Andrew is a wildlife artist who works in a variety of media, including graphite pencil, coloured pencil, acrylics and pastel. Over a period of more than twenty years he has run art workshops, courses and retreats, passing on his passion for his chosen genre to hundreds of like-minded people.
He is a Life Fellow of the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) and is a keen naturalist and has travelled in both this country and abroad in search of wildlife.
His artwork has also travelled widely, with examples of his art in collections in the UK, Europe, Kenya, Canada, USA and Nepal. His wildlife art has been displayed at many British venues including:
Nature in Art at Gloucester (where he participates in their ‘Artist in Residence’ programme and runs drawing workshops), The Mall Galleries, Christies, Sotheby’s, The Artist and Illustrator’s Show at Olympia, Art Materials Live at the NEC as well as WWT galleries at Slimbridge, Arundel and The London Wetland Centre.
He has also written three books on painting and drawing techniques.
Please visit Andrew's website for further information and to see examples of his work.
If you enjoy painting animals and birds, but struggle with the background/setting for your chosen wildlife subject, then this retreat will give you the help you need to take your wildlife art to the next level.
It can often be daunting, when you find yourself faced with a range of complex textures and patterns. Where do you start and how do you recreate a realistic representation of your subject's surroundings?
Over the three days of this painting retreat Andrew will show you simple techniques using acrylics, that will allow you to produce fully detailed settings, which will enhance your finished paintings.
Andrew will also demonstrate:
- How to work successfully with acrylics.
- How to choose a suitable setting for your subject.
- How to arrange the elements within the painting to create an eye-catching composition.
- How to use light and shade to enhance the shape and form of your subject.
The wonderful grounds at Westcott Barton will provide you with a wealth of ideas for settings, but Andrew will also bring along printed examples of backgrounds that you can choose to work from.
With three painting days, this course will allow you to work at a gentle pace and achieve so much more than you thought possible.
Upon your arrival on the Friday 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 and viewing the immediate grounds whilst getting to know your tutor and fellow students. This will be followed by a group dinner.
Breakfast will be served at 8.30am and students will then gather in the studio at around 9.30am.
Tea coffee and biscuits are freely available to help yourself to during studio sessions.
Lunch will be served at 1pm with afternoon tutorials commencing from 2-5pm, followed by a group dinner at 6.30pm.
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.
- Acrylic
- All abilities welcome.
- A range of acrylic paints (you can bring watercolours if you would prefer, but this medium does not lend itself so well to some of the techniques you will be using).
- A range of brushes. These can be sable or synthetic. A variety of sizes from 0 through to 8.
- A palette (a Stay-Wet palette is best, so your paints will stay fresh for the whole weekend).
- Pencils for your initial drawing.
- Cartridge paper for the initial drawing.
- An eraser.
- Tracing paper, to transfer your drawing to the painting surface.
- Andrew will bring prepared painting panels as well as 600lb weight paper, so everyone can work on whichever surface they prefer.
- 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: £660 per person.
Single occupancy room or shared room (twin or double), but sharing bathroom facilities: £610 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: £440 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.
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