My Watercolour painting workshops are held in the Cotswolds. Most of the courses take place at the SWELL GALLERY near Stow on the Wold. Set in the stable yard of a Cotswold Manor house it has proved to be a very popular venue with lots of space and good facilities.

A limited number of places are available on each workshop.The course fee includes demonstrations, tuition, refreshments and a lunch with wine.

Details of local accommodation and a map showing the location of Swell Gallery are sent out with your booking confirmation or you can click Here to see it online.

The Workshops have been very successful. I regularly receive letters from students expressing their thanks. Here are some recent comments:

"You are a very good teacher - relaxed, supporting and encouraging …"

"Your demonstrations were excellent, just what I was hoping for. I learned so much in such a short time."

"It was the first time I've been on a day course where I was able to really relax and enjoy my painting without feeling any pressure....."

"I can't thank you enough for your help, enthusiasm and encouragement in trying to bring out the best in all of your students."

"Thank you also for providing such a lovely and delicious lunch......an ideal opportunity to talk to the other students."

Students can comfortably paint indoors or venture out into the lovely gardens that adjoin the house looking out over the Gloucestershire countryside surrounding the village. The course fee includes refreshments throughout the day and a two-course lunch with wine. The courses start at 10.00 each day and work finishes at 4.00. I don't include accommodation with the courses but the Cotswolds offer a wide choice of hotel and B&B accommodation for you to choose from. I include a map and accommodation list with your booking confirmation which may also be found Here .

The Flower Workshops are one or two day courses for those who are familiar with traditional watercolour wash techniques and would like to combine these with new ideas. I will show you, for example, how to use masking fluid appropriately in conjunction with a range of background techniques. Depending upon the subject these might include experimental texture-making methods such as scraping, clingfilm, salt, spattering, inks, 'washing out' and texture making. The emphasis is on the backgrounds and painting flowers and leaves in a loose, expressive style. I will demonstrate the techniques and show them in the context of a painting.

Broadly, subjects are seasonal and may include anything that I can gather from garden, field, hedgerow or even florist! Early in the year these may include spring bulbs such as snowdrops, narcissi, iris and anemones, flowers like pansies, cowslips and all types of blossom - even dandelion clocks and birds' nests. In the autumn subjects will be things like teasels, honesty, hogweed and old man's beard along with berries, nuts, autumn flowers and leaves. On warm days I may demonstrate in the glorious gardens full of clematis, delphiniums, roses, poppies and water lilies. Each session covers different subjects and varied methods of painting them.

Exploring Textures – one or two day courses. Use watercolour and complementary media in experimental ways to paint any subject you like. Explore textures and mark making using sketches, photographs or still-life for reference. Texture making will be the subject of my next book due to be published in May 2007.

On each course I will guide students with their own work and there is normally time to discuss paintings students have brought with them. I will also be discussing and helping you with the planning and thought processes involved in the development of a complete picture. The courses are intended to suit a range of artistic abilities except beginners. You will be encouraged to work at your own level in a non-competitive atmosphere.

These notes are intended as guidelines to the general content of the courses. Many students like to return each year or to attend several courses in one season so Ann varies the content of each course and tries to adjust the exact details of each workshop according to the personal requirements of those attending. The aim is to have an instructive but also pleasurable day out in attractive surroundings.