2-Day Rye weekend-retreat: coming soon (dates tbc)
2 Days of En Plein Air landscape painting
inspired by Rye and surrounding areas, East Sussex
Price: £260 per person
Please join me for this exciting 2-Day landscape painting workshop, in the surrounding areas of Rye, East Sussex. I’ll be taking you to 2 different locations in which to paint over the weekend.
Rye is a charming village in which to stay and there are many diverse landscapes surrounding it in which we can paint landscapes or seascapes. In this workshop, I’ll be taking you to places to paint en plein air or to sketch and I will be on hand to give demos, guide your paintings and offer advice.
We’ll also have a painting studio at hand should the weather turn and as a place to finish off our paintings.
Oils or acrylics/inks are recommended.
When: Tbc Where: Rye, East Sussex Times: 10am - 4pm each day
Price: £TBC per person (excluding transport and accommodation - see below)
The Historic Cinque Port Village of Rye
You’ll be staying in or near the charming village of Rye in East Sussex. Accommodation is not included and you’ll need to book your own place to stay separately. Rye is located on a hill overlooking the coastline. It's known for its charming half-timbered buildings, particularly on Mermaid Street, which is a popular tourist attraction. The high street is filled with characterful shops, cafes and restaurants. Nearby is the Rye Nature Reserve and Rye Harbour. Parking can be difficult at this village so be sure to ask about it when booking. Other places to stay at nearby include Winchelsea, Playden, Iden and Camber Sands.
Inspirational locations in which to paint
There is much to choose from near Rye, from rolling Kent or East Sussex countryside to the flat, stream-filled marshes, to the wide sand dunes along the coast, the eerie stillness of Dungeness or diverse nature reserves and forests. We’ll be meeting at 2 different locations to paint. We’ll also have a venue arranged in which we can paint inside - just in case the weather is unstable and we have to dive inside to paint. Please bring your “go with the flow” spirit, a car and a smile!
Meet & Greet: The evening before
We’ll meet in the foyer of the George Hotel in Rye for a drink and to say hello. I’ll discuss the plan for the next 2 days and I will give directions for the locations
Painting on location: En Plein Air
Exactly what and where we’ll be painting will be confirmed nearer the time, but it will likely be 2 of these 4 scenarios (feel free to request a preference):
1: Boats & nature reserve
On one of the painting days, we might be painting a coastal scene of fishing boats. Options include Rye Harbour, Rye moorings, Rye Nature Reserve, Iden or Hastings
2: Countryside
On another painting day, we’ll be painting inland, either at a farm, a vineyard or a river with a bridge. Think rolling fields, sheep, trees, streams, marshes or vines
3 Dungeness
We could explore the renowned area of Dungeness where the (now defunct) old nuclear power station is. The area has an eerie desolate stillness about it with decaying boats and unused railway lines and dotted with old houses and shacks. It’s also where you’ll find Prospect house - the previous home of artist and film-maker Derek Jarman.
4 Seascapes/beaches
We might explore the beaches of either Camber Sands or Pett Level, taking in the sand dunes, the sea or the cliffs
What to bring:
As we’ll be out exploring during this mini-retreat, a car is useful. Car sharing or taxi’s can be arranged if not. Please bring all your own plein air painting equipment such as tripod, easels, brushes, paints, solvents and sketchbooks. Small painting panels will be provided. Please remember to bring suitable clothing especially for all weather conditions and aprons. Don’t worry if you are lacking any outdoor equipment or are travelling from abroad or further afield, please let me know and I can assist by providing what you need. It’s also fine if you simply want to bring some sketchbooks along, you don’t have to have professional kit.
For in the studio painting, table easels and drawing boards will be provided as well as small painting panels.
Suitable for those who have some experience in painting and wish to develop their skills further or paint in new locations.
What’s included:
This weekend retreat includes group en plein air painting opportunities, guided tuition and a demonstration by Heidi Laughton , meet & greet drinks for the first evening, x2 lunches, painting panels, table easels and drawing boards for in the studio, and studio hire where necessary.
What’s not included:
This retreat price does not include transport or overnight accommodation. Please book your own place to stay. Breakfast and dinners are also not included.
I hope you can make it. It’s going to be a lot of fun!!
Terms & Conditions/ Cancellation of a workshop
If Heidi Laughton Art needs to cancel a workshop for any reason, we will endeavour to change the date to another suitable date for everyone who has booked. If this is not possible, a full refund will be made.
For participants, if you need to cancel your booking, we’ll aim to exchange your workshop for another date wherever possible or offer you a credit for a future course. If we are unable to do this and you are still unable to attend, please give us notice as soon as possible.
If we receive notice within a month of the course date, no refund can be given unfortunately.
If you are able to give notice more than 4 weeks of the course date, we will refund 50% of the course.
Notice given in advance of two months of the course, will be given a full refund. Thank you for your understanding