What’s On

FULLY BOOKED

Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Improvers

Maximum Capacity: 10

Course Description:

Painting can be very therapeutic, but the enjoyment can quickly disappear if you find yourself frustrated with what you produce. This class is about reintroducing you to the fun of painting, loosening your painting style and teaching you how to take the pressure off the end result. It will teach you how to be inspired to create relaxing abstract paintings but also how to feel relaxed when creating them.

Through guided exercises you will learn different painting techniques, as well as practical tips to free up your painting style. We will explore different materials, surfaces and subjects, painting to music and other ways to help you unwind and take pleasure in painting. There will be laughing as well as moments of calm and reflecting. A fun filled day learning something new and giving you the chance to relax. Suitable for all abilities, even those who have not picked up a paintbrush before.

Materials List:

The tutor will provide the required materials for course participants. The cost per person will be £10, to be paid (in cash) to Christina directly on the day of the course. Please wear old clothes / apron.

Artist’s Profile:

​Christina is an abstract artist based in Gloucester. Inspired by the natural world she works with inks and paints to create layers of translucent colours resulting in soothing and relaxing art.

Christina has had lots of experience in the arts and running workshops and at one stage was even the Education Officer here at Nature in Art.

She has exhibited work on the London underground, Saatchi Art and is represented by Wychwold Art Gallery. She had a pop up shop in John Lewis and produced artwork for Gloucestershire Hospital to improve their mental health in Crisis room.

Course Costs:

Members: £48

Non-members: £59

(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))

Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Advanced

Maximum Capacity: 12

Course Description:

This course is the perfect blend of, learning the anatomy of the horse, and loose expressive sketching.

Horses can be tricky subjects. Emily will be giving students a gentle introduction to the anatomy of the horse, as well as sharing a few of her favourite proportional tricks that have helped her enormously over the years.

Throughout the day you will also be loosening up with timed sketches. Emily has found timed sketching hugely beneficial for improving her drawing skills. It will be fun to see your sketches improve and evolve throughout the day. This will be a day of both learning, one of letting go and having fun.

This course will change the way you see your subjects, and give you a new set of tools to carry forward into all you animal drawings

Materials List:

All material will be supplied at a cost of £5 per person payable directly to Emily during the course.

Artist’s Profile:

Emily has always had a passion for animals ever since she was a young girl. When she couldn’t be with them, she was drawing them.

As a teenager her passion for horses began. This lead her from East Sussex to Gloucestershire, where she studied for 3 years acquiring a degree in Equine Science at Hartpury College.
This love of Science has meant she has always been fascinated by the inner workings of her subjects. She has found the more she learns the better her drawing skills become.
Now, lucky enough to paint horses for a living, Emily uses the knowledge she has learnt over the years in every piece she paints.

Course Costs:

Members: £96

Non-members: £118

(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))

FULLY BOOKED

Course Suitability: Beginners – Advanced

Maximum Capacity: 12

Course Description:

This course will focus on botanical drawing and painting techniques with the option of working in watercolour or gouache. Observational skills are a very important part of botanical art so students will be encouraged to work from life by making detailed studies from either plants, leaves, fruit or vegetable specimens. The course tutor will advise on a practical one-to-one basis, giving guidance in observations, colour suggestions and how to paint from the initial base coats to more controlled techniques. this will include rendering textures, contour definitions and colour transitions.

This course is open to all levels, but it is preferential to have some drawing/painting experience, as botanical work requires a precise rather than loose style of painting.

Materials List:

An equipment and materials list will be sent out on booking a place on the course.

Artist’s Profile:

Simon Williams SBA, is an RHS Gold Medalist and regarded as one of the UK’s leading botanical artists.

Simon has been a member of the Society of Botanical Artists (SBA) since 2002 and received Certificates of Botanical Merit in both 2001 and 2003. In 2013 Simon became the Course Director of the Society of Botanical Artists Distance Learning Diploma Course. Simon is the author of the book Botanical Painting with Gouache published in 2016 by Batsford. In July 2018 Simon was awarded a Royal Horticultural Society Gold Medal for a series of paintings titled ‘A Broad Selection of Tropical Pitcher Plants – Nepenthes’, painted in watercolour.

Simon originally trained as a natural history illustrator and tutors botanical and natural history painting workshops throughout the UK and abroad. Each workshop is structured and organised with specific demonstrations. Simon makes plenty of time during class to assist each students’ individual needs and abilities.

Course Costs:

Members: £96

Non-members: £118

(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))

Due to a cancellation there is now one space available on this course. Please email Alice to book.

Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Advanced

Maximum Capacity: 12

Course Description:

On this two day course learn all about working with graphite pencil from experienced artist Jamie Boots. Graphite pencil can be used to produce so much more than just a sketch.

Jamie will show participants that whether or not you are using a pencil that is blunt or sharp, pressing lightly or hard, or using a variety of tones, that the effect of fur, the texture of skin and the glassy look of an eye can be achieved.

Materials Required:

All materials will be supplied free of charge to use during the course by Jamie Boots.

Artist’s Profile:

Originally from New Zealand, Jamie is a self taught artist whose work is produced in graphite pencil. Jamie first exhibited his work in 2004 and has won a number of awards for his artwork.  In a very short period of time a hobby became a profession and with a limited number of originals being available each year his  drawings have become highly collectable.

www.jamieboots.com

Course Costs:

Members: £96

Non-members: £118

(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))

FULLY BOOKED

Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Improvers

Maximum Capacity: 12

Course Description:

Richard will guide you through the process, from the use of the cutting tools, transferring an image onto the lino and cutting the block, through to the final inking and printing. There will be a choice of smaller blocks, which can be printed through the press, or a larger block, which may need hand burnishing.

Materials List:

All materials will be provided for an additional fee of £5 per person payable directly to Richard on the day of the course. Please bring an apron or wear old clothes as the water based ink can stain.

Artist’s Profile:

Richard is an award winning, Leicestershire based Wildlife Artist/Printmaker. He works from field sketches and direct observation. His prints have been exhibited widely and used by the RSPB as Christmas cards and in several books by Mascot Media. Richard recently published book ‘ My A – Z of British Wildlife’ is an alphabetical ramble through the British countryside. He was elected as member of ‘The Society of Wildlife Artists’ (SWLA) in 2019.

Course Costs:

Members: £96

Non-members: £118

(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))

FULLY BOOKED

Course Suitability: Beginners -Improvers

Maximum Capacity: 12

Course Description:

Explore the techniques required to complete this portrait using Derwent Coloursoft Pencils on Hot Pressed Watercolour Paper over 2 days. A line drawing is supplied to copy or trace so no need to be worried about drawing “free hand”.

Materials List:

All materials will be supplied by the tutor free of charge.

Artist’s Profile:

Karen Coulson is a coloured pencil artist as well as a tutor specialising in wildlife and animal portraits. She enjoys incorporating unusual backgrounds behind her subject which indulges her love of colour.

Karen is a Gold Signature Member of the UKCPS (United Kingdom Coloured Pencil Society). She has won many awards for her artwork including “Best Fantasy/Abstract” picture at the UKCPS Annual International Exhibition in 2014.

Course Costs:

Members: £96

Non-members: £118

(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))