Art Class Bookings & Events
Watercolour Studio – Picture making now. with Gail Astbury @ Soanes Garden Room
Course Overview 5 sessions 10am- 12.30pm or 1pm-3.30pm
Tuesday April 21st –Wednesday 20th May 2026
Full course - £100 or £25 per individually booked session
In this 5-week term, we will be delving a little deeper into the techniques and concerns of our contemporaries. There are a host of great painting shows in London this year so there is lots to unpack. I thought that we would start where we left off in Hyde Park to see the new works by Cecily Brown : ‘Picture Making’Serpentine South Gallery 27 March – 6 September 2026.
Then head over to Tate Britain for first solo exhibition of Hurvin Anderson beautifully crafted paintings. For the last session I thought we could look at the lovely prints by Marthe Armitage that are closer to home in the Manor.
Wk 1 & 2 Tuesday 21st and 28th April
Wk. 3 & 4 Tuesday 5th & 12th May
Wk 5 - Wednesday 20th May
Cecily Brown b1969
Cecily has a unique quality of being both contemporary and ancient in her exploration of multi figure compositions. The exhibition looks to Brown’s early memories of the English landscape, her fascination with children’s book illustrations, and the darker undercurrents of cautionary tales.
Wk1 How can we work from old master paintings and other visual inputs? Cecily starts her painting process with drawing from these select sources. We will explore some of these sources with rigger brushed outlines and wash.
Wk2 We will continue to develop the theme of figures within in a landscape using more open ended and expressive brushwork
Hurvin Anderson b 1965
As opposed to arts of the past, photography plays a larger part in Anderson’s picture making process. His paintings depict places where memory and observation converge
Wk. 3 Hurvin often paints on paper with a variety of techniques. We will try some of these out
Wk. 4 working from your own photographs of the people and places that have stayed in your long-term memory to create a painted version of your own culture and history.
Marthe Armitage b 1932 After attending Chelsea art school, Marthe didn’t begin her main creative output until her children grew up. She spent 2 years in India with her husband who was designing a hospital and it was whilst there that she became fascinated with the intricacies and craft of printmaking. I will be visiting the exhibition on Sunday 17th May from 10amwhich all are welcome to join me. Bookings can be made as a resident with id or there is a 50% discount with an Art fund pass.
Wk. 5 The exhibition traces Marthe’s pattern making process from drawings through to the finished pieces. I thought that we could go out into the garden weather permitting to make our own drawings and designs.
Materials to bring:
Supplied:
Drawing boards
Paper
Waterpots
Masking tape
What you need to bring:
Watercolours
Brushes
Courses take place at:
Soane’s Garden Room,
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery,
Ealing Green,
London,
W5 5EQ
For information on previous classes click here
FAQs
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I have space for up to 18 students at each session. Let me know if you want to be informed about openings from cancellations.
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Yes if you contact me beforehand to ensure availability and pay on the door. However, availability is often not guaranteed so booking in advance is recommended.
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Yes so long as you have made an arrangement to ensure there is space available. To guarantee your spot I would recommend booking prior to all classes.
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We must use water based materials due to the nature of the venue facilities used. Oils and other materials will not be allowed on the premises.
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Yes, there will be the opportunity to feedback about the facilities to fine tune things for the autumn term. If you have any recommendations in the meantime please post them below.
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Cancellations for drop-in bookings made 7 days or more in advance are eligible for a 50% refund.
Cancellations with less than 7 days’ notice are non-refundable, as it’s unlikely we can fill your spot on short notice.
If you're cancelling your full course up to 14 days before the first session a full refund is available or you may wish to carry it to the next turn, please reach out so we can discuss the best way forward.
Thank you.