Past Events
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Butterflies and Odilon Redon
Saturday 15th May
11.45am to 3.45pm
An online workshop for Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead
Odilon Redon is best known for his imaginative symbolist paintings but he also developed a keen interest in natural forms and life revealed by the microscope encouraged by his friend the Botanist Armand Clavaud. Butterflies were included in several mythological paintings and also fluttering amongst his vases of flowers. However his singular imagination led to the creation of works including fictional flowers and butterflies as well as those we would recognise.
Inspired by Redon we will create paintings including butterflies which we may treat loosely or in a more detailed way using watercolour, pencil and/or pastel. A mixed media approach is totally in keeping with the artist’s later works. To find some relevant reference look out for butterfly illustrations and for Redon simply Google “Redon butterflies” or go to Jo’s Pinterest board;
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/jhall1282/butterflies-in-art/
For tickets and materials information visit the Norden Farm Box Office at
Into the Garden: Watercolour and coloured pencil
Wednesdays 12th May to 16th June
No session 2nd June
11.30am to 3.00pm
An online course for Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead
This course explores painting and drawing five different gardens; an exotic garden with aloes and cacti; a formal garden; a garden with a gazebo or summer-house; an allotment or cottage garden and a garden with a water feature (fountain, pond or lake).
Using watercolour as the main medium we will experiment with with using coloured pencil for adding texture and additional drawing elements.You will need watercolours and a handful of any coloured pencils. This course will explore some coloured pencil techniques.
Some photo reference will be sent in advance of each session but you are welcome to use your own.
Tickets are available from the Norden Farm Box Office at
Starting with Pastel
Wednesdays 14th April to 5th May
11.30am to 3.00pm
A short course of four sessions to be held online for Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF
This will be suitable for anyone starting with pastel or wanting to refresh their practice of basic techniques for soft (chalk) pastel. The variety of soft pastels and surfaces suitable for pastels will be explained. We will explore mark making, overlaying, hatching, blending, dry wash, broken colour and also the use of light, mid-toned and dark papers, fixative sprays and storage of works.
Tickets available from the Box Office at www.nordenfarm.org
Watery Reflections: a watercolour workshop
Saturday 13th March
Carpets, Kasbahs, Domes and Desert: POSTPONED
Thursday 5th March
Sadly this event has been postponed due to Covid restrictions
10:00 – 4:00
At Micklems Farm, Knowl Hill RG10 9YD
Jo’s watercolour workshop explores the colours of Morocco that left a lasting impression on her. We will reference the works of Paul Klee, and August Macke, derived from their famous journey to Tunisia with Louis Moilliet in 1914, simplifying shapes, and experimenting with loose grids of colour.
Please bring your own watercolours, brushes and paper, a sketchbook for working out ideas and if you would like to bring your own, a reference from North Africa.
Book your place at:
Buildings in the Landscape; course
24th February to 31st March
Structures in the landscape often owe their existence to the land they are built on, whether to protect the terrain, to farm it or simply occupy it. In the same way it is good to consider the contours of the landscape before embarking on a painting inspired by man-made structures. Over six weeks we will draw and paint some of the following; a bridge, viaduct, stone wall or cairn, a derelict or deserted house, a castle, mine buildings, or fishing hut or barn. This course will include drawing, mark making and painting.
Suitable materials would be any drawing media (ink, charcoal, graphite) and for painting, watercolour or pastel. For texture have some candle wax or a couple of wax crayons or oil pastels to hand for use as a resist with wet media.
Please book your place at www.nordenfarm.org
or by phone Tel. 01628 788997
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Altwood Road, Maidenhead SL6 4PF
Imagine like Chagall
12th December
11.30am to 3.30pm
at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF
Reference the works of Chagall to make a dream like fantasy in watercolour and/or pastel, inspired by memories of a familiar place or event, or choose to make your own version of a Chagall painting. Please bring your own materials: sketch book to work out ideas, pastels and/or watercolours, watercolour paper and/or pastel paper. An information list will be available.
Book your place at the Norden farm box Office: Tel. 01628 788997 or online at
Paint a Topiary Garden in Watercolour
Saturday 14th November
11.30am to 3.30pm
at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF
Topiary gardens are often a wonderful mix of organic and geometric forms, providing a great opportunity to depict forms tonally and also for mixing green hues. In addition to watercolour we may add texture with a few coloured pencils, ink or oil pastel. Please bring your own materials and reference of a garden you would like to paint. An information list will be available from Norden Farm.
Book your place at the Norden Farm Box Office: Tel. 01628 788997 or online at
Six Artists: very different Flowers
4th November to 9th December
Wednesdays 11.30am to 3.00pm
at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts Maidenhead
This six week course in watercolour and/or pastel explores floral works by a very different artist each week and you are invited to create your own version of one of their works or your own composition, but in the spirit of the artist. Live flowers or photographic reference will be available. The chosen artists are; Manet, Odile Redon, Van Gogh, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Emil Nolde, and Georgia O’Keefe
Please bring your own materials; information sheet available from Norden Farm.
Places may be booked at the Norden Farm Box Office: Tel. 01628 788997 or online at
The Power of Colour
Wednesdays 16th September to 21st October
11.30 am to 3.00pm
A six week course to be held at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts Maidenhead, SL6 4PF
Working in watercolour and/or pastel we explore the impact of colour and a little about colour interactions. Starting with red we will build compositions with red as the main player, finding the properties of the red pigments you have in your paint box and working only with reds, black and white perhaps with hints of orange and purple. The following week we will explore red with its complementary colour green. By working in the same way with yellow and blue pigments you will gain a better understanding of the colours you have and how tiny accents of certain colours or small areas of very contrasting tones can punch way above their size in a composition.
Reference to include works by: Matisse, Van Gogh, Picasso, Josef Albers, Bernard Cathelin, Patrick Heron
Please bring your own materials; information sheet available from Norden Farm.
Please book at the Box Office: Tel. 01628 788997 or online at
CAMAT Cookham and Maidenhead Arts Trail
Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September
The Cookham and Maidenhead Arts Trail is now in its 7th year and provides a unique opportunity for the public to meet artists in their studios and exhibition spaces. For information on all the local artists taking part, map and the group show at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts go to
All artist venues will be open 10.00 am till 5.00pm except Norden Farm. Opening times for the group exhibition can be found at
On the trail you will find painters, sculptors and artists working in glass, ceramics, textiles and jewellery.
CAMAT Group Exhibition at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead
9th to 19th September
The Artists of this year’s Cookham and Maidenhead Arts Trail will be showcasing their work at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in a group exhibition. Jo is proud to be taking part in this show alongside some of Maidenhead and Cookham’s most talented artists. For gallery opening times please visit
For the arts trail information visit
Castle and Countryside 2020 A Painting Holiday in Italy
Wednesday 13th May to Wednesday 20th May
Jo is again visiting Emilia Romagna to tutor a painting holiday.
Bring your watercolours and sketching materials to paint and draw in the beautiful countryside in and around the picturesque town of Bardi with its medieval fortress on a spur of red jasper towering over the Ceno Valley. In May the Casa Bezzia studio at Pietracervara opens out on to a meadow of wild flowers overlooking the River Ceno, with a backdrop of the Parma Apennines. Our itinerary will include Bardi’s colourful market day and castle, delightful river locations, and a cheese factory in this area renowned for Parma cheese and ham. There will be plenty of time to draw and paint both in the vicinity immediate to the studio and at each location we visit.
Price £950.00 includes tuition, accommodation, meals, excursions and airport transfers. For information on accommodation visit www.bbpietracervara.it The holiday will soon be published on the Casa Bezzia site www.casabezzia.com from where you can contact Sylvia Bell for more details about the venue.
Do contact Jo at E-mail: johall@mhstudios.co.uk with expressions of interest and/or enquiries about tuition and materials.
Paint a Decorative Cup and Saucer in Watercolour
Saturday 4th April
Workshop 10.00am to 3.00pm at
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts Maidenhead, Altwood Road SL6 4PF
Make a watercolour painting of your favorite decorative cup and saucer, and finish the painting with imitation gold watercolour. Decorative cups and saucers will also be supplied for the workshop. Please bring your own materials and equipment.
For booking and detailed information on materials please visit:
www.nordenfarm.org or Tel.01628 788997
Watercolour Mediums
Saturday 7th March
Workshop 10.00am to 3.00pm at
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts Maidenhead, Altwood Road SL6 4PF
Create a still life or waterfall painting using watercolour with Aqua Shine (pearlescent effects)and/or Aqua Modelling Paste (textural effects). These mediums will be supplied by the tutor at a small cost. Please bring two small lidded jars (individual jam pots ideal) and watercolour paints and equipment.
For booking and detailed information on materials please visit
www.nordenfarm.org or Tel.01628 788997
Grisaille and Glazing Techniques: watercolour and acrylic
3rd March to 2nd April
Six week course on Tuesdays 10.00am to 1.00pm at
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts Maidenhead, Altwood Road SL6 4PF
This course explores different ways of drawing and painting tonally followed by adding colour in transparent glazes over the surface. Grisaille or working in monochrome has been used historically as a way of working in its own right in the production of “Tromp l’Oeil” works that look like sculptural forms or low relief. Grisaille was also used as a base for adding glazes of colour to depict delicate flesh tones and the sheen on fabrics etc.
For booking and detailed information on materials please visit
www.nordenfarm.org or Tel.01628 788997
White Ink on Black Paper with Glazes of Watercolour
Saturday 8th February
Workshop 10.00am to 3.00pm at
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts Maidenhead, Altwood Road SL6 4PF
Make a drawing in white ink on black paper from imagination or reference provided or bring your own. Castles or moonlit landscapes or natural forms would make dramatic subjects. White waterproof ink or suitable pens and black paper available from the tutor at cost. Please bring your own watercolours, pens and brushes etc. as in the detailed information on the Norden Farm web site.
For information and booking visit www.nordenfarm.org or Tel.01628 788997
Pastel, a Mixed Media Approach
14th January to 25th February, no class on 11th February
Short course 6 Tuesdays 10.00am to 1.00pm at
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts Maidenhead, Altwood Road SL6 4PF
Use soft pastel to paint a winter landscape, still life subjects and fish using a mixed media approach. Techniques will include layering pastel with matte acrylic medium and using pastel over a monoprint base, a technique used by Degas and also using metallic, iridescent and oil pastel with soft pastel.
Students to bring pastels and equipment as in the information on the Norden Farm web site.
Tutor to provide more specialist materials for fee not exceeding £7.00
For more information and booking visit www.nordenfarm.org or Tel.01628 788997
Create a Dragon or Fish in Black Ink and imitation Gold Watercolour or Ink
Saturday 11th January
Workshop 10.00am to 3.00pm
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts Maidenhead, Altwood Road SL6 4PF
In this workshop we will create a drawing of a dragon or fish from imagination or reference supplied. Please bring waterproof India Ink, a pen, imitation gold watercolour or ink, watercolour brushes, water pots and a drawing board. Paper will be available at cost or bring your own watercolour paper 300gsm or heavier (HP or NOT).
For tickets and more information visit www.nordenfarm.org or Tel. 01628 788997
An Artists’ View of Maidenhead
10th December 2019 to 23rd February 2020
This exhibition at Maidenhead Heritage Centre showcases the work of local artists, and focuses on Maidenhead and the nearby locations of Pinkneys Green, Cookham and Cliveden. The artists showing are Kirsty Brooks, Josie Clouting, Martin Dutton, Jo Hall, Sarah Luton, Juliette Palmer, Heidi Ramsay, Jen Sparks, Beryl Tilley and Michael Vicary.
Maidenhead Heritage Centre, 18 Park Street, Maidenhead, SL6 1SL
Opening times: Tues-Sat 10.00am to 4.00pm, Sun 12.00-4.00pm, closed Mon
www.maidenheadheritage.org.uk
Contact Jo by e-mail: johall@mhstudios.co.uk for more details of any of these events.