Skills for Summer Watercolour Sketching

Watercolour sketching workshop

Sketch books can capture memories of travels or holidays with just a few strokes of the pencil, pen and brush.

If you have handy sketchbook that you’d like the inspiration and skills to fill this summer, this workshop could be for you.

This workshop is great for budding sketchers who want to try their hand at sketching on the move. You’ll first learn some useful methods in the studio, then venture out and about into the beautiful parkland and gardens to sketch.

The workshop also includes a two-course meal in the Terrace Restaurant and Bar, along with arrival tea/coffee/biscuits.

Your teacher: Jason Skill

Jason Skill is a watercolour painter and teacher with more than 30 years of experience inspiring and teaching adults how to paint. Having taught sketching holidays in Italy, Jason knows what drawing and painting methods work best in the field and will be able to help you break down a scene at Swinton Estate. He is skilled in demonstrating and explaining a multitude of methods and approaches to this versatile medium.

Itinerary

9.30 am – Arrive at the Country Club reception where tea, coffee and biscuits will be served.

10.00 am prompt – The course will start in the Spa Garden with Jason Skill.

1.30 pm – A two-course lunch will be served in The Terrace Restaurant and Bar.

2.30 pm – Course to recommence.

4.00 pm – Estimated finishing time.

Followed by optional two-hour spa access add on.

£115 per person (add two hours spa access for £25)
A paintbrush and water colours

What to bring

  • Sketch book: Ideally a small hard-backed sketch book the size of a large jacket pocket. Good quality paper is needed. Please bring more than one if you intend to prolific.
  • Sketching pencils: If you like propelling pencils, a Faber Castel TK 940 is perfect (4b or 6b) and Pentel 0.9 (including replacement 0.9 leads). Otherwise, standard 2b and 4b graphite pencils are fine, plus a pencil sharpener and erasure.
  • Fine liners: Two non-permanent fine liners (for example Edding 150s). These are fun to blend with a brush and water.
  • Brush pen: A brush pen is very handy. Derwent and Pentel make these. This is a nylon brush with a refillable reservoir tube that you fill with water. The brush has a cap to reduce leakage. This type of brush means you do not have to carry a water bottle and water pot.
  • Waterproof paints: A portable watercolour pan set of paints – small enough to hold in your hand is ideal. If you already have a standard set, bring these.
  • For your comfort: Please dress for the weather and ensure you’ll be warm outdoors. A folding seat pad or cushion could provide welcome comfort.
  • To carry everything: A small backpack to carry your kit.

Upcoming dates

Unfortunately, no upcoming dates are currently available.

FAQs

Add two hours spa access for £25
Jason Skill is a watercolour painter and teacher with more than 30 years of experience inspiring and teaching adults how to paint. Having taught sketching holidays in Italy, Jason knows what drawing and painting methods work best in the field and will be able to help you break down a scene at Swinton Estate. He is skilled in demonstrating and explaining a multitude of methods and approaches to this versatile medium.

The event will take place at Swinton Country Club:

Swinton Country Club
Masham
Ripon
North Yorkshire
HG4 4JH
United Kingdom

Swinton Country Club is one of the leading spa destinations in the UK. Situated at the heart of the 20,000-acre Swinton Estate, it draws on the natural elements of light, water and air as well as the landscape of the surrounding Yorkshire Dales.

A fabulously light, airy, contemporary space, designed to reflect the surrounding, natural environment. A place to recharge the body, mind and spirit and restore a sense of ‘grounding’ and calm.

Our standard terms and conditions apply.