Melanie is an artist with many years of teaching experience who loves to encourage everyone to develop their skills and personal style at whatever level. Working with oils, her enthusiasm for the medium is infectious, encouraging students to make the most of this exciting medium. Her positive approach creates a friendly and creative atmosphere wherever she teaches.
She is a regular visitor to art groups around South East England, offering demonstrations and workshops as well as hosting UK-based painting holidays. Melanie has written four art instruction books for Collins and has her own range of artist brushes specifically created for oil and acrylic painters.
Come and join her to discover new ways of interpreting the wonderful Devon landscape and start your own artistic journey.
If you have questions in advance, you are welcome to email Melanie directly using art@melaniecambridge.com, or visit Melanie's website for further information and to see examples of her work.
Melanie will be leading an immersive 3-day painting retreat, where the focus will be helping you learn how to use both sketches and photographs to create finished paintings. The 3 days will be full of demonstrations, help and advice on sketching, colour and composition.
We will spend time sketching within the grounds, as well as on location along the beautiful North Devon Coast, before returning to the studio where Melanie will help you to use your sketches and photographs to create paintings which capture the “essence and atmosphere” of each location.
Melanie has recorded a YouTube video demonstrating how she produced the above painting of the North Devon seascape: click here to view the video (opens in new tab).
Upon your arrival on the Monday afternoon, at around 3pm, you will be greeted by the team at Westcott Barton.
The retreat will begin with a relaxed afternoon, settling into the accommodation before meeting your fellow students and Melanie in the Studio. Enjoy a guided sketching walk with Melanie around the grounds, followed by a group dinner.
Breakfast will be served at 8.30am and students will then gather in the studio at around 9.30am.
On the first two mornings we head out to sketch and gather photographic references at various locations along the North Devon Coast. The afternoons and the final day will be spent in the studio at Westcott with Melanie on hand to help you develop your sketches and ideas into paintings.
Tea coffee and biscuits are freely available to help yourself to during studio sessions.
Evening dinner is at 6.30pm.
Students are welcome to continue working in the studio outside of the designated teaching time.
Departure is on Friday morning. Canvases of the same size can be carried back-to-back in pairs making them easier to take home. Melanie will provide peg clips and bags to enable wet canvases to be taken home safely. Canvas boards are easier to transport in this way, rather than stretched canvases.
Our courses are limited to 12 participants per retreat to ensure your tutor has the ability to provide you with personal advice and support during your time here.
- All demonstrations will be with traditional oils.
- Acrylic painters are also warmly welcomed on this course as they can be used in a manner similar to oils.
- All abilities welcome.
- Traditional oil paints for all participants are included for this course. Low odour painting medium is also included to keep fumes to a minimum.
- Artists are welcome to bring their own oils, water-mixable ones, or acrylics if preferred.
- Please bring up to four canvases. 40x50cm is a good size but please bring your preferred size. Ideally have two the same size so they can be carried home when wet.
- Your favourite brushes, low odour paint thinner, sketchpad and preferred sketching tools (pencils, charcoal etc).
- A pdf document containing full details about recommended paint colours, brushes, grounds and studio sundries will be emailed to you nearer the time of the course.
If you wish to purchase a set of Melanie’s own brushes for this course in advance, you can do so via Melanie's website.
Artists are welcome to paint plain-air (outside) rather than in the studio if they prefer. A pochade box or French box easel is recommended for plein air work.
Studio easels and chairs will be provided.
- Accommodation and meals during your stay, including an evening meal on day of arrival and breakfast on day of departure.
Please click here to view a sample menu (PDF opens in new tab).
Single occupancy in secure room, with own bathroom facilities: £765 per person.
Single occupancy room or shared room (twin or double), but sharing bathroom facilities: £720 per person (minimum booking for two and both must be participating in the retreat).
Non-participating partners sharing a course participant's room are welcome: £450 per person (includes meals) . This option is subject to availability.
We welcome non-residential participants on our retreats/courses - please enquire for further details.
The form can either be printed and completed by hand or filled out on your computer (Adobe PDF reader required). If the latter, please make sure you save the PDF once you have added your details and then email this back to us.
RETREAT BOOKING FORM (PDF) - please right click and save to your computer.
Please refer to our Location page for directions, if coming by car.
We suggest you download what3words and then use Google Maps within the app to provide you with directions to us. Please enter our full address and not just the postcode.
If you are planning to travel by another means of transport please contact us for assistance.