WORKSHOPS I OFFER
I offer a selection of different workshops, some are listed below. If you require a particular subject not listed, please do contact me to discuss! Generally 10 students maximum but please contact me to discuss.
All my workshops include a set of detailed notes to take home.
Basic Botany and Flower Studies (includes flower dissection)
2 or 3 days
Watercolour experience is needed
THIS COURSE IS BETTER DURING THE MONTHS OF MAY - AUG
We will study plant form (plants brought into the workshop and provided by myself) and learn a little botany which is essential to make an accurate drawing of plant species. During the workshop, you will create a plant study page that will include botany description details and a dissected flower painting. You will work with reference books and my detailed course notes. I will demonstrate flower dissection and you will have a chance to practice this yourself (tools provided). You will learn how to draw a half-dissected flower accurately. You will also have a chance to look at flower reproductive parts under a microscope. This is a great way to learn how to draw plants accurately and understand their anatomy! Bring a flowering plant in a pot. Includes detailed course notes for you to keep. Helpful and friendly tuition all through the workshop.
This workshop is not available as a one-day course as there would not be time to complete all the work needed.
Dissecting and illustrating a dissected flower
1 day
Watercolour experience is needed
THIS COURSE IS BETTER DURING THE MONTHS OF MAY - AUG
On this course, I will teach you how to dissect a flower and make an accurate dissection drawing in the correct scientific way. The course also teaches the botanical terms to understand the structure of different flowers. All botany is explained in an easy-to-understand way and includes course notes for you to keep. The basic materials are supplied. Option to buy your very own dissection kit for £12. Helpful and friendly tuition all day. Bring flowers. Includes detailed course notes for you to keep.
Botanical Illustration Course
4 or 5 days
Watercolour and drawing experience is required
A useful course if you are considering entering the RHS exhibition
Learn about Botanical Illustration with my help on hand all through the course. During this workshop, we will learn how to take time to really look at a subject, make an accurate drawing, build a composition, study colour and learn how to paint your subject beautifully. You will work on a single plant subject, from beginning to end, with on hand tuition at every step.
• Study a plant and draw it with accurate botany
• Make a sketch page with colour swatches, drawings, measurements and botany notes
• Research botanical plant keys and understand botany terms
​• Make a scientifically accurate composition
• Use watercolour to achieve good colour rendering and values (colour mixing help is available, as needed)
Includes detailed course notes for you to keep. Helpful and friendly tuition all through the workshop.
Colour Mixing Theory with a Limited Palette
1 day
No experience is needed
A little about colour theory is discussed to start with then with a limited six-colour palette you will explore how to mix the many colours available to you. We will practice beige tones, greys, warm and cool variations and how to make bright mixes. At the end of the day, you will make a swatch of mixes matched to a small plant. Please bring a plant in a pot.
Achieving Colour Vibrancy and Contrast
2 days
Watercolour experience is needed
More about colour theory covering how to achieve vibrancy and good contrast in painting. Pigment qualities will be explained and depth of colour demonstrated using the layering technique. Shadow tones and contrasts will be demonstrated showing how to achieve better form in your painting. All techniques will be practised by students during the 2 day workshop.
Fine Details and Finishing Techniques
2 days
Watercolour experience is needed
Learn watercolour techniques for painting the finest details and achieving colour accuracy. Learn how to create good form and value definition. We will work with a small subject from start to finish with my attentive help along the way. Includes detailed course notes for you to keep.
“Paint one small thing beautifully and you will learn so much! Venturing into a huge botanical work before you're ready, will lead to frustration and disappointment. Baby steps lead to great strides!"
Botanical composition workshop
2 or 3 days
Drawing experience is needed
Composition is an important part of botanical illustration. When we think about composition, it can sometimes be very hard to know what’s good and what’s bad. There are obvious things which stick out such as crossing stems, a cluttered page, things touching too closely, an even numbers of elements instead of odd, as well as other things like a badly drawn subject, the botany not being considered, painting too close to the mount margin, unclear colour rendering etc. You will be learning some useful techniques and rules to help you to easily compose your drawn work in the future. Bring three leafy plants, not flowers.
Seed heads and faded Autumn treasures
2 days
Watercolour experience is needed
On this course, we will learn how to create those beautiful autumn hues found in faded plants and seed heads. Master the beige, golden and earthy palettes! Bring autumn subjects. Helpful and friendly tuition all through the workshop.
Drawing Leaves - perspectives and shapes
1 day
All levels welcome
Leaves can be one of the trickiest things to draw. On this one-day workshop, I will show you the techniques to accurately draw leaves and master foreshortening. Bring a selection of leaf stems. Includes detailed course notes for you to keep.
Painting Leaves - shapes, colour and form
2 days
Watercolour experience needed
Leaves are the trickiest things to paint and I have to admit they are not one of my favourite subjects! It is, however, very good to know the techniques to make a leaves look realistic with the correct light and perspective. On this two-day workshop, I will show you the techniques to accurately draw and paint leaves. Bring a selection of leafy subjects.
Autumn Leaves - the golden palette
2 days
Watercolour experience needed
Painting Autumn Leaves is all about golden colours, fine detailing, blemishes and patterning. They are one of the most beautiful subjects to paint! Select a leaf from my collection or bring your own specimen. Leaves can be attached to a stem to keep them fresh. You will receive my helpful guidance throughout the workshop.
Woodland treasures, fungi and lichen
2 or 3 days
Watercolour experience needed​
There are so many beautiful things to collect and paint in the Autumn. Painting fungi is all about fine detailing, blemishes, patterning, gills and sometimes very subtle colour tones. Lichen is a most interesting twisted and gnarled subject to paint too. Even a piece of bark fallen from a tree, can make a wonderful painting. Make a series of studies on a page or one special piece. So, go collecting and join me for some Autumn treasure fun! Bring fungi, wood, lichen or whatever you can find. BEWARE of poisonous fungi, take an expert with you if you are unsure. Most fungi are safe to collect though, wash your hands after handling. You will receive my helpful guidance throughout the workshop.
Luscious Fruit - patterns, textures and colour
2 days
Watercolour experience needed
On this course we are going to learn how to paint luscious fruits. With every fruit there are things to be considered. For example: highlights, shadows, reflected light, bloom, colour, texture, patterning and of course shape and form. Patterns, textures and colour are common in fruits so it is a lovely subject to explore and refine your skills! Bring a fruits of your choice.
Dainty Snowdrops - secrets of white flowers
1 or 2 days
Watercolour experience needed
On this course we are going to learn how to paint pretty snowdrops. White flowers are the hardest to show depth as they appear to be without colour. However, this is not the case as there are many different pale shadow colours needed to make these beauties stand out on the page. You will receive my helpful guidance throughout the workshop.
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Painting Dark subjects - darkness revealed
1 or 2 day option
Watercolour experience is needed
Dark coloured subjects can be daunting to paint as retaining highlights and creating depth can be tricky. The course aims to teach students how to observe detail and retain form where highlights and shadows appear to disappear or seem non-existent! With my help you will master the skills to paint dark, by creating darkness with light!
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Butterflies and Moths - detail and colours
2 days
Watercolour experience is needed
Choose from my large selection of butterfly and moth specimens and learn how to paint these beautiful insects in watercolour. These beautiful insects are full of texture, fury-ness and colour. Techniques will be demonstrated and I will give you lots of help throughout the day. Includes detailed course notes for you to keep.
Pen and Ink Illustration, with watercolour wash
1 or 2 days (watercolour wash is the 2 day option)
All levels welcome
This media is so therapeutic and fairly fast compared to pure watercolour painting. Using Uni-pin fine liners or a dip pen, we will make drawings of plants or nature subjects, then learn how to apply texture using dots or lines, thus creating form. A watercolour wash will be applied afterwards to create a beautiful painting. Make a series of studies on a page or concentrate on one special subject. Bring along some interesting natural history subjects; dried leaves, seed heads, fungi, wood/bark, wood with lichen, pine cones, acorns, seaside treasures, bones/skulls etc. Helpful tuition all through the workshop.
Fascinating Feathers
1 or 2 day
Watercolour experience is needed
Learn how to paint a beautiful feather in the finest detail with my undivided help throughout the workshop. I have various subjects to choose from or bring your own. Make a page of studies or concentrate on one piece.
Seaside Treasures
2 days
Watercolour experience is needed
Choose from my large selection of shells and seaside subjects. Learn how to draw shells accurately and paint them to reflect their unique forms. Other subjects like crabs, seaweeds and mermaid purses can be painted too. I have a lot of subjects to choose from or bring your own. You will receive my helpful guidance throughout the workshop.
Perfect Berries
1 or 2 days
Watercolour experience is needed
Learn how to paint perfect tree or fruit berries using my techniques for achieving shine and good colour values. Bring your own berries or select from mine. On the two day option it would be possible to paint a little composition of berries. Includes detailed course notes for you to keep. You will receive my helpful guidance throughout the workshop.
Garlic and Onions - no tears please!
2 days
Watercolour experience is needed
Learn how to paint the papery skins of onions and garlic with my guidance all through the course. Master the wonderful colours of the Allium family. There will be various subjects to choose from or bring your own. You will receive my helpful guidance throughout the workshop.
Wet-in-wet technique
1 day
Watercolour experience is needed
Master this useful technique with my help. See how colour can be built up quickly on the first layers saving time and creating a great backdrop to your painting before adding in the fine details. I will have various subjects to choose from or bring your own. Subjects which lend themselves are fruit, autumn leaves, petals and poppy seed heads etc. You will receive my helpful guidance throughout the workshop.
More subjects are available, please email me to make your suggestions and I will do my best to accommodate you!
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