I run most of these popular workshops mainly at Langwathby Station Café in Langwathby, near Penrith, Cumbria. A highlight is always Janet’s glorious food which is included in the price – as is seeing the trains going by – which sometimes includes a steam engine!
Alex has over over 25 years’ experience in exhibiting, teaching, tutoring and delivering workshops. She exhibits across the UK, including at the Mall Galleries in London (being selected for the Pastel Society and the Society of Equestrian Artists). Alex has taken part in C-Art (Cumbria’s open studios event) since its inception. The workshops detailed below deliver experienced and friendly tuition, a wealth of creative ideas, superb food, and a beautiful location right next to the Settle-Carlisle line in the “Brief Encounter” station cafe!
Each workshop is standalone – and will take you through a series of techniques, experiments and processes to inform and benefit your own work. Some workshops are for complete beginners, others are for those with more experience. A key focus is helping each individual to gain from new techniques and to get in touch with their own creativity.
“Fabulous! I feel now I have come out of my shell thanks to Alex, who is an inspiration and an encouragement” (Workshop Attendee)
Alex also delivers to and with: Schools, Museums, INSET, Art Clubs, Conference, Nature Reserves, Weddings as well as starting an independent Art Foundation Course.
Contact form at the bottom.
Booking form here
Workshops for Spring/Summer 2018
More added later as dates are booked – please check back, or subscribe to the mailing list.
Tuesday 10th April
Creative Approach to Monoprinting
Langwathby Station Cafe
We will explore a variety of fresh ideas and techniques to using monoprinting.
Learn this subtle, expressive and low technology technique that results in a drawn or painterly feel, combining boldness with delicacy.
It can be combined with pastel or collage or left plain for a more velvety feel.
£75 inclusive of Mezze lunch and refreshments (£8 extra for materials if you are unable to bring your own).
Weds 11th April
Pastels and Mixed Media – Watermillock Art Club
Watermillock Village Hall
Pastels and Mixed Media.
Please make contact with Alex for more information.
Tuesday 17th April
In The Moment Art and Poetry group
Appleby Hub, Appleby in Westmorland CA16 6QR
All Welcome – absolutely no experience necessary. This group is for older people and those with dementia and/or memory problems. Alex has joined forces with Susan Allen of the Wordsworth Trust to lead a cafe-style session; where they will read poetry, and make art. Donations for tea, coffee and cake.
1.30 – 3.30 every THIRD Tuesday of the month.
FREE!! Supported by the Wordsworth Trust.
Saturday April 21st
Creative Approach to Landscape.
Sedbergh Art Society
Contact Alex for more information.
Friday 4th May
Livestock in the Landscape (using Charcoal and Watercolour)
Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Mungridale Village Hall
Not a usual combination – but one that results in expressive and atmospheric paintings. We will look at the work of other artists as well, and work from life in addition to from your own references. We will experiment with these materials to produce dynamic and vibrant works.
(Refundable deposit)
Further details/ booking (essential) from: Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Tuesday 8th – Friday 11th May
Drawing and Painting Horses
Higham Hall
Using tried and tested techniques, draw these beautiful animals. Alex has exhibited at the Society of Equestrian Artists, and for decades has owned and drawn horses. We will be working both in the studio and from life.
See Higham Hall website for more information (FULL – waiting list only)
Saturday 19th May
Colourful Approach to Landscape
Langwathby Station Cafe
We will explore ideas and techniques to explore the landscape and our response to it.
Creative and expressive methods will be demonstrated and taught; showing you colourful ways of responding to the landscape using a mixture of pastel, charcoal, and ink together with paint.
£75 inclusive of Mezze lunch and refreshments (£8 extra for materials if you are unable to bring your own).
Thursday 7th June
Capturing a Sense of Place (Pastels)
Langwathby Station Cafe
We will explore a variety of fresh ideas and techniques to using pastels.
Inventive and expressive methods of working in chalk pastels will be demonstrated and taught; showing you creative ways of approaching this versatile medium.
£75 inclusive of Mezze lunch and refreshments (£8 extra for materials if you are unable to bring your own).
Saturday July 7th
Describing Nature in Pen and Ink
Higham Hall
Stone walls, rugged trees, weathered grasses – describe these in pen and ink. Use a variety of ink drawing techniques to explore ways of representing the moods and texture of Nature.
£75 inclusive of lunch and refreshments (contact Higham Hall to book)
Drawing Essentials Course
Drawing Essentials is a collection of connected yet standalone workshop classes where Alex will be teaching drawing skills – from beginner/starter/returner to improver/wishers. If you think you can’t draw, or that your drawing is “too tight”, or that you want to challenge your drawing, then these workshops have been designed for
you!
Everyone can draw, its a matter of learning, and practise. Drawing is about seeing, then understanding what you see. Then it is about creating that illusion on paper, to communicate what you observed. Alex will guide you through her tried and tested methods that will firstly, teach you how to “see”, and secondly, teach the essential techniques and skills used in drawing.
You can come on any or all of the dates; they will follow on from each other, but each workshop is designed also to be independent of the others. Please make contact if you want further details.
Tuesday July 10th
Wish You Could Draw (You Can!)? Drawing Essentials 1
Langwathby Station Cafe
For the beginner/ returner – Don’t know where to start? Been put off? A friendly, approachable and mindful day to teach you how to see as an artist, and how to put it onto paper. Drawing is good for you and it’s fun!
£75 inclusive of Mezze lunch and refreshments (£8 extra for materials if you are unable to bring your own).
Saturday 28th July
Artists on Art
Talk with opportunity for questions, at the Wordsworth Trust – Dove Cottage
Come and take a close look at some of the watercolour masterpieces in the Wordsworth Trust’s art collection from an artist’s perspective. Contemporary artists Alison Critchlow and Alex Jakob-Whitworth will present their personal favourites, and consider what draws us to these pictures, in an informal and lively conversation.
Offering their own unique insight on these works of art, they will discuss the techniques and materials used to create them as well as the genre of landscape painting. With examples of their own work, Alison and Alex will also consider how this rich history of landscape painting feeds into their own creative process and why artistic practices have changed over the centuries.
£5 – contact the Wordsworth Trust for more details including how to book.
Saturday 4th August
Beginners Pastels in the Landscape
Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Mungridale Village Hall
Capture the beauty of Eycott Hill in pastels. Learn the basics of rendering landscape while experiencing it, before returning to Mungrisedale Village Hall to develop and complete your work.
(Refundable deposit)
Further details/ booking (essential) from: Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Monday 6th August
Loosen Up Your Drawing – Drawing Essentials 2
Langwathby Station Cafe
This workshop will build on basic drawing techniques by helping drawers to develop their skills; for those who feel their drawing is too tight, or that they are good at copying but struggle when working from life. We will explore some different drawing materials and further essential skills such as proportion, interpretive freedom, and your own physical space!
£75 inclusive of Mezze lunch and refreshments (£8 extra for materials if you are unable to bring your own).
Monday 3rd September
Drawing With Confidence – Drawing Essentials 3
Langwathby Station Cafe
Be introduced to new expressive methods of drawing, and discover aspects of drawing which may have eluded you – drawing sight-size, drawing for painting, expressive drawing, mindful drawing and more. Creativity solidly supported by techniques.
£75 inclusive of Mezze lunch and refreshments (£8 extra for materials if you are unable to bring your own).
STOP PRESS!!
Drawing and Painting Fell Ponies (Date TBA)
Old Courthouse, Shap. First week in August.
Drawing for Mindfulness (Date TBA)
Day’s workshop in July/August, six week course commencing September (comprising weekly two hour sessions).
Foundation Course in Art (Details TBA)
12 month modular course, feel free to make contact for further details, or have a look here
This modular course will encompass top quality teaching of drawing and painting, with effective feedback, demonstration, and explanation of skills and techniques. It will including working in a variety of materials, encouraging the develoment of an enquiring mind, and will ensure that students/learners receive a solid grounding in the key elements of Fine Art. The course will include visits, assignments, spectacular locations and will also help you understand Art and your approach to it. Alex and her team (Gavin Pollock, Juliet Whitworth, amongst others) are passionate about teaching skills as well as ideas, and passing on their expertise and helping you develop yours.
Previous Workshop/Course Titles
- Creative Approach to Landscape
- Creative Approach to Still Life
- Collograph in a Day
- Monoprinting Workshop
- Magic of Gouache Resist
- Watercolour for the Rather Scared
- Drawing for the Rather Scared
- From Idea to Painting – how to compose a painting from scratch
- Exploring Oil Pastels
- Creative Approach to Pastels
- Charcoal and Watercolour
- Ink and Inks – exciting approaches
- Freeing Up Your Watercolour
- Freeing Up Your Drawing
- Dark Paper – working from dark to light
- Abstracting from the Landscape – in a Day
- Ink and Wash
- Collage and Mixed Media
- Draw a Horse in a Day
All workshops at Langwathby are £75 which includes arrival refreshments, a superb mezze lunch and sumptuous afternoon tea. Places are limited and booking is essential – please book in advance. Your place is confirmed upon payment.
Workshops elsewhere, with simple refreshments only (tea/coffee/biscuits) are £60 per head.
(Occasional workshops have a materials levy – this is indicated in the text.)
You can find details of Alex’s longer courses at Highham Hall, near Bassenthwaite, Cockermouth: Higham Hall
Please do keep checking on the Facebook page or this page for updates to courses. Facebook is where workshops will first appear. Or let Alex know if you would like to be added to the mailing list. Contact form below.
You can also book Alex to come and deliver her workshops at your art club or school – or anywhere!
Booking Alex to come to your art group/school is £250 plus expenses, per day.
She has an enhanced DBS and full PLI. Previous titles for workshops above. School workshops are usually bespoke. But please don’t hesitate to ask!
alex@charcoalhorse.co.uk charcoalhorse.co.uk
Facebook: Alex Jakob-Whitworth, Artist butterfactory.co.uk