Take-home resources for continued practice
The ongoing material has helped me to keep committed to my creative goals. — Amelia
Your workshop at Galeria das Borboletas
Tuesday 27 October 2026
10:00–14:00
Galeria das Borboletas, Tavira
Small-group face-to-face workshop
What to bring
Bring simple creative materials you enjoy using — paper, sketchbook, pens, pencils, paint, collage materials or whatever helps you make freely. I’ll send a short materials guide before the workshop so you know exactly what to prepare.
What happens after booking
You’ll receive your booking confirmation and practical workshop details by email, including what to bring and anything you need to know before the day.
Do I need to be a practising artist to join?
Not at all. You don't need any previous art experience — just curiosity about your own creativity and a willingness to explore. Ignite is for people who already create, people returning after a long break, and people who would simply love to create more freely.
What art materials do I need to bring?
Keep it simple and use materials you already enjoy working with. Paper or a sketchbook, pens, pencils, paint, charcoal, collage materials and similar supplies are all suitable. You do not need expensive materials or a huge selection. I'll send you a short materials guide before the workshop so you know exactly what to bring.
How many people will be in the workshop?
Ignite is designed as a small-group experience so there is space to feel supported, ask questions, make freely and work at your own pace. Places are limited to keep the workshop personal and relaxed.
Where and when does the workshop take place?
The workshop takes place at Galeria das Borboletas in Tavira on Tuesday 27 October 2026, from 10:00–14:00. You'll receive full practical details by email after booking.
What is included in my €75 booking?
Your €75 booking includes the complete four-hour in-person Ignite workshop, your printed Ignite workbook, The Ignite Process guided visualisation, guided creative exercises and making time, materials guidance before the workshop, and take-home resources to help you continue afterwards.
What happens after I book?
You'll receive confirmation of your place by email, followed by the practical information you need for the day, including what to bring and anything you need to prepare before arriving.
Will there be a break during the workshop?
Yes. The workshop runs for four hours and there will be time to pause during the session. Final details about the break and refreshments will be included in the practical information sent before the workshop.