Adult & Higher Education

Explore the captivating world of watercolour painting with award-winning artist, James Morgan Williams. In this course you will learn to use the fluidity and luminosity of watercolours to bring landscapes to life with depth, emotion and atmosphere. From rolling hills, dense forests and seascapes to the ever-changing beauty of the sky, this course will teach you techniques to capture the beauty of the natural world in your painting. 

Students will develop confidence in free, expressive use of watercolour paint and techniques, and in more precise rendering of pictorial elements in a sharing, friendly and relaxed environment.

You will look at using reference photographs, the dynamics of pictorial composition, colour selection and working with the naturally expressive nature of watercolour. You will learn essential techniques, such as washes, wet-on-wet, dry brush and colour-mixing. 

You will learn how to depict textures and details in foliage, rocks and terrain and how to capture the essence of the sea, from tranquil shores to tumultuous waves. You will be given input and demonstrations from the tutor, before experimenting on your own paintings to create your own unique and personal artwork.

None - this course is suitable for students of all levels. Some experience of drawing and painting will certainly be handy, but is not essential. Students will gain confidence by approaching new challenges and expanding on existing skills and techniques.

Students can prepare by sketching and drawing, watercolour painting and studying other artists for ideas and inspiration.

Your tutor will discuss materials in the first session. Please bring along any water-based art media materials you may already have. In addition you may need:

• Heavyweight watercolour paper
• A selection of watercolours – ‘artist’ or ‘professional’ quality are better and more cost-effective than ‘student’ or ‘Cotman’ colours. Tube watercolours will work better for this course than pan watercolours.
• A range of colours, as often sold as a set, is a great place to start. Below is a list of colours that I use regularly in seascape painting. Those marked with asterisks are highly recommended. Paynes Grey, Titanium White Gouache (gouache is usually sold in tubes and is an opaque watercolour), Antwerp Blue or Prussian Blue, Cobalt Turquoise, Cobalt Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna.
• Brushes are important and a good selection is always useful. I suggest: A couple of small rounds with decent points, a ‘fan blender’ brush designed for use with acrylics (these are stiffer than those designed to be used with watercolour and will be more useful), a mop brush or other large brush capable of getting a lot of water down quickly (a household painting brush will do).
• Other potentially useful items include: Kitchen roll (essential), Something that sprays water (like one of those misting bottles sold in garden centres), a sponge, a hairdryer or heat gun, a pencil, coloured pencils in similar colours to your watercolour paints are useful, as are watercolour pencils.

Techniques and principles explored in the course form a sound basis for painting, regardless of subject matter. Students can progress to further study, exhibiting their work or taking a foundation art course.