Studio Classes

Free parking. Free teas and coffees through the day, just bring your own lunch

CANCELLATION POLICY: Cancellations are subject to a one off £20.00 administration charge to cover processing costs, website booking fees, and card payment fees. For cancellations within one week of the course date, no refunds can be given. In the unlikely event of a course being cancelled, moved or rearranged you will be offered a refund of your payment or an alternative course. The organiser will not be held responsible for any extra costs arising out of the cancellation of a course.

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10 Oct 2025 (FRIDAY, 10.00 -15.00) - Creative approach to painting trees and Composition. Kirkheaton Library near Huddersfield

You will experiment with various brushes to achieve accidental dynamic strokes. You will then create various studies on trees.

Special equipment for the session: various brush sizes, flat brushes, Chinese brush, wooden wedges, palette knife, A3 or A4 Drawing (normal) paper – for experiments and samples, A3 Watercolour paper.

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24 Oct 2025 (FRIDAY, 10.00 -15.00) - Tone and depth in painting - Studies of Fountains Abbey Ruins. Kirkheaton Library near Huddersfield 

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14 Nov 2025 (FRIDAY, 10.00 -15.00) - Streets of Florence. Kirkheaton Library near Huddersfield  

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5 Dec 2025 (FRIDAY, 10.00 -15.00) - Majestic Pine - expressive techniques in painting a portrait of a Pine tree in the mountains. Kirkheaton Library near Huddersfield  

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12 Dec 2025 (FRIDAY, 10.00 -15.00) - Festive York - painting in watercolour with gouache touches. Kirkheaton Library near Huddersfield

Celebrate the season by capturing the festive spirit in your watercolour with a wintery, Christmas-inspired theme to enjoy and share.

Special equipment: white gouache or acrylic paint.

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Romiley / Marple venue to be confirmed, dates below are currently provisional:

7 Oct, (TUESDAY, 10-12.30) - Exploring tone and depth in painting

You will do a number of monochromatic exercises practising washes, lifting, scratching and blending, before painting 1-2 studies of Coastal Mountains/ Mountain Path.

Special equipment for the session: Indigo (alternatively you can use Payne's Gray or blue and black), sponge, palette knife, kitchen towel/ tissues, A4 or A3 paper.

21 Oct, (TUESDAY, 10-12.30) - Turner’s use of warm and cool colours.

You will do a number of colour experiments, exploring colour mixing, colour contrasts, create soft and sharp edges, test painting with use of line and dry pigment. You will then create a study of a Scottish Loch.
Special equipment for the session: watercolour crayons, wooden wedges, A4 or A3 paper.

4 Nov, (TUESDAY, 10-12.30) - Creative approach to painting trees and composition

You will experiment with various brushes to achieve accidental dynamic strokes. You will then create various studies on trees.

Special equipment for the session: various brush sizes, flat brushes, Chinese brush, wooden wedges, palette knife, A3 or A4 Drawing (normal) paper – for experiments and samples, A3 Watercolour paper.

18 Nov, (TUESDAY, 10-12.30) - Painting an atmospheric Mountain Landscape with a sponge.

You will experiment with a sponge and practice to lift, smudge, blend and apply whispery strokes. You will then create a study from a Mountain Valley above or from your own photograph.
Special equipment for the session: sponge, palette knife, A3 Drawing (normal) paper – for experiments and samples, A3 Watercolour paper.

2 Dec, (TUESDAY, 10-12.30) - Christmas theme - winter birds

Embrace the magic of the season and learn how to paint wintery scene with birds and pine.

Special equipment for the session: A3 Watercolour paper, rigger brush.

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WATERCOLOUR

Have you been mystified by the magic of watercolour and often felt it is too unreachable to be explored on your own? Join one of the DAY courses and discover your passion for colour, develop truly unique brush marks and enjoy an amazing feeling of painting in this awe-inspiring medium! 

Each session will start from the specially designed exercises to support your learning, leading to independent practical work. There will be ongoing referencing to inspiring practitioners and a discussion of their methods. Reference material and handouts will provided for visual support.

These sessions will be very informative and should benefit painters with little or extensive experience. If you are new to painting, all the materials and equipment will be explained during the first session. 

Equipment you will need (Watercolour): paper for trying the colours/ colour mixing samples, watercolour paper A3/ A2 size, a board, a range of watercolour brushes, including a mop brush if possible, watercolour paints (Julia will be using St Petersburg White Nights blocks, they are her favourite), palette or big white plate, water pot, kitchen towel, pencil, eraser.  

Boards can be provided for free, please let me know if you would like to borrow it.