We are looking forward very much to welcoming back our inspiring watercolour tutor Tim Wilmot, who, at last, will be with us for a week starting next Saturday. I thought it might be fun, just as a teaser, to show you some of the paintings that Tim has produced at the Watermill and on location around here in recent visits. I also thought it might just possibly engender a last-minute Continue Reading
Arrivederci and thank you
Here are the members of Brienne Brown’s watercolour week raising their glasses in the Watermill studio to celebrate a week of convivial company and inspiring teaching. We thank them all for braving the bureaucracy to enjoy a week of freedom in the secluded peace of the Watermill and to savour the beauty of the surrounding countryside. They certainly seemed to enjoy their week. Among the Continue Reading
Is that my bedroom? Memories of Watermill painting courses
When Brienne Brown published this painting of the Watermill courtyard on her Facebook page, a number of respondents asked: “Is that my room?” The painting brought back fond memories of their stay with us and, as Brienne says: “All the rooms are fantastic. It’s magical here.” We still have a few bedrooms available for the last three of our painting courses this year, and for our unique Italian Continue Reading
How our Watermill painting tutors look differently at the same location
I don’t know about you, but I am always intrigued on how our Watermill painting tutors choose different viewpoints and different styles when we go out on location during a Watermill week. Yesterday Brienne Brown and her group went to the castle and ancient village of Verrucola, a few miles from the Watermill, and the striking and colourful watercolour above is Brienne’s first take on the Continue Reading
Ready for the off!
The students on this week’s watercolour painting course with Brienne Brown worked in and around the Watermill yesterday, as Brienne explained and demonstrated some of the finer points of watercolour theory and technique. Here she is ready for the off! Ken Brown took the pictures. Today we are off to the nearby mediaeval castle of Verrucola to enjoy our first plein air painting Continue Reading
Take advantage of easing travel rules and escape to a Watermill creative course
. It is getting easier by the minute to travel from the UK to Italy as the British government eases the regulations: as from 4 October there will be no need for our vaccinated guests returning to the UK to have a pre-Covid test, nor an expensive PCR test in the UK on Day Two of their return. Although we have managed very well in organising inexpensive pre-departure tests for our guests at Continue Reading
Tim will help you to paint your own Watermill masterpieces
I don’t know about you, but I am fascinated watching our Watermill tutors at work and seeing wonderful paintings emerge, almost like magic. from a blank sheet of paper. Paintings like Tim Wilmot’s evocative interpretation of the inside of our 19th century mill above, complete with ancient millstones, grain hoppers, and exposed chestnut roof beams. Tim painted this during one of his online Continue Reading
Spare our self-deprecating British blushes, but that’s what I call a testimonial!
We Brits become a little embarrassed with fulsome praise, so we went a little pink around the ears reading Kristina Fransson’s comments on Tripadvisor about her painting holiday with us last week. But we are secretly very pleased, of course. Kristina, from Sweden, was on Mike Willdridge’s watercolour course.She says: “A taste of paradise. Everything was great! I can describe it as a real paradise Continue Reading
A generous gesture
When Kaoutar Okbani, our effervescent waitress/housekeeper, admired the painting above by Watermill guest Mike Meyer, he had no hesitation in making a gift of it to her. A very generous gesture by Mike and one much appreciated by Kaoutar and the rest of the Watermill team. Thank you very much indeed, Mike. It was another example of the warm atmosphere we enjoyed during Mike Willdridge’s Continue Reading
The great watermill paint off! Or something similar…
We have never before had two Watermill painting tutors here at the same time, but due to the contingencies of Covid, Randy Hale stayed on for a few days after his course at the end of last month, while Mike Willdridge arrived a few days early for his course at the beginning of September. It is always fascinating to see how different painters treat the same subject, so Lois persuaded them one Continue Reading