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A page dedicated to events which have already been enjoyed - be they holidays, exhibitions or special events at High Meadow. Please email Ash if you would like to add any comments or reviews of your own!
Painting holiday - Lake District - Monday 13th to Friday 17th June 2011
It had been a few years since we last painted in the Lake District - but the wait was worth it! Polly had found a really good hotel where the management and staff were so helpful, and our stay was made very comfortable.
The weather came good at just the right time, with rain on our journey up, but sunshine (and sunburn.....) to follow........ and when the cloud did come down it just gave the chance for "atmospheric painting....."
As ever, the painters produced a wide variety of pictures, with some "excellent" results - and although some folks did manage to spend a little pocket money at the Derwent Pencil Museum, I did manage to keep Polly out of the Lakeland Plastics shop - result!
The journey home was slightly eventful, including a rendezvous with an ambulance, blue flashing lights and all, but the good news is that Shirley is fine and returned home after an extra night away "under observation" in not such choice accommodation as we had enjoyed earlier in the week!
Many thanks to all who came along for helping to make it such a good week - here's to Scotland in September!
Please see the holiday photo gallery for some photographs from the week.
Winter Exhibition 2010
The 2010 Winter Exhibition at High Meadow - "Ash 2010" - opened over the weekend of Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st November and continued until Christmas despite all the snow! Thanks to all who made it out see us!
As usual the exhibition took the form of a retrospective look at the best of my paintings created during the past year - watercolours, pastels, acrylics, charcoal and mixed media works, covering a wide range of subjects - local and more varied landscapes, flowers, wildlife, still life, figures and abstract paintings all found a place in the exhibition!
See the exhibitions page for more details.
Gibraltar Point - July 2010
Twelve painters joined me at Gibraltar Point for another outdoor painting weekend - I nicknamed them the "Dirty Dozen" but never expected anyone to attempt to live up to the name........ but when your folding chair blows off the bank and into the mud, freshly exposed by the falling tide, it's a tricky decision....."Should I stay or should I go?" Brian decided to "go" and bravely stepped of the bank, deep into the wet stuff.... The wandering, now mud covered, chair was retrieved with the added bonus to Brian of a free shin deep mud pack........ With the exception of the wayward chair, everyone behaved and a great weekend was had - sunny (dare I say too sunny?) weather, great hospitality, and some fine paintings created - many thanks to all who came to play - here's to the next time!
Please click here to go to the 'holiday photo gallery' page
Normandy 2010 - On Tour with Ash - Monet & co.!
A return visit to walk in the footsteps of the impressionists...... although I can't be certain that they visited the same bars and pavement cafes frequented by some of the class of 2010!........ Vernon old bridge made an impressive venue to start things off - Giverny was very special - wonderful weather and another chance to actually paint in Monet's garden - such a special treat given to so few - what an experience!
Dispite a "light" breeze, the beach at Etretat provided many with some stunning versions of "Monet's Cliffs", Honfleur charmed us once more with its bustling centre, "Moules et frittes" and painting inspiration galore, Rouen and its Cathedral made a great impression (especially the scaffolding covering the classic Monet view) and even our hotel in charming St Valery en Caux didn't let us down, but lived up to the reputation of french hospitality.......
A really enjoyable break away, and some great paintings created... next time we'll try to avoid dragging you all away at the start of the world cup! Many thanks to all for making it such an enjoyable painting break, and special thanks for my certificate for "efforts at improving Anglo - French relations" - such a deserved award....Please click here to go to the 'holiday photo gallery' page
Jersey - Painting Holiday June 2009!
Wow, what a week! - we always hope for dry weather, with anything better being a bonus - and what a bonus we hand! Wall-to-wall sunshine made the outside painting such a pleasure (even if the paint did dry a little quickly at times!)
We started off at Corbierre with its spectacular rocks and lighthouse, followed up with a day at Samares Manor - a wonderful garden with so much variety (and a little scaffolding!)
The day at Durrell Conservation Centre provided a very different challenge - how to paint an Orang Utan that won't sit down...... the sane amongst us opted for stone buildings and the flamingos that stand still!
Gorey harbour and castle provided another challenge - made so much easier to bear after a crab sandwich and Jersey ice cream (while for some, the lobster salad and a bottle of wine helped produce interesting artistic results!)
The final day at Hamptonne Farm Museum was a delight - thatched buildings, chickens roaming and some sloping ground that, for some, made staying on a painting seat a real challenge!
This was the first painting holiday on which we have travelled by air - flying out of Humberside proved to be so convenient for so many. As ever, Polly did a great job putting it all together - and a big thank-you to the artists who all helped to make it such fun!
Let's hope that Polly will manage to organise something for next year - watch this space!
Please click here to go to the 'holiday photo gallery' page.
Life Classes
Sunday November 15th saw the first "Life Drawing" class here at High Meadow. The life day concentrated on sketching and drawing of the female form - quick and then more detailed studies ready to be developed into finished works of art!
We were very pleased to have an experienced model to sit for us in the first of what I hope will be a regular event here at High Meadow - places are very limited for these life classes, so please shout if you are interested! More life classes will appear on the next list of workshop dates, from January 2010.
Suffolk Painting Holiday August 2008
The weather changed at just the right moment to give us a dry week in Constable Country.
The painting started at Flatford Mill, where we were well looked after by the catering staff at the field studies centre - a great start, with so much to inspire.
The Tide Mill and boats on the estuary at Woodbridge provided another challenge, and some fell for the lure of shops in the town - while at Aldeburgh, the boats on the beach provided a stiff test of sketching skills and made the perfect excuse for a little retail therapy around the shops and galleries at Snape Maltings. The highlight of any gallery visit is often to realise that we are actually better than we give ourselves credit for - and many of the crazily priced paintings at Snape made us realise that!
Many thanks to all who came along - you really impressed with the quality of work produced! You can find some photos from the trip here.
Here's to the next holiday away in Jersey - 30th May to 6th June, 2009 - check the future holiday page for details!
Pastel Portrait Painting Special Event!
The 2 day workshops with internationally acclaimed pastel portrait artist Rob Wareing were a huge success.
Rob came over from South Africa again for a Summer season which included 2 days at High Meadow Studio. Many of you come along to experience a day (or 2!) of pastel portrait painting with one of the most respected pastel portrait painters in the world!
The results were inspirational - see below for yourself!
Special thanks to Jenny and Maggie on Saturday and Polly and Mick on Sunday for sitting so nicely!
Please do let us know if you would like to be included in future events of this kind so we can ensure we plan something to suit!
Many thanks to Rob for an excellent couple of days.
For more details of Rob's work take a look at his website, www.robwareing.com.
