Wild Animal Portraits with Lucy Burton
Course Suitability: All Abilities
Maximum Participants: 12
Course Description:
Together we will work through a stage by stage process to create an Animal Portrait in Oils or Acrylics- using an ‘islands to oceans’ method of working. We are aiming to make the eyes come alive and give the animal and your painting lots of personality! I hope to inspire you with some new ideas and techniques to take away with you and apply to your own work.
You will be working from your own image, either from an I-pad OR you can use a photograph at least 5” x 5”. The animal’s eyes must be clear and in focus. Crop your image so that it is square. The head of the animal should take up most of the frame. For good (free to use) reference images see www.pixabay.com
Materials required:
8” x 8” Canvas or 8” x 8” Ampersand Smooth primed panel (available on day £5)
A colour photograph of your animal or an image on an ipad / tablet.
A black and white print out of your square cropped image as large as you can make it on an A4 piece of paper eg:
A selection brushes eg. Rosemary Ivory Short Flats nos. 2,3,5, Ivory Filbert size 0
A selection of artist quality paints oils or acrylics eg. Daler Rowney starter set.
Palette knife – eg. Winsor and Newton size 22
Paper Palette and a box to take your work home in
Oils only: A jar and some low odour thinners/ white spirit substitute for cleaning your brushes, some rags or plenty of tissues to wipe brushes clean.
Optional extra items
‘Liquin’ painting medium if working in oils
A ‘Stay-wet’ palette if working in acrylics
Artist’s Profile:
Lucy is an oil painter and teacher, living in Leamington Spa.
Whatever the subject matter, Lucy encourages students to apply the paint in a dynamic and interesting way: focusing on colour mixing, brushwork and composition.
She paints commissions, sells her work and exhibits locally with ‘Leamington Studio Artists’…and has also:
• Worked as the ‘Artist in Residence’ at ‘The Artroom’ Gallery in Leamington,
• Painted live at ‘Blenheim Palace Flower Show’
• Been a wildcard artist on ‘Landscape Artist of the Year’
• Exhibited with ‘Warwickshire Open Studios’
All courses are £59 per day for members, £75 for non-members
Abstracts inspired by your surroundings with Christina Sadler
Course Suitability: All Abilities
Maximum Participants: 10
Course Description:
This workshop will introduce you to different ways of creating abstract art in response to your surroundings. We will explore the outdoors and beautiful grounds of Nature in Art but also use the sounds, smells and textures as inspiration. This will all be achieved through guided exercises and support from your tutor Christina. No judgement will be placed on the outcome of your work. This day is centered on the enjoyment and relaxation that comes from creating abstracts. There will be laughing as well as moments of calm and reflecting. An enjoyable day creating whilst giving you the chance to unwind. We will use a mixture of materials but acrylic paints and inks will be the main medium being used. You will create mini abstract as well as larger pieces and you will learn various skills and techniques to continue painting abstracts at home. But above all, it’s a day to escape and take some me out for yourself. As we will be venturing outside at some point please come with relevant clothing, if you have mobility issues please do not worry Christina will adapt the outside session to meet your needs. This class is perfect for all – even those who have never tried painting or abstracts before. If you have been on a class with Christina before this class will teach you new and wonderful techniques to try but also give you a chance to develop skills already learnt.
Materials Required:
Christina will provide the required materials for an additional charge of £15 per participant to be paid to Christina on the day of the course. This will include a little selection of inks to carry on using at home.
If possible please bring two jam jars for water
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.
Currently, Christina is represented by Wychwood Art Gallery in Oxford. Her art has been exhibited on the London Underground and showcased in a pop-up shop at John Lewis, and her work is also available at Saatchi Art. Additionally, she is part of Sixteen Gallery in Cheltenham. Christina created the hero lion for the Lions at Large trail, set to launch in summer 2025, which will raise funds for the Big Space Cancer Appeal.
Christina is passionate about the power of art and actively engages in outreach programmes, providing artistic opportunities for individuals using art for well-being, such as Children unable to attend school. In 2024, she created an immersive installation for the National Gallery Road Trip, transforming an empty workshop into a living painting inspired by the collection.
All courses are £59 per day for members, £75 for non-members
Experimental Acrylics with Jackie Garner
Book here
Course Description
The more artistic experience we have, the greater the options for our own creativity. This course is focused on the exploration of acrylics and techniques, giving a deeper understanding of the medium and a willingness to be inventive. We will create textures and marks through layering, monoprinting, stencilling, texture, spattering… laying down colour and working into or over it. The resulting art may include realism or be purely abstract according to the participants’ preferences. An ideal course for those who want to move their art beyond “It looks just like a photograph”.
All courses are £59 per day for members, £75 for non-members
Materials list
Essentials: • Acrylics: Your usual acrylics, heavy body and/ or soft body • Palette • Brushes: Nylon brushes are best for acrylics. A variety of sizes and shapes will be useful. Some spares will be available for students to use. • Painting/ palette knife: any shape, a range of sizes and shapes if you have them. • Supports: Your choice of canvas, canvas board or primed board, at least A3 size • Water Pot • Kitchen roll • Sponge: different types are useful • Table covering: some spares will be available • Apron if desired – remember acrylics are waterproof and permanent when dry • Easel if desired
Please bring any of these if you have them, but no need to buy specially as some spares will be available: • Acrylic inks • Sketchbook for practice. (Some mountboard off-cuts will also be available) • Small spray bottle for water • Gelli plate • Colour shapers/ wedges • Stencils If you have no supplies, materials may be provided for a small charge, but only by prior arrangement with the tutor.
Students wishing to discuss the course in advance are welcome to telephone Jackie on 07800 804847.
Intensive pottery with Carly Byrne
Course Description:
During this intense course you will learn everything you need to know
about hand building and pot throwing with clay.
Throughout the two days, you will delve into lots of different techniques to get you started on your pottery journey. From pinched forms to coiled pots to slab building sculptures and decorative surface designs. There is something for everyone.
We will also be showing you how to throw pots on the potter’s wheel and help you budding potters improve on what you already know.
Materials List:
All tools, equipment and aprons will be provided. Clay will be provided at a cost of £15 (cash) per person, to be paid directly to Carly on the day of the course. If you would like your work fired or glazed after the course then Carly is happy to do this at her studio in Swindon. If you would like to inquire about the extra cost for this please email niamarketing@natureinart.org.uk for a price list.
Painting Butterfly and Moth with Jackie Isard
Course Suitability: Improvers – Watercolour experience is needed
Maximum Participants: 12
Course Description:
Choose from my large selection of butterfly and moth specimens and learn how to paint these beautiful insects in detail. These beautiful insects are full of texture, fury-ness and amazing colours. You will have a chance to look at these insects under a microscope and see a whole new world is revealed! I will demonstrate techniques and give you lots of help throughout the two days.
Materials Required:
• Good quality HOT PRESSED WHITE (NOT CREAM) watercolour
paper 140lb/300gsm, A4 size will be plenty.
• Cartridge or tracing paper for drawing your butterfly or moth
before tracing onto your watercolour paper.
I will have a lightpad available to use if you wish to
transfer this way. If you do, bring along tracing paper
60gsm and a Unipin black fineliner 0.05 pen. I have trace
and pens to sell if needed.
• Full bodied pointed sable brush No. 2, suggestions to the right.
A Billy Showell synthetic Fine Liner pointed brush.
• Mixing palette or plate porcelain/ceramic
• 2 water jars
• H pencil, soft eraser, sharpener
• Kitchen Roll or Linen/Cotton cloth for brush cleaning
and drying off
• Winsor & Newton Professional watercolour
I recommend these colours to achieve good matches
to your butterfly or moth but you may use other watercolour brands.
Further details available closer to course date
About the artist:
Jackie Isard is an award-winning botanical artist having won a Gold medal at RHS in 2022. Based in Bristol, her delicate watercolours are much admired for their intricacy and detail. She is a self-taught artist and passionate about teaching. Jackie has paintings held in the RHS Lindley Library, The Shirley Sherwood Collection and The Hunt Institute. Jackie became an SBA DLDC tutor in 2024. She runs workshops in the Southwest, Wales, Gloucestershire and many other venues across the UK. She is a very attentive tutor who loves to inspire and encourage! “Nature is so beautiful and it gives me such pleasure capturing it in watercolour.”
All courses are £59 per day for members, £75 for non-members
Scraperboard with Jackie Cox
Scraperb
oard is a method of creating a tonal picture by scratching through a layer of india ink to reveal the white chalk beneath. It is an interesting and absorbing medium which allows for great detail or looser depictions of texture and form. We will explore the different types of scraperboard and scratchboard available and the different methods for making marks on these, and the ways the scratched areas can be coloured afterwards.
We will then look at the many other possibilities of using the white chalk ground and creating your own covering surfaces layers to then scratch through to reveal the initial white layer and further pushing boundaries in mixing media.
Materials will be provided at a cost of £10
Please note that the cost of this course of £59 per day for members, £75 per day for non-members. £25 is a deposit towards the balance of this course.
Lion in Graphite with Jamie Boots
NOW FULLY BOOKED
Course Suitability: Absolute beginners – Advanced
Maximum Participants: 12
Course Description:
Join artist Jamie Boots for a two-day exploration into the nuanced world of graphite pencil art. This workshop delves beyond basic sketching, offering insights into the subtle techniques that breathe life into your creations. Participants will discover the art of manipulating pencil sharpness, pressure, and tones to convey the fine details such as fur, skin textures, and expressive eyes.
Materials Required:
All materials will be supplied.
All courses are £59 per day for members, £75 for non-members
Course Suitability: Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
On this one day course, Helen will teach you how to make a basket using red Dogwood, Snowberry Hazel and Lime, together with the glorious colours of this years willow harvest. No previous experience needed.
Materials List:
The tutor will provide the required materials for course participants. The cost per person will be £10, to be paid to the tutor on the day of the course.
Artist’s Profile:
Helen Lomberg has been making Baskets and using Willow and other Hedgerow materials for many years now. Twelve years ago she set up The Gloucestershire Arts and Crafts Centre in Westgate Street, Gloucester.
Course Cost:
A £25 non-refundable deposit is required on booking. Full course price is:
Members of Nature in Art: £59
Non-members of Nature in Art: £75
Botanical Ceramics with Clare Mahoney
Course Suitability: Suitable for all
Maximum Participants: 12
Course Description:This workshop highlights our connection to the natural world, encouraging us to slow down, and look closely at nature.
The intricate structure, texture, and beauty of foraged botany, the hedgerows we drive past every day.
The clay impression is used to form a mould.
The mould is flooded with plaster and Cornish stone, Creating a positive mirror image of the clay piece.
The clay is removed, and the Botanical relief is revealed.
Just like a Botanical monoprint it’s simple and effective, bringing out all the unnoticed detail.
A really enjoying and immediate process.
Materials Required:
All materials will be supplied at a charge of £7.50, paid on the day.
About the artist:
Clare’s ceramics reflect her love of the natural world, capturing its textures, patterns, and rhythms through the malleable medium of clay.
Her pieces are made using porcelain, and traditional hand building techniques.
The surface imagery is created through printmaking, drawing, and low relief inlay.
She draws inspiration from the beauty of human connection, and the everyday world around her. Creating elements, multiples, and small sculptures that are then collaged together.
Places are on a first come first served basis.
To secure your place on this course a £25 non-refundable deposit is required.
All courses are £59 per day for members, £75 for non-members
Spring Landscapes with Jonathan Newey
Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners Beginners Improvers
Maximum Participants: 12
Course Description:
Sketching Spring Landscapes with Pen and Wash is an engaging two-day course designed for artists of all levels. Participants will explore the art of capturing the beauty of spring using pen and wash techniques, combining fine ink lines with delicate watercolour washes. During the course you will learn how to sketch trees, flowers and buildings in a spring landscape with waterproof pen marks and how to add vibrancy with watercolour washes, emphasizing light, shadow, and texture. The course encourages creativity while teaching practical skills in a relaxed, inspiring environment. Perfect for beginners and people with some knowledge of the mediums
Materials Required:
The tutor will provide the required materials for course participants. The cost per person will be £30 (cash) which will be paid to Jonathan by the participants on the day of the course.
Should the students wish to use their own tools and materials rather than buying a set from the tutor then they are welcome to bring them along.
A full list of what is needed can be obtained from the tutor.
About the artist:
Jonathan Newey is an award winning artist with over 25 years of experience in teaching in adult education. He has experience in a wide variety of mediums and subjects including landscapes, wildlife and architecture in acrylic, watercolour and coloured pencil.
Places are on a first come first basis.
To secure your place on this course a £25 non-refundable deposit is required.
Courses are £59 per day for members, £75 for non-members.