Watercolours: Autumn Term

with Sophie Newnham

A creative 12-week watercolour course for both beginners and more experienced painters.

Watercolour offers translucency, sensitivity and an element of surprise; they work beautifully in delicate washes, layered colour, expressive mark-making or combined with line and texture. Throughout the term, students will explore a range of traditional and experimental techniques while developing confidence in observation, composition and personal expression.

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Course Dates Autumn Term

14, 21, 28 September

5, 12, 19 October

(Half Term 26 October & 2 November)

9, 16, 23, 30 November

7, 14 December

Course Programme Autumn Term

Drawing inspiration from artists including Winifred Nicholson, Rory McEwen and Jennifer McRae, we’ll work with watercolour and inks to create a series of paintings exploring colour, light, shadow, form, texture and detailing. Techniques covered include:

  • Flat and graded washes

  • Wet-on-wet and dry brush techniques

  • Layering and glazing

  • Colour mixing and tonal balance

  • Botanical and observational painting.

  • Combining line and washes.

  • Expressive mark-making.

  • Experimental looser approaches.

  • Translucency and colour lifting.

Each session will include a short introduction and demonstration, guided practice, time for experimentation, and individual support, with students completing a painting each week as skills build progressively across the term.

Open to all levels

Materials provided throughout the course: Pencils- Hs to Bs; rubbers; basic paint, palettes and water holders.

Materials to bring with you: a range of watercolour brushes of various sizes; a block of watercolour paper; a simple set of watercolour paints; a set of fine-liner coloured inks; a bottle of masking fluid, and paper towels.

Booking page

““Sophie took us through all the key skills we needed for drawing and painting from nature and somehow I now have the confidence to just try drawing things around me. Before this I had no idea how to even start. Thank you!”

Undecided? contact us to arrange for an initial taster. If you decide to continue to the end of term, the taster is deducted from the course fee.

For a taster session, all materials are included. For regular students, please see above for advice on materials required, and of course we can advise you on obtaining materials at the taster.

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