Andrea Butler

I feel like I’ve been given the key at long last to something that I know has existed but has been just beyond my reach all this time, the key to a practice that will finally enable me to make work that feels meaningful to me.

Cathy Parker - MASTER CLASS (EMILY ON TOUR)

What makes Emily Ball such a good teacher? All sorts of things but one thing in particular stands out for me: I’ve never come across another teacher who can assess so quickly each person in the class and see clearly where they’re coming from and where they want to go, and decide what will best help them in their progress.

Frances Ross

I have been really inspired and motivated by these courses.  Emily’s approach is fresh and exciting – she’s looking for the extraordinary, the unusual, the individual.   I’m not afraid of making mistakes.  I am learning to see my subject, my drawings and paintings and how they interact and bounce of each other. Every course is jam packed with information on the technical side of painting and drawing, on mind set and on ways to critique your own work and carry it forward.  

Jan Gardner - Colour on Colour

The course allowed me to embrace oils and I found mixing this new medium incredibly enlightening.  The whole process was de-mystified for me.  It was just what I needed and I am so pleased I was brave enough to do it.

Jo Ellis

I find the more I come the more I learn, and I never feel it is repetitious: it always feels fresh and exciting.

Judith Underhill - Simply Still Life

I have been meaning to write and say how enjoyable and engaging the course was. Katie’s teaching style was always encouraging but she didn’t shy away from challenging and stretching when appropriate. The exercises and guidance were a refreshing reminder of ways of looking and the access to examples of other artists’ work – both in books and other course members, really helped me to reflect on my own practice. Thank you for a totally absorbing three days and it has certainly made me look at the “stuff” I surround myself with in a different way – and to resist any moves to declutter!

Juliet Robertson

The tutors are all so generous at sharing their knowledge and seem to have a common aim of helping students find their voice

Karen Stamper

I try to work with Emily at least once a year.  She gives herself so generously and endlessly.  Each time I return desperate to get back into the studio and try to keep the mark-making dynamic and meaningful.

Laurie Fletcher - PAINTING PATTERN

Time stood still and the course was over before I knew it.  A big thank you to Nick Bodimeade for sharing his knowledge and experience with us.  Attending these courses have helped me to find joy in painting and given me tools to further my practice.

Patti Lean - John Skinner Master Class

John’s class was extremely useful and inspirational; I felt exciting progress was definitely made. Thank you to both John and Emily for the message of encouragement; please tell them I’ve put John’s timely injunctions writ large on my studio wall (‘Rule of One!') and look forward to practise practise practise!

Shirley Crowther - Exploring Abstraction

As usual, Nick's course was excellent and very enjoyable, and a treat to have three days of concentrating on artwork!

SUMMER SCHOOL

I need to tell you how successful your teaching course last week was for me. It was an important experience. And I believe has progressed me forward in a long search for a painting language. Not there yet but significantly advanced. And I also need to tell you what a great course it is that you have designed. I know about courses and teaching and designing them. What you did last week was top class and wonderfully thought out and delivered by you and Katie. Flawless. You both made us all feel very relaxed but also ready to run the extra mile too. And thank you for running the extra mile for us especially with your wonderful hospitality. Especially the walnut cake.

John Mackinlay

The course gives me time to just focus on my painting without interruptions from work, teenagers and general life. It's great to be taught by people who have similar ideas that I have about what painting is really about - rather than people who are trained to get you to paint exactly how it looks! It's useful to go over exercises to free up my painting - this reminds me what to do when I am on a downward path! Also I will ALWAYS from now on start painting with a half an hour of warm up mark making. Some of the mark making techniques we were shown I will share with the Art and Design students I work with at college. Really enjoyed it and also working with other people also inspires my own work.

Annie Coxey

I want to revisit all the exercises including the meditation [I went over my notes on the train home] and apply 'the approach' to my work. A greater awareness of marks as specifics will help me to avoid getting too generalised. I also find myself wanting to try out a new calmer painting style with a greater awareness of space too and to think more about mixing colour rather than just slightly altering the tubes. I found it great to be able to achieve intensity through using more acrylic paint mixed with the gel. The idea of words/ metaphor acting as a bridge between bodily experience and painterly interpretation as poetry is one to ponder over indeed. Drawing with my mask on again will be fun and help sustain the heightened awareness that I'm experiencing right now.

Angie Taylor

SUMMER SCHOOL

I can genuinely say my appetite for working up a regular practice is so much greater now I have a structure for it. That’s priceless.

Barbara Wallis

Summer School

Your ability to be emotionally connected at the same time as being deeply practical was what came across most strongly for me - a precious reminder of what painting is all about.

Max Burrows

SURFACE AND THE POSSIBILITIES OF PAINT

We both learnt so much. Julian was so generous and encouraging and really good at guiding us in our different directions, it was a very positive and inspiring experience. Thanks so very very much. We will sing his and Seawhites praises from the rafters

Crimson Boner