Description
Venue: Function Room above Appledore Library*, The Quay, Appledore, Devon, EX39 1QS
Time: 9.30am – 12pm
Dates:
- Wednesday 25th February
- Wednesday 4th March
- Wednesday 11th March
- Wednesday 18th March
This 4-week watercolour course is designed for complete beginners to intermediate painters who want to learn watercolour techniques and how to apply them practically in a painting. Colour mixing, composition, and processes for painting realistic lights and darks will also be covered.
Across four relaxed and supportive sessions, you’ll learn how watercolour really works – from controlling water and pigment, to creating vibrant colour mixes, expressive textures, and effective layering.
Each week’s session focuses on a key skill area essential to successful watercolour painting. You’ll start with watercolour foundations and control, learning how to manage washes, edges, and brushwork. From there, we’ll explore colour mixing and colour theory, helping you create harmonious palettes and avoid muddy colours. In week three, the focus shifts to texture, detail, and expressive mark making with practical suggestions for their use in your work. The course concludes with tonal values and layering, bringing everything together so you can plan and complete a more resolved painting with depth and impact.
Sessions run for 2.5 hours, allowing plenty of time for demonstrations, guided practice, individual painting, and supportive group discussion. No prior experience with watercolour is required.
By the end of the course, you’ll have a stronger technical foundation, greater confidence with colour and tone, and a selection of studies you can be proud of, as well as the skills to continue developing your watercolour practice independently. Whether you’re returning to painting after a break or looking to strengthen your fundamentals, this course offers a focused, encouraging way to grow your watercolour skills.
Tea and coffee included!
Please note that my style of painting leans towards realism which is what I will be teaching, however the techniques and skills learnt with me are easily transferable as you develop your own style, from realistic to abstract.
Materials
Please bring a pad of A4 watercolour paper. I find Daler Rowney’s Aquafine is a good budget option for practising on and it also comes in a Jumbo pad. I also like The Langton (cold pressed)., and Bockingford (NOT) is great too. Any lightly textured watercolour paper will be fine though (but not the cheap one from the Works as it’s not great!). Please note, these links are to Amazon but you might find them cheaper elsewhere, or locally. I haven’t checked, but Ryman in Barnstaple might sell watercolour paper, and I’ve heard Ilfracombe Bookshop and Art Supplies is good for art materials.
Small watercolour palettes will be available to use, but please feel free to bring your own set if you have one.
All other materials (brushes, pencils, water jars, kitchen roll etc) will be provided.
Course Schedule
Wednesday 25th February: Watercolour Foundations and Control
Wednesday 4th March: Colour Mixing and Colour Theory
Wednesday 11th March: Texture, Detail and Expressive Mark Making
Wednesday 18th March: Tonal Values and Layering
Gift Vouchers
E-gift vouchers are available – please let me know in the booking notes if you require one.
Single Sessions
I recommend booking all four sessions as we will be building on techniques throughout the course, but if you are unable to attend all four, please contact me to book individual sessions for £30 each.
Parking
There is free roadside parking along the Quay in Appledore (subject to availability), and a Pay and Display Car Park at the end of the Quay (240 metres from the library).
*The function room is accessed via a staircase. Unfortunately there is no lift.
