Studio Classes

GREATER MANCHESTER VENUE:

Hawk Green Reading Room (Upper Hibbert Lane, Marple, Upper Hibbert Ln, Marple, Stockport SK6 7HQ)

Please scroll down to see the dates and details of individual sessions

WATERCOLOUR/ ACRYLIC

Have you been mystified by the magic of painting and often felt it is too unreachable to be explored on your own? Join one of the DAY face to face 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. 

Full day £45 per class / OR £57 with materials provided

1/2 day £30 per class / OR £40 with materials provided

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

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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Equipment you will need for WATERCOLOUR:

• drawing board can be provided for free, please let me know if you would like to borrow one.  
• paper for trying the colours and colour mixing samples and 1-2 watercolour paper Bockingford 140Ilb (300gsm) 11” x 15”/ 22” x 30” Imperial size. 

  Both Rough and NOT paper are good (Hot Press - it is very smooth - its better for botanical illustrations), the other two are better for landscapes.

  OR watercolour paper in metric size 350gsm A3/ A2 (for example Art Discount do their own make of paper, which is pretty good too and much more affordable);

• a range of watercolour brushes, including a mop brush if possible (Julia uses Jackson's squirrel mop brush size 11 or larger, other makes will have different sizing), flat and round synthetic watercolour brushes, large wash brush;
• watercolour paints - Julia loves her St Petersburg White Nights blocks, they are her favourite;
• pencil, eraser;
• kitchen towel;
• masking tape;
• water pot;
• plastic palette or big white plate.

Equipment you will need for ACRYLIC:

• images/ photos you will be using as a reference for term which are above. If you wish, you can save them as JPG files too, by clicking on individual files. Please have them available for each session printed or on a screen;
  
• drawing board, which you can raise or an Art & Craft Workstation/ small easel;
• A3 or larger size (40 x 50cm) canvas or board  – for each session you will need to prime it with an acrylic colour as a starting background colour, please see the notes next to each session;
• paper for trying the colours and colour mixing samples;
• a range of acrylic brushes, including a flat and round synthetic brushes, a large 1 ½ inch or 2 inch brush;
• acrylic paints - Julia will be using System 3 Acrylic and her key colours are White, Black, Cadmium Yellow, Ochre, Crimson, Deep Violet, Phthalo Blue, Ultramarine, Emerald Green, other colours are optional;
• kitchen towel;
• water pot;
• palette or big white plate;
• palette knives, a small wooden wedge, sponge, old cloth/ rug – to be used as painting tools.

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FULL DAY 2 OCT 2026 (FRIDAY 10-15) - A Journey Through Colour in WATERCOLOUR - BEGINNERS are also welcome - Hawk Green Reading Room Marple

Come and explore the wonderful world of colour in watercolour and discover how a few simple colours can create an endless palette of possibilities. We’ll explore the relationships between primary and secondary colours, colour families, and the subtle ways colours can change when they are mixed, layered and placed beside one another.

Through a series of small, enjoyable painting studies, you’ll have the chance to play with colour, experiment with different combinations and put the theory into practice — without the pressure of creating one finished painting.

It’s a lovely opportunity to slow down, experiment and develop a better understanding of what makes colours sing together. Beginners are very welcome, and the day is designed to be friendly and inspiring, whether you’re new to watercolour or simply want to refresh your confidence and see colour in a whole new way.

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FULL DAY 30 OCT 2026 (FRIDAY 10-15) - The Magic of Colour in WATERCOLOUR, BEGINNERS are also welcome - Hawk Green Reading Room Marple

Come and explore the wonderful drama of complementary colours in watercolour! In this exciting session, we’ll play with warm, glowing groups of reds, oranges and yellows, alongside the cooler worlds of blues and violets, discovering what happens when these opposite families meet.

We’ll explore how complementary colours can make each other brighter, bolder and more vibrant when placed side by side, and how mixing them together can create beautiful, deeper, softer and more subdued neutral tones. You’ll discover how to use these relationships to add atmosphere, contrast and richness to your paintings.

Through a series of playful little painting studies, we’ll experiment with different colour combinations, see which ones sing and which ones quietly harmonise, and discover just how much emotion and depth can come from colour alone.

Come and play with colour, experiment without pressure and discover a whole new way of looking at your watercolours. Beginners are very welcome — just bring your curiosity and let the colours do the rest!

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FULL DAY 13 NOV 2026 (FRIDAY 10-15) - Colour Alchemy in ACRYLIC. BEGINNERS are also welcome - Hawk Green Reading Room Marple

Come and discover the alchemy of colour in this playful and practical acrylic painting class. We’ll explore the fascinating world of complementary colour groups and discover how colours can transform, enhance and surprise each other when placed side by side.

Through a series of small painting studies, you’ll put the theory into practice, experimenting with mixing, contrast, harmony, temperature and intensity. It’s a chance to really see colour differently and understand how a few carefully chosen colours can create paintings that feel vibrant, atmospheric and full of life.

Beginners are very welcome, and no previous knowledge of colour theory is needed. Come along, play with paint, experiment without pressure and discover just how exciting colour can be!

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FULL DAY 27 NOV 2026 (FRIDAY 10-15) - A Winter Watercolour Christmas Retreat - Hawk Green Reading Room Marple

Step away from the Christmas bustle and spend a beautiful, unhurried day immersed in watercolour, creativity and winter magic.

Together we’ll paint a serene, snow-covered landscape filled with graceful pines, frosty skies and soft winter light. You’ll discover how to create the delicate textures of snow, atmospheric washes, misty backgrounds and glowing winter skies, while exploring the wonderfully unpredictable qualities of watercolour.

This is more than just a painting workshop — it’s a little Christmas retreat for the soul. A chance to slow down, enjoy the pleasure of creating, experiment with colour and water, and lose yourself in the peaceful world of a snowy landscape.

Whether you’re an experienced painter or simply want to spend a special day doing something creative, you’ll be guided throughout and encouraged to make the painting your own.

Come, settle in, paint, relax and enjoy a little festive indulgence before the Christmas rush begins.

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FULL DAY 11 DEC 2026 (FRIDAY 10-15) - A Cosy Christmas Day in Acrylics - Hawk Green Reading Room Marple

Come along and enjoy a lovely, relaxed day of painting, creativity and Christmas cheer. We’ll create a beautiful winter-inspired acrylic painting, filled with snowy pines, soft winter light and all the cosy magic of the festive season.

Acrylics are wonderfully versatile, so we’ll have fun exploring layers, colour, texture and brushwork to bring our snowy landscape to life. We’ll look at ways to create fluffy snow, atmospheric skies, glowing light and those little details that make a winter scene feel truly magical.

Most of all, this is a day to slow down, switch off and enjoy being creative. No pressure, no rushing — just paint, chat, experiment and see where your imagination takes you. Whether you paint regularly or haven’t picked up a brush for years, you’ll be guided along the way in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

So come and make yourself at home, enjoy a little festive escape and leave with your very own winter painting — and hopefully a warm glow inside too!

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FULL DAY 17 DEC 2026 (THURSDAY 10-15) - Fabulous Festive Creatures - all materials included - Hawk Green Reading Room Marple

Fancy making a Christmas animal with a difference? Come along and create your very own 3D festive creature using card, paint, textures and plenty of imagination. Will it be a cheeky squirrel, a curious fox, a rather grand elephant, a sleepy cat, a lovable dog or a magnificent lion? Or perhaps you have another animal altogether in mind — anything goes!

We’ll be cutting, sticking, painting, adding texture and generally having a jolly good play with materials to create something wonderfully quirky. Your little creatures can then join your Christmas decorations — perched on the tree, tucked into a wreath or festive centrepiece, guarding the front door, or gathered together along the mantelpiece or fireplace. They might even keep watch over your Christmas cards!

It’s playful, creative and a little bit bonkers, and quite different from our usual painting workshops. So come along, make something unexpected, have some festive fun.

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2027

FULL DAY JAN 2027 (FRIDAY 10-15) - Tone and Composition in ACRYLIC - BEGINNERS are also welcome - Hawk Green Reading Room Marple

Beginners will also get to know some of the acrylic materials and equipment, practice to mix a range of tones and to apply basic layers of paint producing a study of crushing waves.

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