Imagine yourself on the beach in Cornwall, sketching the shapes and colours of the shoreline at low tide, breathing in the salty air and gazing out over the ocean to the horizon.  We’ll do some mindfulness on the beach: breathing… listening… then looking for treasure in rockpools, collecting the many kinds of seaweed, seashells and pebbles to sketch and paint. 

This is how my Shoreline Treasures workshops begins, and you’ll love being introduced to the way in which an artist looks and sees on that first morning on the beach. It’s no surprise that this is one of my most popular workshops. You will need to be able to walk the fifteen mins from studio to the beach and back. A taxi will be around £5 each way if this would be difficult for you

The rest of the course is studio based, (although we may well have another session on the beach if the mood takes us!) But of course, to interpret it all you’ll need some skills too, and so back at the studio I’ll be teaching you some invaluable artists’ secrets.

NB: We use a small watercolour paint box for this course, so please be aware this is not my usual studio based Three Tube System I teach on other workshops. 

Who is this course for? 

All abilities including beginners. The group size is maximum just eight people so I can teach you all at your own level. 

You’ll learn:

·      easy ways to sketchoutdoorsboth quickly and confidently

·      how to use watercolour from a tiny, portable paint box both indoors and outdoors

·      how to mix the most useful colours for beach themed watercolours with them

·      simple ways to draw shapes and proportionsof seashells, seaweed and other shoreline treasures

·      How to understand and use light and shadow to make your drawings and paintings of beach finds look more real and three dimensional

·      to simply immerse yourself in sketching and painting the treasures of the sea. 

. Which essential art materials you’ll need to sketch and paint outdoors and in the studio

What’s included:

• More than thirty years of Sarah’s experience. Priceless!

• All your art materials and equipment including watercolour paper, tubes of the correct paint colours, brushes, palettes, boards, etc.

• Basic tea and coffee. (If you drink particularly exotic teas, or use non dairy then please remember to bring some along

And not included?

• Accommodation ( I can  email you a list of possibilities in the area)

• Lunch. Please bring along a packed lunch: there are no shops on the village to grab a sandwich from.

Walking:

You will need to be able to walk the fifteen mins from studio to the beach and back. A taxi will be around just £5 each way if this would be difficult for you

Don’t be shy!

So many people want to learn watercolour but are too scared to start.  Is this you?

Well, that’s why I’m here: I specialise in making watercolour simple but exciting. My husband Nigel (who manages out art gallery,) says that if I were a football player I’d be Premier League, but we can’t think of what the equivalent is in teaching watercolour 😊

You’ll learn all these things:

What the best materials are to make your painting easier,

how much water your watercolour needs

how to mix gorgeous juicy colours from just three tubes of paint,

how to use just one basic brush to create so many different brush strokes (this makes things SO much easier!)

What “Wet in Wet” and “Transparent Layers” are; why they are the foundation stones of all watercolour painting, why they’re essential to painting a good watercolour, and how to use them easily.

And you’ll paint a simple landscape with transparent glazes, how to paint a stunning (and yes, easy) still life in Wet in Wet.

You’ll take home my all-important multi-page handout to remind you of all you’ve learned, along with a handy colour mixing reference chart; your paintings and really importantly, a good understanding of watercolour basics and lots of confidence to continue painting at home.

(And I’ve found that even people who’ve been painting in watercolours for years have found this course to be a revelation, whether it’s mixing colours confidently, improving brush technique, or simply getting inspired to paint all over again.)

Oh, and did I forget to mention? It’s just so much fun! I don’t know why, but my workshops just attract the loveliest people!

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

• easy ways to sketch both quickly and confidently

•  how to use watercolour from a tiny, portable paint box both indoors and outdoors

•  how to mix the most useful colours for water and shadows on boats

•  simple ways to draw shapes and proportions of boats 

• and how to simplifyall that stuff to make it manageable!

• How to understand and use light and shadow to make your drawings and paintings of boats and harbours look more real and three dimensional

•  to simply immerse yourself in sketching and painting on location in a relaxed but focussed way. 

•   Which essential art materials you’ll need to both sketch and paint outdoors, and in the studio

What’s included

· More than thirty years of Sarah’s watercolour experience. Priceless!

· All your art materials and equipment including watercolour paper, watercolours, brushes, palettes, boards, etc. No need to bring or buy anything.

· An essential handout to remind you of all the invaluable things you’ve learned

· Basic tea and coffee. (If you drink particularly exotic teas, or use non-dairy then please remember to bring some along)

·  A list of the exact materials we use to keep your later art shopping to a minimum

·  Lots of fun and laughter as well as expert art tuition.

And not included?

Accommodation                                                                                                                                 Carparking                                                                                                                    

Lunch. (Please bring along a packed lunch)

Payment information:

Course Length: 2 days    10-4pm

Course Fee: £195

Deposit £80 (non-returnable but can be transferred to another course)

Balance of £115 to be paid before 7 days of the start of the workshop.

Book now: my courses fill up very quickly!

I’m enjoying the nature sketches so much that I’ve decided to teach a short course in Watercolour Nature Journals starting in October at the beautiful Morrab Library in Penzance.

Founded in 1818 the classical white building surrounded by palm trees is an oasis for book lovers, and is one of my favourite places in the world.

A collection of rooms big and small houses old books up to the ceiling, library ladders and leather topped writing tables. It has the air of a stately home library, but with added cups of tea and lots of laughter and camaraderie with the lovely staff.
I’ve booked the Theology Collection room (more commonly known as “God’s Room”. )

Wednesdays were free, so I’ve booked a run of six two hour sessions there on Wednesday afternoons to share my love of sketching nature with a small group of nature lovers.

My Watercolour Nature Journal Course costs just £120 for 6 x 2hour classes and there a couple of places left so if you’d like to join us just send me an email with your phone number and I can ring you for a chat to see if it’s right for you.

Payment:

£120 (6 x 2 hour classes)

1.30pm -3.30pm

What’s included: 

12 hours of art tuition over 6 weeks

All the art materials you’ll need: no need to buy or bring anything with you

A detailed multi-page handout covering all the techniques you’ll learn in the workshop

Unlimited hot drinks and biscuits to keep you going!

Please be warned: my courses fill up very quickly !

I come across so many people who say they’d love to draw but say they “can’t even draw a stick figure.”

But I know that the reason they can’t draw isn’t their fault. Not at all.

The reason is that they’ve never been shown how to properly. It’s that simple….

I was so lucky as a child to have had a father who was an artist. I was such a daddy’s girl when i was small that I wanted to go everywhere with him. I can remember sitting at the back of a public hall, when I was about five years old, watching my father demonstrate drawing, or how to use oil paints, or pastels to members of the local art society.

He showed me how light and shadow make things look substantial and three dimensional, how to apply those shadows to my drawings, and how to add skies, clouds and backgrounds to my tree or my house.

Here’s how I learned to draw

I wanted to learn to draw because first of all, I saw him do it. It looked like magic! Creating an object, a scene, a world out of thin air.

Secondly, he showed me how to look really carefully at what I wanted to draw, and to notice the things we don’t normally see when we just glance at something.
Then he showed me how to draw it.

Next, I tried out what he’d showed me.

And then he highlighted the best bits I’d done and showed me how to improve any bits that looked a bit wonky.

Then the rest was up to me to keep on practising it, getting some positive feedback, and practising some more.

That’s how you can learn to draw, too.
And that’s what I’m offering to show you this coming Autumn.

All we’ll need is a 2B soft pencil and some paper. Just as I learned, you’ll see me draw; I’ll show you how to; I’ll give you positive feedback, and you’ll practise some more. It’s as simple as that, and you’ll be amazed at your progress, because it’s really not that hard if you are taught well.

I’m making it sound very serious, aren’t I? But it’s not: we drink coffee, we look carefully, we laugh and we draw. It’s lovely. And it’s fun.

What’s included: 

• A days tuition with me (Sarah Bell!)

• All the art materials you’ll need: no need to buy or bring anything with you

• A detailed multi-page handout covering all the techniques you’ll learn in the workshop

• Unlimited hot drinks and biscuits to keep you going!

Payment:

Two day workshop - £195

Non-refundable deposit - £80

Final amount of £115 to be paid online, 7 days before the course starts.

Please be warned: my courses fill up very quickly !

This workshop is great for anyone of any age. Bring your child, your friend or your grandparent. 

When I’m out sketching so many people stop to watch and say to me, “I’d love to sketch. But I can’t draw for toffee.” Do you feel like that too? Always been too scared to sketch?

Well let me tell you, it’s really not as hard as it looks!  I’m a great fan of keeping it really simple.     I LOVE doing sketches like this. And I love teaching how to do it, too.

I’ll be doing lots of demonstrations on how to use your materials; how to pick out the most important bits to sketch and leave out the rest; how to create a sense of space; easy ways to create shadows, and how to add some colour.  

But most of all,  how to keep things really simple and achievable. You’ll learn what you need to put in, and what you don’t need (just as important!)

You’ll learn all these things:

What the best materials are to make your painting easier,

how much water your watercolour needs

how to mix gorgeous juicy colours from just three tubes of paint,

how to use just one basic brush to create so many different brush strokes (this makes things SO much easier!)

What “Wet in Wet” and “Transparent Layers” are; why they are the foundation stones of all watercolour painting, why they’re essential to painting a good watercolour, and how to use them easily.

And you’ll paint a simple landscape with transparent glazes, how to paint a stunning (and yes, easy) still life in Wet in Wet.

You’ll take home my all-important multi-page handout to remind you of all you’ve learned, along with a handy colour mixing reference chart; your paintings and really importantly, a good understanding of watercolour basics and lots of confidence to continue painting at home.

(And I’ve found that even people who’ve been painting in watercolours for years have found this course to be a revelation, whether it’s mixing colours confidently, improving brush technique, or simply getting inspired to paint all over again.)

Oh, and did I forget to mention? It’s just so much fun! I don’t know why, but my workshops just attract the loveliest people!

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

We’ll look at different materials which can make things easier and quicker (in this case just a simple black biro; some Inktense pencils and a water barrel brush.)

You’ll find out how to make a super-impressive graded-wash sky in less than 60 seconds, and then learn how to paint the water, buildings and trees in the simplest way possible. (This is a studio based workshop and we’ll be working from my photos.)

We’ll have so much fun together!

What’s included

· More than thirty years of Sarah’s sketching experience. Priceless!

· All your art materials and equipment including a sketchbook (which you’ll take home with you), watercolour pencils, brushes, boards, etc. No need to bring or buy anything.

·  Lots of ideas and photographic to inspire you (you won’t be stuck for ideas!)

·  An essential handout to remind you of all the invaluable things you’ve learned

·  Basic tea and coffee. (If you drink particularly exotic teas, or use non-dairy then please remember to bring some along)

· Lots of fun and laughter as well as expert art tuition.

And not included?

Accommodation                                                                                                                                 Carparking                                                                                                                    

Lunch. (Please bring along a packed lunch)

Payment information:

Course Length: 2 days    10-4pm

Course Fee: £225

Deposit £100 (non-returnable but can be transferred to another course)

Balance of £125 to be paid before 7 days of the start of the workshop.

Book now: my courses fill up very quickly!

Don’t be shy!

So many people want to learn watercolour but are too scared to start.  Is this you?

Well, that’s why I’m here: I specialise in making watercolour simple but exciting. My husband Nigel (who manages out art gallery,) says that if I were a football player I’d be Premier League, but we can’t think of what the equivalent is in teaching watercolour 😊

You’ll learn all these things:

What the best materials are to make your painting easier,

how much water your watercolour needs

how to mix gorgeous juicy colours from just three tubes of paint,

how to use just one basic brush to create so many different brush strokes (this makes things SO much easier!)

What “Wet in Wet” and “Transparent Layers” are; why they are the foundation stones of all watercolour painting, why they’re essential to painting a good watercolour, and how to use them easily.

And you’ll paint a simple landscape with transparent glazes, how to paint a stunning (and yes, easy) still life in Wet in Wet.

You’ll take home my all-important multi-page handout to remind you of all you’ve learned, along with a handy colour mixing reference chart; your paintings and really importantly, a good understanding of watercolour basics and lots of confidence to continue painting at home.

(And I’ve found that even people who’ve been painting in watercolours for years have found this course to be a revelation, whether it’s mixing colours confidently, improving brush technique, or simply getting inspired to paint all over again.)

Oh, and did I forget to mention? It’s just so much fun! I don’t know why, but my workshops just attract the loveliest people!

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

• easy ways to sketch both quickly and confidently

•  how to use watercolour from a tiny, portable paint box both indoors and outdoors

•  how to mix the most useful colours for water and shadows on boats

•  simple ways to draw shapes and proportions of boats 

• and how to simplifyall that stuff to make it manageable!

• How to understand and use light and shadow to make your drawings and paintings of boats and harbours look more real and three dimensional

•  to simply immerse yourself in sketching and painting on location in a relaxed but focussed way. 

•   Which essential art materials you’ll need to both sketch and paint outdoors, and in the studio

What’s included

· More than thirty years of Sarah’s watercolour experience. Priceless!

· All your art materials and equipment including watercolour paper, watercolours, brushes, palettes, boards, etc. No need to bring or buy anything.

· An essential handout to remind you of all the invaluable things you’ve learned

· Basic tea and coffee. (If you drink particularly exotic teas, or use non-dairy then please remember to bring some along)

·  A list of the exact materials we use to keep your later art shopping to a minimum

·  Lots of fun and laughter as well as expert art tuition.

And not included?

Accommodation                                                                                                                                 Carparking                                                                                                                    

Lunch. (Please bring along a packed lunch)

Payment information:

Course Length: 2 days    10-4pm

Course Fee: £225

Deposit £100 (non-returnable but can be transferred to another course)

Balance of £125 to be paid before 7 days of the start of the workshop.

Book now: my courses fill up very quickly!

Come and enjoy learning how to paint the modern watercolour botanicals and flowers that are so popular on greeting cards, stationary, Pinterest and Instagram right now. You can use your new watercolour skills to create your own thank you cards, party and wedding invitations, place settings, menu cards… the list is endless!

Bring a friend, your mum or your daughter and spend a wonderful, relaxing day together.
(suitable for absolute beginners and the more experienced.)

This workshop is designed to help you to:

· Understand how to draw simple flowers and leaves

• · How to arrange the subject on paper

• · How to mix colours for botanicals

• · Which watercolour techniques to use

• How to draw easy flowers and botanicals

• How to paint simple garlands, flowers, leaves and berries

• (And how to “erase” any watercolour mistakes!)

  
  
  

What’s included: 

All the art materials you’ll need: no need to buy or bring anything with you

A detailed multi-page handout covering all the techniques you’ll learn in the workshop

Unlimited hot drinks and biscuits to keep you going!

And not included: 

Lunch: bring a packed lunch along

Accommodation (we can supply a list for you) 

Payment information:

Total Fee: £225 for 2 days

Deposit of £125 to be paid online, the final £100 to be paid 7 days before the workshop starts.

Please be warned: my courses fill up very quickly !

Don’t be shy!

So many people want to learn watercolour but are too scared to start.  Is this you?

Well, that’s why I’m here: I specialise in making watercolour simple but exciting. My husband Nigel (who manages out art gallery,) says that if I were a football player I’d be Premier League, but we can’t think of what the equivalent is in teaching watercolour 😊

You’ll learn all these things:

What the best materials are to make your painting easier,

how much water your watercolour needs

how to mix gorgeous juicy colours from just three tubes of paint,

how to use just one basic brush to create so many different brush strokes (this makes things SO much easier!)

What “Wet in Wet” and “Transparent Layers” are; why they are the foundation stones of all watercolour painting, why they’re essential to painting a good watercolour, and how to use them easily.

And you’ll paint a simple landscape with transparent glazes, how to paint a stunning (and yes, easy) still life in Wet in Wet.

You’ll take home my all-important multi-page handout to remind you of all you’ve learned, along with a handy colour mixing reference chart; your paintings and really importantly, a good understanding of watercolour basics and lots of confidence to continue painting at home.

(And I’ve found that even people who’ve been painting in watercolours for years have found this course to be a revelation, whether it’s mixing colours confidently, improving brush technique, or simply getting inspired to paint all over again.)

Oh, and did I forget to mention? It’s just so much fun! I don’t know why, but my workshops just attract the loveliest people!

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

• easy ways to sketch both quickly and confidently

•  how to use watercolour from a tiny, portable paint box both indoors and outdoors

•  how to mix the most useful colours for water and shadows on boats

•  simple ways to draw shapes and proportions of boats 

• and how to simplifyall that stuff to make it manageable!

• How to understand and use light and shadow to make your drawings and paintings of boats and harbours look more real and three dimensional

•  to simply immerse yourself in sketching and painting on location in a relaxed but focussed way. 

•   Which essential art materials you’ll need to both sketch and paint outdoors, and in the studio

What’s included

· More than thirty years of Sarah’s watercolour experience. Priceless!

· All your art materials and equipment including watercolour paper, watercolours, brushes, palettes, boards, etc. No need to bring or buy anything.

· An essential handout to remind you of all the invaluable things you’ve learned

· Basic tea and coffee. (If you drink particularly exotic teas, or use non-dairy then please remember to bring some along)

·  A list of the exact materials we use to keep your later art shopping to a minimum

·  Lots of fun and laughter as well as expert art tuition.

And not included?

Accommodation                                                                                                                                 Carparking                                                                                                                    

Lunch. (Please bring along a packed lunch)

Payment information:

Course Length: 2 days    10-4pm

Course Fee: £225

Deposit £100 (non-returnable but can be transferred to another course)

Balance of £125 to be paid before 7 days of the start of the workshop.

Book now: my courses fill up very quickly!

This workshop is great for anyone of any age. Bring your child, your friend or your grandparent. 

When I’m out sketching so many people stop to watch and say to me, “I’d love to sketch. But I can’t draw for toffee.” Do you feel like that too? Always been too scared to sketch?

Well let me tell you, it’s really not as hard as it looks!  I’m a great fan of keeping it really simple.     I LOVE doing sketches like this. And I love teaching how to do it, too.

I’ll be doing lots of demonstrations on how to use your materials; how to pick out the most important bits to sketch and leave out the rest; how to create a sense of space; easy ways to create shadows, and how to add some colour.  

But most of all,  how to keep things really simple and achievable. You’ll learn what you need to put in, and what you don’t need (just as important!)

You’ll learn all these things:

What the best materials are to make your painting easier,

how much water your watercolour needs

how to mix gorgeous juicy colours from just three tubes of paint,

how to use just one basic brush to create so many different brush strokes (this makes things SO much easier!)

What “Wet in Wet” and “Transparent Layers” are; why they are the foundation stones of all watercolour painting, why they’re essential to painting a good watercolour, and how to use them easily.

And you’ll paint a simple landscape with transparent glazes, how to paint a stunning (and yes, easy) still life in Wet in Wet.

You’ll take home my all-important multi-page handout to remind you of all you’ve learned, along with a handy colour mixing reference chart; your paintings and really importantly, a good understanding of watercolour basics and lots of confidence to continue painting at home.

(And I’ve found that even people who’ve been painting in watercolours for years have found this course to be a revelation, whether it’s mixing colours confidently, improving brush technique, or simply getting inspired to paint all over again.)

Oh, and did I forget to mention? It’s just so much fun! I don’t know why, but my workshops just attract the loveliest people!

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

We’ll look at different materials which can make things easier and quicker (in this case just a simple black biro; some Inktense pencils and a water barrel brush.)

You’ll find out how to make a super-impressive graded-wash sky in less than 60 seconds, and then learn how to paint the water, buildings and trees in the simplest way possible. (This is a studio based workshop and we’ll be working from my photos.)

We’ll have so much fun together!

What’s included

· More than thirty years of Sarah’s sketching experience. Priceless!

· All your art materials and equipment including a sketchbook (which you’ll take home with you), watercolour pencils, brushes, boards, etc. No need to bring or buy anything.

·  Lots of ideas and photographic to inspire you (you won’t be stuck for ideas!)

·  An essential handout to remind you of all the invaluable things you’ve learned

·  Basic tea and coffee. (If you drink particularly exotic teas, or use non-dairy then please remember to bring some along)

· Lots of fun and laughter as well as expert art tuition.

And not included?

Accommodation                                                                                                                                 Carparking                                                                                                                    

Lunch. (Please bring along a packed lunch)

Payment information:

Course Length: 2 days    10-4pm

Course Fee: £225

Deposit £100 (non-returnable but can be transferred to another course)

Balance of £125 to be paid before 7 days of the start of the workshop.

Book now: my courses fill up very quickly!

Don’t be shy!

So many people want to learn watercolour but are too scared to start.  Is this you?

Well, that’s why I’m here: I specialise in making watercolour simple but exciting. My husband Nigel (who manages out art gallery,) says that if I were a football player I’d be Premier League, but we can’t think of what the equivalent is in teaching watercolour 😊

You’ll learn all these things:

What the best materials are to make your painting easier,

how much water your watercolour needs

how to mix gorgeous juicy colours from just three tubes of paint,

how to use just one basic brush to create so many different brush strokes (this makes things SO much easier!)

What “Wet in Wet” and “Transparent Layers” are; why they are the foundation stones of all watercolour painting, why they’re essential to painting a good watercolour, and how to use them easily.

And you’ll paint a simple landscape with transparent glazes, how to paint a stunning (and yes, easy) still life in Wet in Wet.

You’ll take home my all-important multi-page handout to remind you of all you’ve learned, along with a handy colour mixing reference chart; your paintings and really importantly, a good understanding of watercolour basics and lots of confidence to continue painting at home.

(And I’ve found that even people who’ve been painting in watercolours for years have found this course to be a revelation, whether it’s mixing colours confidently, improving brush technique, or simply getting inspired to paint all over again.)

Oh, and did I forget to mention? It’s just so much fun! I don’t know why, but my workshops just attract the loveliest people!

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

• easy ways to sketch both quickly and confidently

•  how to use watercolour from a tiny, portable paint box both indoors and outdoors

•  how to mix the most useful colours for water and shadows on boats

•  simple ways to draw shapes and proportions of boats 

• and how to simplifyall that stuff to make it manageable!

• How to understand and use light and shadow to make your drawings and paintings of boats and harbours look more real and three dimensional

•  to simply immerse yourself in sketching and painting on location in a relaxed but focussed way. 

•   Which essential art materials you’ll need to both sketch and paint outdoors, and in the studio

What’s included

· More than thirty years of Sarah’s watercolour experience. Priceless!

· All your art materials and equipment including watercolour paper, watercolours, brushes, palettes, boards, etc. No need to bring or buy anything.

· An essential handout to remind you of all the invaluable things you’ve learned

· Basic tea and coffee. (If you drink particularly exotic teas, or use non-dairy then please remember to bring some along)

·  A list of the exact materials we use to keep your later art shopping to a minimum

·  Lots of fun and laughter as well as expert art tuition.

And not included?

Accommodation                                                                                                                                 Carparking                                                                                                                    

Lunch. (Please bring along a packed lunch)

Payment information:

Course Length: 2 days    10-4pm

Course Fee: £225

Deposit £100 (non-returnable but can be transferred to another course)

Balance of £125 to be paid before 7 days of the start of the workshop.

Book now: my courses fill up very quickly!

Watercolour has to be the perfect medium for painting birds and insects!

The spontaneous, fresh quality of the paint is great for expressing the fleeting quality of delicate wildlife.

Painting birds and butterflies in watercolour is much easier than you ‘d expect, so be prepared to surprise yourself. Whether you’d like to paint a humble town sparrow or an exotic brightly coloured lovebird or peacock; a bumble bee or a whole butterfly collection, you’ll learn the skills to apply to any of these and more.

I’ll be doing lots of step by step demonstrations and giving you one-to-one help, as usual.

What you’ll learn:

·       How to easily capture the proportions of your bird or insect

·       How to draw and paint the eye of the bird and create that shiny highlight that brings it to life

·       How to simplify what you see

·       How to create spatter and splash effects to give a sense of movement

·       How to paint iridescence on birds and butterflies

·       How to plan the sequence of your painting: what comes first, next, and last…

·       Which techniques are best for the different elements of your painting

·       How to paint “wet in wet” (tip: this is how you make a bee look furry or a chick look soft and downy

·       How to paint an easy but effective watercolour background

·       How to make things look 3D with light and shadow effects

You’ll work from my reference photos, specially selected to include all the aspects above for maximum use of your time. You can also bring your own photos to work from if you wish.

What’s included:

All the art materials you’ll need: no need to buy or bring anything with you. A detailed multi-page handout covering all the techniques you’ll learn in the workshop.

Unlimited hot drinks and biscuits to keep you going!

And not included:

Lunch: bring a packed lunch along

Accommodation (we can supply a list for you)

Fee:

Two day Workshop in Penzance, Cornwall

Full: £195

Deposit : £90

*If you haven’t done colour mixing with me before please order my DVD here, so that you can practise the three colour mixing system at home and feel confident about when you come along.

Picture yourself learning the basics of watercolour with me in a lovely studio for a whole three days. 

We’ll cover what art materials you need, how to use just one paint brush in lots of different ways, my “Watercolour Alchemy” colour mixing system for creating eighty colours from just three tubes of paint and we’ll experiment with  the classic watercolour techniques of wet in wet, washes and glazes.

I’ll be doing lots of step by step demonstrations and helping you on a one-to-one basis too.

Who’s this workshop suitable for?

·       It’s ideal for absolute beginners

·      those who have dabbled for a while but want to improve their skills and gain confidence, 

·      also for those who paint but want to loosen up their painting style and gain fresh inspiration. 

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

·      How to sketch the objects to make them look round, solid and in proportion.

·      How to mix and match colours using just three tubes

·      How to simplify what you see 

·      How to plan the sequence of your painting: what comes first, next, and last…

·      How to paint “wet in wet”, washes and glazes

·      Which of the above techniques are best for the different elements of your painting

·      How to paint an easy but effective watercolour background

·      How to make things look 3D with light and shadow effects

·      How to choose colours for maximum impact (colour theory)

What’s included: 

All the art materials you’ll need: no need to buy or bring anything with you

A detailed multi-page handout covering all the techniques you’ll learn in the workshop

Unlimited hot drinks and biscuits to keep you going!

And not included: 

Lunch: bring a packed lunch along

Accommodation (take a look at our recommendations on our “Where to Stay” page

Payment information:

Total Fee: £295 for 3 days

Deposit of £90 to be paid online, the final £205 to be paid on the day.

Please be warned: my courses fill up very quickly !

So you’ve never picked up a brush before?

You’ll be an  absolute beginner in watercolour but you’ve always wanted to have a go. I’m with you ☺️

No need to be able to draw, and  no need to feel nervous: you’ll be among people feeling exactly like you. We’ll have tea & biscuits & a giggle when you arrive, then prepare to be spellbound. 

Let the Watercolour Magic Begin!

I’ll be showing you the  absolute essential things you need to do to start painting in watercolours.      Nothing complicated: just beautiful and logical ways to mix water and colour together in the perfect consistency; some simple ways to use your brushes to apply it; and some super-simple demonstrations, tips and ideas to create your own contemporary style watercolour paintings.

You’ll even receive a helpful handout talking you through all the things you’ve learned to take home with you.

Here’s what you’ll learn about on the Watercolour for “Absolute Beginners” Class:

• The basic materials you need to paint in watercolour (I’ll provide you with a materials list, too, and the details of my favourite supplier)

• Paint consistency: I’ll show you how to achieve the dilution to make your watercolour really flow…

• Which colours are easiest to work with (I won’t introduce you to the naughty ones…:)

• How to “erase” your watercolour mistakes

• How to use your brush in different ways

• How to paint simple flowers, leaves and berries with just a few twists of the brush

• How to create white highlights without using white paint

• What “Paper bridges” are and why they’re essential for watercolourists

• The cheat’s way to paint a simple watercolour sky that looks wildly impressive

• Lavender field and Mediterranean houses

What’s included:

• More than thirty years of Sarah’s experience. Priceless!

• All your art materials and equipment including watercolour paper, tubes of the correct paint colours, brushes, palettes, boards, etc.

• Basic tea and coffee. (If you drink particularly exotic teas, or use non dairy then please remember to bring some along

• The hall has a generous free carpark and is disabled friendly.

• Lots of fun and laughter in addition to the art tuition. The workshops have a lovely atmosphere of calm and study , but also lots of moments of friendship and laughter.

And not included?

• Accommodation ( I can  email you a list of possibilities in the area)

• Lunch. Please bring along a packed lunch: there are no shops on the village to grab a sandwich from.

Payment information:

Total Fee: £195 for 2 days

Deposit of £80 to be paid online, the final £115 to be paid on the day.

Please be warned: my courses fill up very quickly !