Summer Schools 2023

Summer School Workshops from 24th July to 4th August

Based in East Dean, East Sussex, UK

The popular Summer School programme of small group, 1 day workshops is spread over 10 weekdays, using a marquee in a private garden in East Dean as a base. Courses offer a variety of subject matters, and are for all abilities. Some groups will be working on location with the marquee as a backup, most will be based in the marquee. As usual, Roz will be demonstrating and providing lots of individual guidance and help.

Please see the bottom of this page for a more information and to register your interest. More specific workshop details sheets will be sent on booking.

Click here to read about previous summer schools…

See below what’s on offer…

1. Under the Tap! Exciting wash-off techniques with inks / watercolour / gouache, any subject

Monday 24th July, 1 Day 10-4.30pm

£65 bring own materials, some materials (extra inks etc), reference and equipment provided.

Come and experiment with wonderful wash-off or ink resist techniques which create semi-abstract and random painting results using waterproof inks – acrylic or Indian – along with watercolour and / or Gouache. Choose from working with landscape / trees / wildlife or botanical imagery for which reference will be supplied and there’ll be some extra inks – and Gouache.

We’ll look at two main methods – waterproof inks used with watercolour provides a wet surface, and the magic is created by playing with letting the inks partly dry and then pouring water to remove some still wet areas – leaving wonderful edges and shapes. Using Gouache with inks to create loose imagery produces a slightly different appearance – the Gouache is washed off after the ink is dry. We’ll be looking at work by Moira Huntly, Liz Chaderton and others. Image, Roz Nathan.

2. Loose, Wild Nature! Painting bees, beetles, butterflies etc, with pen, watercolour, inks, coloured pencils and other mixed media.

Tuesday 25th July, 1 Day 10-4.30pm

£66 bring own materials, extra colourful inks, reference.

A relaxing and very enjoyable day, focusing on painting individual, small subjects such as bees, butterflies, ladybirds and other similar insects or animals – with reference to their presence in the lovely garden and fields around us, but also with the help of photos, collected specimens, books and Roz’s sketchbook examples.....

A microscope and magnifying glasses will be available for investigation into our subjects’ features - but we will be painting loosely to produce not scientific illustrations, just lively, well- observed, colourful sketches and paintings using some interesting tools! We’ll look at work by Kate Osborne (image), Sean Briggs, Sarah Simblet and others.

3. East Dean Village Scene, any media / style – exact location/s tbc eg Churchyard / quiet lanes

Wednesday 26th July, 1 Day 10-4.30pm

£60 bring own materials.

We’ll be drawing or painting around the village in a couple of areas, the exact locations will be confirmed depending on the weather forecast and group preferences when booking.
Working in your own choice of media and style, eg pen and wash / watercolour / mixed media or acrylic (bearing in mind if it’s hot you need to be familiar with acrylic), we’ll find shady / sheltered spots to paint in as needed, loos / shelter will be available nearby. Roz will be providing general guidance including any perspective help as needed, as well as suggesting different approaches and styles with reference to artists such as Ptolemy Dean and John Piper.

Bring painting easels / chairs if you have them, Roz has some available. A light A3 foamboard is great as a drawing board, and don’t forget suitable clothing for all weathers, including waterproofs / hats / sun cream / water etc!

4. Botanical Drawing and Painting, any media – cultivated / wild flowers or seed heads etc

Thursday 27th July, 1 Day 10-4.30pm

£60 bring own materials, chairs / easels available.

We’ll be drawing and painting from a range of cultivated / wild flowers or seedheads from the garden or surrounding private field, working from cut specimens in the marquee or sitting outside in situ as preferred. Choose a sketchbook study style or more developed painting in watercolour, pen, ink and wash, mixed media or any other you’d like - whatever materials you feel reasonably confident in using and would like to practise, Roz can advise on this if needed. She will be giving guidance, demonstrating painting techniques and discussing flower shape and structure if wanted, but this is a plant drawing or painting day, not a botanical illustration course, so we’ll try to observe well but work loosely and creatively! We’ll make reference to artists such as Ann Blockley, Sarah Simblet, Jill Bays and others. Image Roz Nathan

5. Landscape Sketching and Painting, any media – on location in the Severn Sisters National Park.

Friday 28th July, 1 Day 10-4.30pm

£60 bring own materials.

A cliff / downland / estuary / river view in the nearby Birling Gap / Cuckmere area - the exact location will be confirmed depending on weather and group preferences when booking. Car sharing and lifts possible.

Bring whatever materials you feel reasonably confident using, chairs and easels are available if needed. Please bring refreshments and hats / sun cream / water etc. Locations are not too far from shade, shelter, loos and cafés, we’ll retreat to the marquee in East Dean if it rains properly, working with prepared photographic reference - but we aim to be outside if possible. Roz will be offering advice and demos and showing various artists’ examples.

6. Nature Lino Print, small lino print with soft, easy-cut lino – animal, plant, tree or simple landscape....

Monday 31st July, 1 Day 10-4.30pm

£69 materials, equipment, reference supplied.

A creative and fun day working with plenty of supplied reference to make a small, simple (black or coloured) lino print onto an existing, coloured background. Do bring your own collage papers / prints / old paintings for backgrounds if wanted, also any subject reference you might personally prefer to use for inspiration. We’ll be using the easy-cut, soft lino, which is much easier to handle. You’ll be shown different styles and examples of relevant linocuts / ideas for simple but striking designs / how to transfer your drawing easily / using the tools provided to make the marks you want / how to cut safely. The inks are water-based and quick-drying, so you’ll take home several different versions of your finished design – ready to become cards! Image, Tamsin Jolly.

7. Portrait in Soft Pastel, with a model for the afternoon.

Tuesday 1st August, 1 Day 10- 4.30pm with breaks

£69 including £5 model costs - paper and some extra pastels provided.

An enjoyable day exploring pastel for portrait, looking at how the medium can create soft and subtle marks for general skin colours and tones, and light and shade across the head and face. It’s also ideal for suggesting texture of the face and for the volume and linear quality of the hair. Lots of help provided as needed for drawing features and the shape of the head, with examples, reference and books provided. In the p.m. the model could provide reference for just head and shoulders or whole-body practice as wanted. We’ll use coloured paper to work on initially, then explore how using a base layer of watercolour or Gouache on white paper first provides a lovely stable base on which to make pastel marks, the resulting matt but textured surface primes any quality of paper and provides bespoke background colours and tones. We’ll look at the work of Derek Jones, (image), Paul Barton, and others.

8. Beachcombing for the Artist! Come beachcombing and paint your treasures.

Wednesday 2nd August, I or 2 Days, 10-4.30pm - option of 2nd day, Thurs 3rd August.

£65 for 1st Day, £55 for 2nd day. Lifts to beach, lots of extra flotsam and jetsam and some materials and books provided.

At Birling Gap we’ll collect various organic curios with interesting colours, shapes and textures, also bits of non- organic flotsam and jetsam that may need clearing from the beach, which will be equally fascinating and beautiful to draw and paint. We will be based in the marquee after our beachcomb (lifts available), examining our finds and exploring various exciting and creative ways to draw and paint them. You can use a sketchbook or work with whatever paper or medium that you want to experiment with. Roz will demonstrate various mixed media techniques, tools and artists’ approaches, including Keith Brockie, David Sheirer, Carole King and others.

9. Collage and Paint, Wildlife, Landscape or Botanical, using your own collage papers / prints / old paintings if wanted.

Thursday 3rd August, 1 Day, 10-4.30pm

£65 bring own materials, papers and extra materials provided – Gesso, PVA, reference, etc.

In this exciting workshop we’ll glue some coloured / patterned / textured papers of varying weights including old prints or paintings, onto a base of watercolour paper or mountboard. This will build mainly random surfaces across which we’ll then paint, to produce creative, lively, semi-abstract images.

The paper surfaces will provide edges, differences in heights above the base support (relief), and various adjoining textures. Gesso could be used to further develop these elements.
Paint layers can be used to emphasise these which will result in an even more complex surface, and, if wanted, used to add more specific shapes, colours, tones and textures which will relate to your subject. We’ll look at imagery by Joan Fullerton (image) Karen Stamper, Katherine Chang Liu and others......

More information

Just next to the garden is a private, free parking area in a small mown field. There is a dedicated clean private toilet onsite in the private garage. An outside tap provides clean water for filling painting jars, cleaning paint palettes etc. Drinks are provided and there’s a dedicated fridge available - please bring your own lunch or try the village green for the Deli, café or the Tiger – you may need to book for the pub.

Inside the large marquee all 4 sides can open or close individually according to the weather, the marquee is very sturdy, set against the side of the house for shelter / shade and has a new roof. We can also sit in the garden, where there are lots of shady areas beside the marquee or under a gazebo.

Numbers will be limited to allow plenty of room, and for the outside painting days that means Roz can get around to everyone. If we do need more room, we’ll use the cool garden Piggery studio, and both that and the marquee as temporary bases on location days if there’s proper rain....

General Info and guidance for workshops

Chairs / table easels / foamboard can be provided, and a general idea of what to bring for workshops is at the end of these descriptions, with contact, booking and payment details. Roz will advise further with more specific info for each individual workshop when you’ve booked or on enquiry and provide a map for our marquee base, parking area and locations when needed. Generally, bring your usual set of general materials such as jam jars, kitchen towel, clips / masking tape, etc. A piece of Foamboard is useful to bring as a drawing board either in the marquee or on location as it’s stiff but light (black is better outside than white because of glare, but white is fine and easier to get hold of), or any other support you’re used to - Roz can also provide boards if needed, please let her know. An extra cushion will be useful if you feel you need one. Appropriate clothes to keep warm /cool - hats, water, sun cream etc - please over-estimate to make sure you’re comfortable!

Private, free parking is provided in a small mown field right next to our marquee garden, or you can be dropped off. A private toilet with washing facilities is in the garage, where there is also a fridge and coffee facilities with mugs, or you can bring your own. An hour is scheduled for lunch for Roz and the group, but please feel free to continue working earlier if wanted – however, we do strongly recommend a proper break, refreshments, and a stretch of legs!

We could either eat a picnic lunch in the marquee, sit beside it in the shade (or sun if you want!), in the cool Piggery studio in the garden (a few people can work there if they need to be cooler) or please feel free to lunch on the green at the Tiger Inn, the Hiker’s rest Café or the Deli, The Beehive on the Green - you’ll need to book for the Tiger and allow a bit of waiting time in all!

For workshops in the field:

There are some painting chairs and portable easels if wanted, but please bring these if you have them, also best to use a light support such as white / black foamboard.
Clips / rubber bands / water bottle / water container / palette etc.
Hat / sunscreen / sunglasses / water, thin covering layers etc, and all the locations are safe enough to deposit stuff by your chair.

We can be dropped off or go in groups to any nearby car parks. Loos will be not too far away!
Please charge your phones in case you need to contact Roz – presuming we have a signal, if not, data on, she can help with that if needed.
If the weather is showery, we’ll use nearby shelter temporarily, or, if rain properly sets in, work in the marquee, with specific prepared reference.