Expressive Watercolour Landscapes

Explore ways to make expressive landscape paintings using watercolours and experimenting by incorporating other media in this new one-day workshop.

During the workshop students will be shown basic watercolour techniques and how to develop them to express moods and specific ideas inspired by the landscape.

As well as using watercolour paint students will be introduced to the use of gouache, pen and ink and

other graphic media to enhance qualities in their work.

Tutor Pete Clayton will demonstrate how to use basic washes of colour, working from light to dark, but also using other methods of paint application to create expressive effects.

The tutor will provide visual reference material in the form of photographs but students are encouraged to bring their own reference material, if possible, to make their work more personal. A few suggested artists to explore for inspiration ahead of the workshop include

John Singer Sargent, JMW Turner, Angie Lewin, Mark Hearld, Ann Blockley, Eric Ravilious, Mari French, Paul Cox, Sue Howells, David Wiseman. Eva Kalien, Sesshu Toyo, John Cotman and Emily Sutton. You could also explore the work of further artists on the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour website.

Tutor Peter Clayton holds a Fine Art degree and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. Over a 40+ year career he has shown in over 160 solo and group exhibitions and has collaborated widely with artists of various disciplines, undertaken residences, and worked with local authorities, museums, interior designers and publishers. His personal work has encompassed a wide variety of painting and printmaking media. Subject matter has been inspired by the landscape (particularly woodland), architecture and family history. Peter has taught courses in Adult and Further Education at numerous venues for 36 years and has been a tutor at Attenborough Arts Centre for 25 years.

All materials will be provided.

This one-day workshop will begin at 10:30am and ends at 4:30pm, with a break for lunch. Our café will be open or you are welcome to bring your own refreshments.

Participants must be aged 18+.

Please ensure that you agree to our updated Terms & Conditions before booking as courses/workshops are non-refundable in some circumstances.

We aim to make all our sessions as accessible as possible and carers/PAs are very welcome – just remember to book their free place when you book your session. If you'd like to talk to us in advance of booking or attending your sessions to discuss your access needs, our Box Office team is here to help! Email arts-centre@le.ac.uk, pop in or call 0116 252 2455, open 7 days a week.

We have four blue badge parking spaces outside Attenborough Arts Centre, plus double yellow line roadside parking very close to the building for blue badge holders for up to three hours if our parking spaces are occupied.

Free parking for all customers is available after 5pm on weekdays and all day at weekends in the University of Leicester car park next door to Attenborough Arts Centre on Lancaster Road.

The closest public car park for parking at all other times is Victoria Park, 5-10 minutes walk from us (near De Montfort Hall).