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Watercolour painting for beginners – 'en plein air'

Petworth offers the unique opportunity to explore the wonders of watercolour in this iconic location. From blank paper to finished work, your tutor will help and encourage you to learn and gain confidence.

  • Booking essential

This course is for those new to watercolour who would like to learn to paint outdoors in the surroundings of Petworth House and Park. You will meet at Petworth House and spend the whole day discovering where JMW Turner was inspired. You will work in the grounds and in the studio at Petworth House.

The day will consist of demonstrations, explanations, guidance and encouragement. You will be shown how to use the materials supplied to produce a series of exercises that will enable you to move forward with this wonderful medium. You will use the small quick exercises to experiment and develop the options available and progress to complete at least one finished painting.

You will be encouraged to explore the flexibility of watercolour, mixing pigment on the palette and the paper's surface. You will be guided with subject selection, how to construct a painting using composition and collective areas to draw the viewers focus.

At the end of the course, you will have a selection of studies and at least one finished painting. Join your tutor to explore and learn.

Times

Prices

Event ticket prices

Ticket typeTicket category
All £209.00

The basics

Booking details

Call 01243 818300

Suitability

Not suitable for children

Meeting point

Please meet at Petworth House reception from 10am for a 10.15am start (the car park opens at 10am).

What to bring and wear

Please see Course Materials section on the West Dean course information page.

Accessibility

It is a 10 minute walk from the main visitor car park to the studio at Petworth. There is a mobility vehicle for those who might find this walk difficult.

Other

Please be aware that in the event of extreme weather forecast, such as high winds, the site at Petworth may be closed. We will inform you the day before if a cancellation becomes necessary and refund the cost of the course in full.

Upcoming events

Event

Changing Landscape Exhibition 

This exhibition tells the 900-year story of the landscape at Petworth, the people who lived and worked in it, and explores what landscape means to people now and in the past.

Event summary

on
12 Jul to 17 Aug 2025
at
10:30 to 16:30
+ 36 other dates or times
Event

Turner's Vision at Petworth 

For the first time in 20 years, a specially curated selection of JMW Turner’s artistic studies of Petworth will be exhibited in the very place that inspired him. These rarely seen works give a fascinating insight into Turner’s methods.

Event summary

on
12 Jul to 16 Nov 2025
at
10:30 to 16:30
+ 127 other dates or times
Event

Ship Ahoy! Family Trail 

Step into the world of J.M.W. Turner and set sail on an artistic adventure through Petworth House and Garden!

Event summary

on
19 Jul to 7 Sep 2025
at
10:00 to 17:00
+ 50 other dates or times
Event

Changing Landscape Guided Walk 

Join us on a guided walk around Petworth Park to discover the story of this incredible landscape.

Event summary

on
23 Jul to 16 Aug 2025
at
11:00 to 12:45
+ 1 other date or time