This six-week course offers a thoughtful introduction to painting flowers and foliage in watercolour. Suitable for beginners and improvers, it provides a structured yet enjoyable way to build both confidence and understanding.

We begin with simple, fun exercises that explore accessible watercolour techniques for creating floral forms and leaves. These early sessions are designed to loosen the hand, remove hesitation, and help you become familiar with the natural flow, transparency, and layering qualities of the medium.

As the course progresses, we move into more careful study of real flowers and foliage.  Alongside this, you’ll refine your ability to mix colour sensitively, control washes, and preserve light.

Throughout the six weeks, the emphasis is on observation, clarity, and steady skill-building. By the end of the course, you will have created a series of plant studies and gained greater insight into how watercolour can express the delicacy, freshness, and vitality of the natural world.

To register, please scroll to the base of this page and fill out the registration form. An automated email will then be sent to you with details of how to pay. Unfortunately this often ends up in Spam/Junk folders so please check there. Once payment has been made, your place on the course will be reserved.

Materials are not included.

Good paper is requisite — without it, the paint won’t behave properly, and you’ll end up frustrated. Please purchase 100% cotton, cold-pressed watercolour paper (available online or at the art shop in Sidmouth). It will make all the difference to your experience and your results.  If shopping at the art shop in Sidmouth, purchase either Arches or Saunders Waterford paper, and be sure to buy cold-pressed (otherwise known as NOT paper). Cold pressed paper has a textured/rough surface. If the paper is smooth, it’s not cold pressed. You can buy a single sheet and cut it to size.

A list of materials is outlined below.