At Footprint Digital, we’re big believers in stepping outside the norm, and sometimes that means literally stepping outside.
Our latest Apprentice Challenge Day saw the team trade keyboards for sketchpads, meetings for movement, and digital marketing for a healthy dose of artistic expression in the countryside.
With the sun blazing down on the hottest day of the year, it definitely wasn’t a day to be stuck behind screens. The picturesque Arlesford Creek was our backdrop instead and we ventured out for a day of artistic adventure.
The challenge?
Learn the basics of line drawing from scratch, guided by the wonderful Charlotte Bernays, a talented local artist from Wivenhoe with a passion for the energy and flow of water and movement.
Charlotte’s calming presence and clear direction helped us see our surroundings, and our creative potential, in a whole new way.
Her session focused on loosening up, observing the movement in nature, and understanding that art isn’t about perfection; it’s about connection. (Although we have to admit… some of us are definitely more naturally gifted than others. Looking at you, fresh-from-Glastonbury gang!)
It wasn’t just about the sketching, though.
These Apprentice Challenge team days are all about creating shared experiences, and this one came with plenty of laughs, banter, and surprisingly good attempts at capturing the landscape (and some very abstract ones, too).
We were also delighted to welcome and spend time with our fantastic new starters, Levi Clucas, Kieran Jones, and Ben Howard, who all threw themselves into the challenge and brought fresh energy to the group.
It’s not every onboarding day that includes beer, sun, sketching, and a full-blown art critique!
One of the most rewarding parts of the day was simply spending time together, away from our desks.
In the busyness of agency life, it’s easy to forget how valuable it is to connect as people, not just as colleagues.
Over a cold drink at lunch, reflecting on our masterpieces (and the slightly questionable ones), it was clear that these moments matter, and we’re grateful that days like this are regularly built into our schedules.
A huge thank you to Charlotte Bernays for bringing such a brilliant energy to the day, and to the team for embracing the challenge wholeheartedly.
Whether you produced a gallery-worthy piece or something better suited for the fridge at home, you were part of what made the day so special.!
Until the next adventure…
