Face to Face Courses

Course Dates: 27^th April - 1^st May  2026 (Monday - Friday)

White chalk, ancient hills and sweeping views of valleys are some of the qualities of place which will inspire work. Hidden views are revealed as you climb the steep carved paths and wild flowers and bird song augment the journey. This 5 day course will begin by walking up to the top of the hill from Sullington Church, which is nestled at the bottom of the South Downs outside Storrington. On a clear day you can see the Surrey Hills in one direction and climb alittle further you can see the sea. You will travel light with a range of materials, that will be provided for you, that enable you to make playful mixed media explorations. Everyone will make lots of studies whilst on the hill. These are not plans for paintings but a compilation of things seen, felt, heard. Two days in the landscape will be followed by three days in the studio using this material to start to develop a series of paintings. Back in the studio Emily will demonstrate the many possibilities that paint can offer. She will help with the process of unpacking the potential from the studies and get everyone working on 3 – 4 paintings. You will navigate the path that the paintings may want to take and keep a playful sense of engagement.

Course Dates: 6^th- 8^th May  2026 (Wednesday - Friday)

A 3 day course during which you will ‘construct’ up to three large (A1+) paintings Heavy duty paper, using quick drawings and paintings made from nature through a variety of approaches, as a your visual resource. We will work in an outside space, weather permitting, a nearby wood on the first day. You will gather visual material, working first in black and white, and then progressing to colour. Making a series of quick drawings and paintings on paper, recording interesting forms, light and shadows, perhaps getting in quite close and intimate with the woodland undergrowth rather than recording the overall vista. This accumulated visual information will then be used as the starting materials and basis with which to embark on the larger paintings back at the studio on days 2 and 3.You will use these as both a resource to work from and as materials that may be directly employed as part of your larger paintings in a collage capacity. You will be experimenting with a whole variety of painting processes, including- collage, experimental mark making, glazing, and paint transfer methods.

Course Dates: 8^th- 9^th May 2026 ( Friday - Saturday )

Standing on Truleigh Hill there are the most stunning views of the South Downs and the Adur Valley. You are held by the hill, grounded by the chalk beneath your feet, yet exhilarated by being up high, soaring and floating, feeling the air and wind in your face. If you love being in the landscape and are interested in making work that expressively captures the light, space, air and physicality of being on the South Downs then this course will provide you with the location, materials, inspiration and guidance to help you make exciting work.

Course Dates May 13^th -  15^th  (Wednesday - Friday ) 2026

Choose which sessions in the year you would like to come. Booking ahead is essential to secure your place.

These sessions are designed for artists who need encouragement and support to become more confident and self-motivated with their painting.

Course Dates: 18^th- 19^th May  2026 ( Monday - Tuesday)

Come and walk in the woods when the bluebells are out and the ground is burgeoning with colour and new life. Feel more alive, engage with your natural surroundings, wake up your senses and create! Spend 2 days exploring the nearby woods in this fully immersive, practical and tactile workshop. Drawing with mud, puddle water, leaves and twigs, this will be a very hands on experience!