Paul Talbot-Greaves

Watercolours

Paul Talbot-Greaves is a professional English painter who works primarily in watercolour. He says: "I like to seek out compositions employing patterns of light, shade and contrast and I aim to achieve vibrancy in the colours that I use." As well as receiving many accolades for his work, Paul is also an inspiring and sympathetic tutor.

As one of his students said: "You are immaculately prepared, but more than this you understand intuitively how people learn. All this added to the fact that you are an amazing artist makes you an inspirational teacher."

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Keiko Tanabe

Watercolours

Keiko Tanabe was born in Kyoto, Japan but now lives in San Diego, California. Her paintings show stories of everyday life in different corners of the world. Keiko is a much sought-after instructor and has led more than 140 international workshops. She says: "Watercolour painting is a vehicle to communicate my artistic vision on the joy of living and the ingenuity of human creations."

A comment from a previous guest: "Keiko is a fabulous artist and I learned a lot with her. I had a truly wonderful week at the watermill. It was perfect in every sense. The food was worth coming for alone."

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Sandra Strohschein

Watercolours

Sandra Strohschein, from Michigan, USA, has achieved an extraordinary mastery of her medium, transparent watercolours. She works in a fast loose impressionistic style, but above all, she produces passionate, emotionally charged paintings, full of energy. As for her teaching, people frequently tell her about how much fun they have on her workshops and how nobody ever wants them to end. Another painting guest on her course at the mill said: "Watching your demonstrations was such an education and your kind and patient individual help was invaluable."

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Vicki Norman

Oil and other mediums

English painting tutor Vicki Norman specialises in teaching on location. She will teach primarily in oils, but is happy to help with other mediums, too. Vicki has been teaching professionally for more than 20 years and offers plenty of help and individual attention. Vicki's paintings seek to capture the essence of the day and the sense of place through the colour and play of the light. Vicki is also a great teacher.

As one previous student said: "Vicki has a way of explaining complex ideas that makes them simple enough for a beginner to grasp easily, yet she can stretch the advanced painters in the group too."

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Mike Willdridge

Watercolours, gouache and acrylics

Mike Willdridge is an enthusiastic and energetic tutor, often encouraging his students to be bold and to take chances. His classes are always light-hearted and fun, with the 'teaching' tailored to individual needs. He will concentrate on watercolours, but is also happy to help with gouache and acrylics too.

Mike is particularly keen on all forms of drawing as a way of recording and responding to everyday events. He constantly uses a sketchbook and will encourage you to do the same. A comment from a previous guest: "Thank you so much for your wonderful, encouraging tuition during our week at the Watermill. What a precious place it is to be immersed in art... those dramatic mountains were so inspiring and quite took your breath away... You gave us a great week, striking the balance between demonstration and encouragement and helping us to get going."

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Sue Ford

Watercolours, pastels, collage and mixed media plus acrylics

Sue Ford was born in York in England and has experimented with almost every conceivable media in her career. She now a well recognised and admired professional artist and tutor. Sue says: "I just love creating pictures in any medium - and I love passing on what I've learned to other people and to help them release their creativity." One of our guests on Sue's previous painting course at the mill said: "I had a wonderful time. Everything was superb - the accommodation, the trips out and the food! Utterly wonderful. It was an experience that I will treasure. Sue Ford is an exceptional tutor with a lovely manner and treats all with respect and kindness."

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Jude Scott

Watercolours, acrylics and oils

Jude Scott is an artist from Western Australia who has been creating, painting and teaching for many years. She loves watercolours for "their immediacy, unpredictability, translucency, dazzling colours and powerful tones" but she also paints in, and is happy to teach in, acrylics and oils. She says: " I love a new challenge and paint all subjects - faces, florals, boats and landscapes." One of her previous students said: "Jude was truly amazing, great tempo, strong knowledge base, strong interpersonal skills, just the right mix of doing and listening."

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Varvara Neiman

Water-based oils, acrylics and watercolours

Varvara Neiman, who now lives in Buckinghamshire, England, was born into an artistic family in St. Petersburg, Russia, where art and teaching were professions passed on from generation to generation. Her work combines classical discipline with a modern imagination. She is enthusiastic about painting en plein air and passionate about Cezanne's famous quote: "Painting from nature is not copying the object; it is realizing one's sensation..." Varvara likes to create a friendly atmosphere in the group, encouraging students to share their experiences.

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Claire Warner

Watercolours, oils and acrylics

Our inspiring English painting tutor Claire Warner is not only a artist, but also an experienced tutor, having taught all age groups and abilities for more than 20 years. She will demonstrate in watercolours but is happy to help those choosing oils or acrylics as their medium. All levels of artists can benefit from her teaching, and she offers plenty of help and individual attention. Claire says: "My aim is to teach and encourage students gradually to build up knowledge and the confidence to create their own style. I like to tease out their full potential with patience and a sense of fun. I'll demonstrate step by step with explanations, and offer plenty of individual attention whenever needed."

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Maggie Renner Hellmann

'Courageous Color Workshop' in oils, acrylics, pastels and watercolors

Maggie Renner Hellmann is a contemporary California artist who paints with love, passion and energy. Her work is characterized by a unique blend of loose, energetic brushwork and strong compositions of exuberant color. She says: "I love the joy of color and the poetry of brushwork." Maggie is also an enthusiastic tutor who has been teaching for more than 15 years - and loves it! Her workshop will cover oils, acrylics, pastels and watercolor. She will encourage the beginner and challenge the more advanced painter. A comment from one of Maggie's students at The Watermill last year: "Participating in a workshop with Maggie is a delight!  She is one of the rare artists who likes sharing her knowledge nearly as much as she likes to paint. Her demos are a delightful opportunity to be a fly on the wall as she goes through the various steps in the process while simultaneously explaining each step: composition, sketching, laying in the colors, developing a completed painting, and demonstrating and explaining her courageous use of color. Her critiques are equally helpful to the novice and the experienced artist. They are honest, very helpful, and still kind."

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Charles Sluga

Watercolours, acrylics and oils

Australian artist Charles Sluga is a highly respected and sought-after watercolour artist who has gained a reputation for his versatility in both his technique and choice of subject matter. Charles is also skilled in acrylics and oils and is happy to teach in those media, too. He not only teaches technique, but also how to think and see as an artist, which he considers just as important. His friendliness, sense of humour and willingness to impart his knowledge makes his classes relaxed, informal and inspiring. Here's what one previous student had to say: "In addition to being a very talented artist, Charles is an extremely capable and professional teacher: we all benefited from his instruction and guidance during the week." Another commented: "This was the most relaxing holiday I have had for a long time. The accommodation was lovely; the food, both at the watermill and local restaurants, was exceptional."

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Tim Wilmot

Watercolours

Tim Wilmot is an artist from Bristol in the UK, specialising in watercolours, exploiting the medium with tone and light: "I prefer a loose or impressionistic style for my watercolour landscapes. I hope you like their informality." Tim says: "For many years I've taken a sketchbook on my travels and I quickly scribble scenes in a shorthand sort of way. Then returning home, I recreate those memories with paint and brush. Watercolour is also an ideal medium for capturing those quick impressions." A guest on Tim's course last year said: "Thank you for such a lovely week. We really did enjoy ourselves and learnt so much."

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

David Taylor

Watercolours

David Taylor is one of Australia's outstanding watercolour artists and has received international recognition for his services to painting and teaching.

His work is in collections throughout the world and he has been featured countless times in art magazines. An expert in colour and composition, he says of his painting: "It is of high importance for me to say more with less...to discard the inessential...to be simple and poetic not only in the treatment of the subject but in the technical manner of the painting." Some comments from previous guests: "David Taylor is in a class all of his own when it comes to teaching others his techniques." "What a week we all had! Quite fantastic! I congratulate you on creating, certainly for an artist, a paradise."

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Sarah Hazell

Knitting and La Bella Vita

Sarah Hazell is an English knit and crochet designer, and author of several books. She says, "I have a passion for beautiful yarn and textiles and I am endlessly fascinated by colour, pattern and texture."

Here's what one of our guests had to say about last year's course: "Thank you for the invigorating kniting experience last week. The weather cooperated beautifully and the food at the Watermill and the other locations was excellent and varied. It is a plus for you that Sarah will return next May. She is prepared and organized; flexible and patient with attendees of all capabilities with a good sense of humour."

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Debbie Abrahams

Knitting

Debbie Abrahams has been designing and teaching handknitted textiles for more than 20 years, and is a specialist in the field of colour work and beading. Throughout her entire career she has worked alongside renowned handknit company Rowan Yarns, both as a Designer and a Design Consultant for the brand. She has tutored workshops across the UK, Europe and USA. She is best known for her Mystery Blanket and Cushion Clubs which have been become a global success with more than 1,000 knitters from all over the world signed up to her annual projects: "Blanket squares are the perfect vehicle for my designing, giving me the freedom to explore colour, texture and embellishment within a set number of stitches and rows for each block – it’s just pure adventure!"

On her 2019 Watermill course you will be working with Debbie on a specially designed project that will incorporate several different knitting techniques, including intarsia, knitting with beads, surface embroidery and textured stitches. You can find more about Debbie on her website: www.debbieabrahams.com

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Marie Wallin

Knitting and La Bella Vita

Marie Wallin is a renowned knitting and crochet designer with an international following. She is also an enthusiastic, sympathetic and inspirational tutor and her courses at the watermill win universal praise from our guests. As one said of a 2017 course with Marie year: “The best Knitting holiday ever. Great hosts, staff, tutor, locations and fantastic weather. Everything is organised for you so you can just relax and enjoy knitting, doing nothing and great trips out. I would definitely recommend and return to the Watermill.”

Marie was formerly Head Designer for Rowan and over the eight years she enjoyed joined the Rowan team, she built up a global reputation for her beautiful patterns, colourwork and stitch designs. In 2013, she started her own design company, but continues a close relationship with Rowan. She: “I love to put colour together to create interesting fabric designs and to create beautiful knitwear that I hope everyone will love to wear”.

In your week at the mill Marie will bring two fascinating projects for you to knit and/or crochet.

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Langues Services and Francesca La Sala

Italian Language

This exciting language course is suitable for all levels of ability, because of the special approach of the Langues Services language school in Florence. Its philosophy and method are inspired by the work of Professor Bertrand Schwartz of Paris University, the educationalist who overturned the concept of teaching to adults, proposing an approach that develops not only theoretical knowledge but practical know-how as well. Your tutor Francesca La Sala loves meeting people of all ages and cultures. She is also a nature lover and a cognoscente of Lunigiana, the land of her forefathers surrounding the Watermill.

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Jo Parfitt

Write the stories of your life

Jo, a highly experienced writer and teacher, will give you the tools to write the stories of your life in a vivid and engaging way. She'll explain how to find your writer’s ‘voice’, about writing in themes; developing your characters so your readers can 'meet' them, too; and how to let your writing flow, particularly when looking back and writing about things that may have happened a long time ago. Among other things, you'll discover the secret of SPICE, the seven steps to writing life stories and put this into practice right away. There'll also be lots of time for writing exercises and feedback.

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices

Laurence Marks & Maurice Gran

Scriptwriting

To be Confirmed

*Book now to come on this 2019 course at 2018 prices