Draw Brighton

21-22 June 2025

This is a friendly, informal, studio-based workshop in which we will look at the fundamentals of constructing a landscape painting in oils. Hester will guide participants to look at colour, light and application of paint, as well as talking about other landscape artists past and present. Hester will give an introductory talk followed by a brief demonstration, before helping everyone find their own individual way to create one painting. You can bring your own landscape photos to work from or you can use the images provided.

Hester Berry is an award-winning Devon-based painter with a particular interest in landscape and the environment. Her work has been exhibited internationally to critical acclaim, and we are delighted to welcome her back to Draw for this one-off special event. If you’d like more details about the course and the required materials please get in touch on info@draw-brighton.co.uk.

What to Expect

This course is ideal for beginners who want to learn how to approach painting landscapes in oils, as well as more experienced painters who are looking to extend their existing knowledge. Hester will be combining demonstrations with plenty of individual support and guidance throughout the two days. The workshop will run from 10am-5pm on with a 1-hour lunch break – you are welcome to bring a packed lunch, or to pop to the nearby Sainsbury’s, or a café on London Road. There will also be extra teabreaks throughout the day.

What you need to bring

Easels, padded & backed chairs, drawing boards and small tables are provided for all students, and materials are included in the cost of the course – including oil paint, solvent, oil painting paper, palettes and palette knives.

Students will need to bring:

  • A choice of photos of landscapes to work from (printouts are fine, but an iPad or phone is often better).
  • Paint brushes, a selection on widths including a ¾” flat/chisel brush, plus one smaller
  • Two or three canvas/board/pieces of oil paper, primed and then prepared with a ground. Between 18×24” or 9 x 12” is ideal. The ground should be a thin coat of brown oil paint (Hester suggests a mixture of yellow ochre, burnt sienna and french ultramarine, or aim for a warm soily/sandy colour), thinned with Zest-it or solvent.
  • Apron & Rags/Kitchen Roll

You will need to take your paintings home with you at the end of the course, so please bear that in mind and bring a box or appropriate carrier.

A full materials list will be emailed to you when you enrol. If you have any questions, please contact info@draw-brighton.co.uk

Getting to the studio

You may arrive at 9:45am onwards. Approach New England House from the New England Street side of the building and walk up to the locked blue double doors next to the sign for the ‘Building Manager’s Office’. Wait to be let in or call the number on the door for entry – the studio is on level 5, Unit 1 South, just knock and walk in. There is parking at London Road car park, Elder Place & Trafalgar St car parks; Brighton station is a 5 minute walk from the studio.

Discounts

The discounted rate is available for anybody on low income, students or Patreon supporters. Sign up to the Draw Patreon from just £3.60 per month to get access to the discount, online life drawing course, live online classes and personal feedback from our tutors. Whether you are a Patreon supporter or not, you can post your drawings on the Draw community Facebook group  HERE  and you are welcome to tag us with @draw_brighton and #drawbrighton on Instagram.

Safety & accessibility

For the wellbeing of everybody at the class please don’t come to the class if you are ill with contagious symptoms. If you have any accessibility needs, please do let us know beforehand and we will do everything we can to make sure you can enjoy the life classes here. The building has a wheelchair ramp at the North side of the New England Street entrance and lifts up to level 5 with gender-neutral toilets & accessible toilets on floors 4 & 6 accessed by lift. Fixative spraying is not allowed in the studio and is done outside; oil paints will be used at this session and we will be using odourless solvent (no turps) throughout the course – our air purifier and good ventilation help control fumes.

We keep the studio a safe environment by providing:

  • Monitored ventilation (aiming for <900ppm CO2)
  • Air purification with HEPA filters
  • Sick pay for our freelance life models
  • If you have covid, flu or bad cold symptoms we ask you not to attend – you will receive a refund as well as our appreciation!

Time: 10:00 → 17:00

TEL:
07805201057

EMAIL:
info@draw-brighton.co.uk

Main Studio: Studio 1 South Level 5, New England House, New England Street, Brighton, UK, BN14GH