Past Events
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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
Cookham and Maidenhead Arts Trail
Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September
Artists in and around Cookham and Maidenhead will be opening their studios from 10.00am to 6.00pm. There will be works for sale but just as importantly you will be able to meet the artists and talk about why and how they make their particular art forms. CAMAT showcases a huge variety of different artists including textile artists, ceramicists, artists working in glass and metal, sculptors, painters and printmakers. Jo will be delighted to meet you at her venue. Save the date and information about CAMAT 2019 will be posted late May/early summer at www.camat.org.uk
Hair: Drawing Workshop
Saturday 17th August
10.00am – 3.00pm
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts Maidenhead SL6 4PF
Drawing hair in pencil (graphite or coloured), conté crayon or charcoal, we will make at least two different studies of hair and several small sketches, looking at the importance of the underlying head or chin. References for braided, curled, dreadlocked, straight etc. hair will be provided, and works for reference will include drawings by Leonardo, Rubens and Watteau.
For more information and booking visit www.nordenfarm.org
Summer in the Garden: Painting Workshop
Saturday 6th July
10.00am – 3.00pm
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead SL6 4PF
Paint flowers in a garden setting from photographic reference or bring some garden flowers and a container. Using pastel and/or watercolour the accent will be on creating a pattern of colours and plant forms. Artists for reference; Renoir, Monet, Emile Nolde
For more information visit www.nordenfarm.org
Drawing Trees
2nd July - 13th August
Course of six sessions: Tuesdays except 30th July 10.00am – 1.00pm
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead SL6 4PF
We will explore a variety of tree forms finding ways to depict their character from observing their overall shape, branching, surface texture of bark, with and without leaves etc., using charcoal and pastel or line and watercolour wash. For more information and booking visit www.nordenfarm.org
SGFA Centenary Exhibition, the Bankside Gallery, London
3rd - 16th June
The Society of Graphic Fine Art’s Centenary Exhibition continues at the Bankside Gallery, London. The Private View will take place on Tuesday 4th June 6.00pm to 8.30pm.
The Society promotes drawing by hand in all its forms, from pencil to printmaking, and 85 Members will be showcasing their work. Jo is very proud to be taking part in this event which will include works in contemporary and traditional styles. Visit www.sgfa.org.uk for more information about the Society.
Defacing the Surface: Watercolour Workshop
Saturday 1st June
10.00am – 3.00pm
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead SL6 4PF
The second of two watercolour workshops where we explore ways of creating shapes and textures as compositions in their own right, or for use alongside conventional brush strokes and washes. Working in these ways may also produce interesting papers for collage.
In this workshop we will deface paper before starting the work by soaking and crumpling and/or while the work is in progress by indenting, creasing, scratching or tearing.
For more information and booking visit www.nordenfarm.org
Animals and Figures in the Landscape
21st May - 25th June
Tuesdays 10.00am – 1.00pm at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead SL6 4PF
This course of six sessions will help you breathe life into your landscape painting by including human, and animal forms. Working in pastel and/or watercolour we will explore landscapes with sheep and cattle and also life on the riverbank. For more details and booking go to www.nordenfarm.org
Castle and Countryside: Painting in and around Bardi in the Parma Apennines
Wednesday 8th May to Thursday 16th May 2019
Jo is tutoring a painting holiday at Casa Bezzia in the tiny hamlet of Pietracervara near Bardi in the hills above Parma. This is a beautiful and relatively undiscovered part of northern Italy. Bardi is an ancient town dominated by a medieval fortress on a prominence overlooking the valley of the Ceno river. Drawing and painting in watercolour, we will visit sites including hill top villages, Bardi Castle, the bustling Bardi market, rocky riverbanks, and also a cheese factory producing the iconic Parmesan. Other media can be accommodated in the well equipped studio. For further information and booking inquiries visit www.casabezzia.com or contact Sylvia Bell, E-mail: info@casabezzia.com or call +39 052571370
Transfers from Bologna airport are provided and the plan is to meet there early enough to travel on as a group to Pietracervara, should you book the course and arrive by air. My flight arrives late morning and it would be good if everyone could arrive at Bologna by early afternoon.
Having just spent a few days at Casa Bezzia I can thoroughly recommend its peaceful location, the delightful countryside and Sylvia’s hospitality. A materials list will be forwarded in good time but if you have any queries concerning materials or course content, do contact me by E-mail: johall@mhstudios.co.uk
Contact Jo by e-mail: johall@mhstudios.co.uk for more details of any of these events.