In this plein air workshop at Cotswold Lavender, we will be painting the lavender fields in full bloom in acrylic or oil, looking for interesting angles and dynamic designs to create attention grabbing paintings led by tutor  Paul Talbot-Greaves RI.

This workshop will be full of colour, so you will learn how to manage colour contrasts effectively, how to capture light and shade, and how to simplify the subject. The day will be suitable for beginner and intermediate levels with participants ideally having had some basic painting experience. You will leave with your own interpretation of the subject along with the skills and knowledge to tackle similar paintings in your own time.

Paul has been a full-time artist and tutor for the past 30 years, specialising in landscape painting. He is a member of the Royal Institute Of Painters In Watercolours and has won many awards including three times The Artist award at Patchings, The Canson Award, St Cuthberts Mill Award, The Artist Purchase Prize, Chaoshan Watercolour Award, and First Prize at the 2023 Broadway Arts Festival art competition. He regularly writes teaching articles for magazines, has four practical art books published, and has contributed to other books on the subject of painting.

Limited to 15 places

Tickets £110

Tickets go on sale in January and the price includes entry to the lavender fields and parking.

Materials List

If using acrylic paints:

• There are no specific acrylic colours, but as a guide most paintings can be created from cadmium yellow light, yellow ochre, cerulean blue, French ultramarine, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, titanium white and ivory black.
• Brushes: Synthetic types, flat brushes or hog brushes. A small range of varied sizes is best. (can also be used for oil painting)
• Painting Surface: Any preferred surface is fine, such as Winsor Newton Acrylic Paper or similar, Hot pressed watercolour paper, canvas, canvas board or pre-gessoed boards and surfaces.
• Painting Mediums: Matt medium
• Other equipment:  Water pot, palette, Pencil, Eraser, kitchen roll, Drawing board (if painting on paper), cellulose sponge (household moppet type), masking tape, small spray bottle, apron or old shirt, outdoor chair (if sitting to paint), Easel, Waste bag for discarded cleaning materials.

If working with oil paints:

• There are no specific oil colours, but as a guide, most paintings can be created from cadmium yellow light, yellow ochre, cerulean blue, French ultramarine, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, titanium white and ivory black. 
• Brushes: A small range of varied sizes of synthetic or hog brushes (brushes for acrylic are fine to use). A palette knife is useful for mixing and cleaning up.
• Palette: tear off palette or any suitable mixing surface
• Painting Surface: Use any kind of prepared surface for oil such as oil paper, prepared canvas, canvas board, or gessoed wood panels. If preparing your own wood panel, use at least 2 coats of Gesso. If you’re not used to oil, keep the size small (maximum 14 x 11in) and buy ready primed surfaces.
• Painting Mediums: Winsor Newton Liquin medium (only a small bottle is required). No medium required for water soluble oils
• Other equipment: Odourless mineral spirits such as Sansodor or Zest it, or water for water soluble oil. Small dipper or pot. A container with a lid for cleaning such as jam jars or oil painter’s steel colander pot. Kitchen roll or rags. Baby oil (for cleaning brushes and hands). Apron or old shirt. Outdoor chair (if sitting to paint). Easel. Waste bag for discarded cleaning materials.

Paul Talbot-Greaves RI

Cotswold Lavender