Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October 2025 (one day class)
Simplify Your Work
Learn how to simplify your landscapes, taking out unnecessary detail and focussing on creating more impact through less input. We'll also look at how painting into light can flatten form, again simplifying the design and using limited colour. We'll look at the American tonalists, as well as current examples of painters who do this beautifully. Starting with a rough collage to break the image down into its simplest shapes, we'll refer to this as we move into paint. Become a master of saying more with less!
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd November 2025 (one day class)
A Play On Proportion
Proportion can be very difficult to master, as it is usually something we try to get very accurate. It’s what we see, therefore what is expected. However some very important artists like Picasso and Dali moved on, disregarding proportion all together. Dismissing proportion can be used to draw attention to something else in the work, for emphasis, or to question. Many painters create very well executed scenes, very safely and done very well, but they can be like wallpaper. In this class we will create compositions where the proportions are ‘all wrong.’ Using collage, drawn line, paint and other drawing materials (and even some of your own old work if you have any) we will see how we can experiment with proportion. This fun class will make you think differently about composition, making you consider proportion in a very different way.
Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th December 2025 (one day class)
Observational Drawing
Whether you draw regularly and want to brush up your skills or you really struggle with the basics, this class is a wonderful way to experience drawing in a supportive and friendly environment. We will concentrate on really looking, slowing down and focusing on proportions. I'll share tips on how to get general proportions right before we get into more specific detail. Although observation will be key, this won't compromise on our attention to mark making and expression as we'll be using soft pencil, charcoal and rubbers to make energetic and dynamic work. The subject matter is your choice (for example portraiture, landscape or still life) as observation is the key.
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th January 2026 (one day class)
Experimental Printmaking
We will be discovering the art of lino cutting by creating a series of unique prints. You will be able to design and create a printable lino cut, which we will then print on our studio press. We can also extend these pieces by combing collage, drawn line and play with colour in your prints to push them further. We will also be experimenting with mono prints on glass, taking one off prints that we can then work into with other methods. So lots of options to experiment and play with!
Sunday 22nd February 2026 (additional one day class)
Painting Without Brushes - Land / Seascapes
Sometimes brushes can restrict us, as they can only offer a certain amount of different marks. In this class we'll be losing the brushes all-together, and instead we will use card, spray, rulers, scrapers, rollers and masking techniques to build up our land/seascapes. This is a very freeing and exciting way of finding new ways to make marks and broadening your language in painting. This is a very popular class that may change the way some of you paint forever!
Saturday 28th February and Sunday 1st March 2026
Painting Without Brushes - Land / Seascapes
Sometimes brushes can restrict us, as they can only offer a certain amount of different marks. In this class we'll be losing the brushes all-together, and instead we will use card, spray, rulers, scrapers, rollers and masking techniques to build up our land/seascapes. This is a very freeing and exciting way of finding new ways to make marks and broadening your language in painting. This is a very popular class that may change the way some of you paint forever!
Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March 2026 (one day class)
Composition and mark making
I have always loved painting scenes where the landscape feels paired down to just its structural elements. Good composition, a limited palette and selective information will be the focus, as well as understanding what to do with small amounts of information. I will guide you through creating a strong but simple scene, finding magic in empty space.
Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April 2026 (one day class)
Introduction to Oil Painting
In this class we will develop and simplify how to paint in oils, as well as how to mix colour. We will look at brushes, thinners and grounds to give you the basics which you can then further in your own practice. Focusing on landscape, I will demonstrate how you can create a mass of life like colours and tones using just six key colours. This is a lesson I learnt from Tim Benson, Royal Academy painter, and these techniques have changed and simplified my approach to colour in painting ever since. It can also be applied to all subject matters including portraiture, so it's a good class for your painting tool belt.
Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st May 2026 (one day class)
Still Life Through Colour
This class aims to take the fear out of colour and colour mixing. We’ll work from a still life so you will be surrounded by your subject, this will give you a different relationship to your subject matter as well as open up different viewpoints, compositions and possibilities. We’ll work with block colour and combine it with simple but sensitive colour mixing to create strong, bold pieces. We will make two paintings in different colour palettes - One in bright colours, one in a mixed palette that I will show you how to mix. We will then cut these up to make a brand-new collage out of your paintings to create a fun and experimental final piece, bringing in a few other coloured drawing materials to tie the whole thing together. Depending on how you want to extend these pieces, you can then make a painting working from your collages to further play with these colour palettes.
Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June 2026 (one day class)
Sculptural Paintings
This class is all about extending past the formal edges of your work. We'll be using thick paint and fresh loose marks to make landscapes, attaching new pieces of heavy card to our work to make dynamic, sculptural paintings that show excitement, expression and the joy of process. This is a playful and experimental class that will teach you about loosening up and creating powerful compositions.
Prices
Classes run from 10 am to 4 pm and cost £55 per day. This includes some materials, tea, coffee and refreshments, as well as a light lunch of home cooked food that we will share in the studio.
A £25 deposit is required for each class. Please remember to book to avoid disappointment as we have limited spaces each month. The non refundable deposit can be paid below or you can get in touch to make a booking.
To book please contact Beth Marsden on [email protected] or 07773173059
Hope to see you there!
Simplify Your Work
Learn how to simplify your landscapes, taking out unnecessary detail and focussing on creating more impact through less input. We'll also look at how painting into light can flatten form, again simplifying the design and using limited colour. We'll look at the American tonalists, as well as current examples of painters who do this beautifully. Starting with a rough collage to break the image down into its simplest shapes, we'll refer to this as we move into paint. Become a master of saying more with less!
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd November 2025 (one day class)
A Play On Proportion
Proportion can be very difficult to master, as it is usually something we try to get very accurate. It’s what we see, therefore what is expected. However some very important artists like Picasso and Dali moved on, disregarding proportion all together. Dismissing proportion can be used to draw attention to something else in the work, for emphasis, or to question. Many painters create very well executed scenes, very safely and done very well, but they can be like wallpaper. In this class we will create compositions where the proportions are ‘all wrong.’ Using collage, drawn line, paint and other drawing materials (and even some of your own old work if you have any) we will see how we can experiment with proportion. This fun class will make you think differently about composition, making you consider proportion in a very different way.
Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th December 2025 (one day class)
Observational Drawing
Whether you draw regularly and want to brush up your skills or you really struggle with the basics, this class is a wonderful way to experience drawing in a supportive and friendly environment. We will concentrate on really looking, slowing down and focusing on proportions. I'll share tips on how to get general proportions right before we get into more specific detail. Although observation will be key, this won't compromise on our attention to mark making and expression as we'll be using soft pencil, charcoal and rubbers to make energetic and dynamic work. The subject matter is your choice (for example portraiture, landscape or still life) as observation is the key.
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th January 2026 (one day class)
Experimental Printmaking
We will be discovering the art of lino cutting by creating a series of unique prints. You will be able to design and create a printable lino cut, which we will then print on our studio press. We can also extend these pieces by combing collage, drawn line and play with colour in your prints to push them further. We will also be experimenting with mono prints on glass, taking one off prints that we can then work into with other methods. So lots of options to experiment and play with!
Sunday 22nd February 2026 (additional one day class)
Painting Without Brushes - Land / Seascapes
Sometimes brushes can restrict us, as they can only offer a certain amount of different marks. In this class we'll be losing the brushes all-together, and instead we will use card, spray, rulers, scrapers, rollers and masking techniques to build up our land/seascapes. This is a very freeing and exciting way of finding new ways to make marks and broadening your language in painting. This is a very popular class that may change the way some of you paint forever!
Saturday 28th February and Sunday 1st March 2026
Painting Without Brushes - Land / Seascapes
Sometimes brushes can restrict us, as they can only offer a certain amount of different marks. In this class we'll be losing the brushes all-together, and instead we will use card, spray, rulers, scrapers, rollers and masking techniques to build up our land/seascapes. This is a very freeing and exciting way of finding new ways to make marks and broadening your language in painting. This is a very popular class that may change the way some of you paint forever!
Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March 2026 (one day class)
Composition and mark making
I have always loved painting scenes where the landscape feels paired down to just its structural elements. Good composition, a limited palette and selective information will be the focus, as well as understanding what to do with small amounts of information. I will guide you through creating a strong but simple scene, finding magic in empty space.
Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April 2026 (one day class)
Introduction to Oil Painting
In this class we will develop and simplify how to paint in oils, as well as how to mix colour. We will look at brushes, thinners and grounds to give you the basics which you can then further in your own practice. Focusing on landscape, I will demonstrate how you can create a mass of life like colours and tones using just six key colours. This is a lesson I learnt from Tim Benson, Royal Academy painter, and these techniques have changed and simplified my approach to colour in painting ever since. It can also be applied to all subject matters including portraiture, so it's a good class for your painting tool belt.
Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st May 2026 (one day class)
Still Life Through Colour
This class aims to take the fear out of colour and colour mixing. We’ll work from a still life so you will be surrounded by your subject, this will give you a different relationship to your subject matter as well as open up different viewpoints, compositions and possibilities. We’ll work with block colour and combine it with simple but sensitive colour mixing to create strong, bold pieces. We will make two paintings in different colour palettes - One in bright colours, one in a mixed palette that I will show you how to mix. We will then cut these up to make a brand-new collage out of your paintings to create a fun and experimental final piece, bringing in a few other coloured drawing materials to tie the whole thing together. Depending on how you want to extend these pieces, you can then make a painting working from your collages to further play with these colour palettes.
Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June 2026 (one day class)
Sculptural Paintings
This class is all about extending past the formal edges of your work. We'll be using thick paint and fresh loose marks to make landscapes, attaching new pieces of heavy card to our work to make dynamic, sculptural paintings that show excitement, expression and the joy of process. This is a playful and experimental class that will teach you about loosening up and creating powerful compositions.
Prices
Classes run from 10 am to 4 pm and cost £55 per day. This includes some materials, tea, coffee and refreshments, as well as a light lunch of home cooked food that we will share in the studio.
A £25 deposit is required for each class. Please remember to book to avoid disappointment as we have limited spaces each month. The non refundable deposit can be paid below or you can get in touch to make a booking.
To book please contact Beth Marsden on [email protected] or 07773173059
Hope to see you there!
