Ref: S5D41031
The beautifully designed and constructed landscapes of West Dean contain a wealth of partial, framed natural and managed views. For example - the landscape glimpsed through vegetation, framed by trees or viewed from the pergola or summer house.
You will be encouraged to look for the dramatic and atmospheric aspects of the landscape and explore how your materials handling, colour and composition can create prictorial equivalents.
There will be guidance in the depiction of light, space and form, creating simple, bold and dramatically charged landscape images in both charcoal on paper and acrylic on board. Your time will be roughly split between working on location and in the studio (weather permitting).
You will be encouraged to work quickly and in series and by the end of the course will have produced many drawings, paintings on paper and eight paintings on board, a substantial body of work. You will have become increasingly comfortable in making personal comparative judgements and taking control over the development of your work. You will also have gained practical skills enabling you to make the often tricky transition from drawing into painting more effectively. In particular you will have explored how the fertile mix of direct ‘plein air’ observation (outside in the grounds), reference photography and studio based development can support your practice.
There will be regular slide shows of relevant historical and contemporary artists as well as practical demonstrations along with lots of one to one personal tuition.
Immersive Arts Week
This course is part of our ‘Immersive Arts Week’ group of short courses for summer 2026, led by talented artist-tutors:
Tim Johnson (Fibre art basketry)
Jane Fox and Jane Sampson (Adventures in rust stain and screen print)
James Hunting (Practice and the individual – in textiles)
Louise Rainbow (Painting large inspired – Hockney's big splash of colour)
Nick Bodimeade (Landscape to studio - drawing to painting at West Dean)
Ben Brierley (Woodfired ceramics – gestural making, kiln building and firing)
Rachel Johnston (Mark-making in woven tapestry – textural techniques)
John Mosse (Damascus steel making)
There will be tutor talks on the Tuesday evening from 5:15pm in The Old Library as part of the course. Studio visits are encouraged to share work and experiences (out of core teaching hours).
On this course the College will supply each student with eight 28x36cm MDF boards for painting.
Gardens Gatehouse Craft Shop: A range of brushes, acrylic paints, drawing materials, paper pads, sketchbooks are available to buy from the Gardens Gatehouse Shop.
Available from tutor: 370gsm Lambeth drawing cartridge paper (sold to students at cost price)
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes). Also, sunhats, suncream, sunglasses etc incase of hot weather and waterproof clothing in case of rain.
Art boards, portable easels and chairs are provided for your use on this course.
Arrival day - first date of course
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm-9pm (attendance is essential)
Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am-5pm
Morning session: 9.15am-12.45pm including coffee/tea break
Lunch break: 12.45pm-2pm (lunch included)
Afternoon session: 2pm-5pm including coffee/tea break
Teaching finishes: 5pm
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.
Departure day - last date of course
Course teaching: 9.15am-3pm (lunch included)
Teaching finishes: 3pm
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am.
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.
Nick trained at Worthing and Wolverhampton art colleges, has taught at many UK schools, colleges and universties at all levels up to MA. He exhibits with St Annes Galleries, Lewes. Zimmer Stewart Gallery, Arundel and the Porthminster Gallery, St Ives. Nick's work is held in many public and private collections including, The Contemporary Art Society, The Landmark Trust and the Government Art Collection. He is a Trustee of Fabrica, Brighton's leading Contemporary Art Gallery.
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
Take the next step in your creative practice, with foundation level to Masters in Fine Art study.
Depending on your experience, start with an Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (one year, part-time), a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design made up of 10 short courses taken over two years (part-time) or advance your learning with our BA (Hons) Art and Contemporary Craft: Materials, Making, and Place (six years part-time). All will help you develop core skills, find direction in your practice and build an impressive portfolio in preparation for artist opportunities or higher-level study. See all degree and diploma courses.
