Nina Squire's pastel painting of rocks and sea foam

Evolving with Soft Pastels – Discover Your Artistic Voice

Painting / Pastel / Seascapes - Materials included

Book Selected Date

Course details

Join practising artist, Nina Squire, for a 3-day immersive workshop designed for those who have some experience of using soft pastels.

An ideal follow on for those who attended Nina’s introductory course, this course takes you deeper into the creative possibilities of soft pastels, focusing on expanding your individual style, colour choices and artistic voice.

Unlike the introductory course where colours were pre-selected, this workshop invites you to bring your own pastels and materials. With Nina’s guidance, you will work more independently, selecting palettes that resonate personally with your subject matter. A suggested colour palette will be provided in advance to help you curate your own collection and ensure you have the colours and tones needed to explore atmosphere, mood and light. We will supply pastel primer but you can bring your preferred surface to work on.

Throughout the course, Nina will demonstrate a range of advanced pastel techniques—traditional and contemporary—tailored to your chosen subjects. You’ll have the time and space to develop your own paintings from initial idea to resolved artwork, with one-to-one mentorship to help you refine your process, strengthen your compositions and push your creative boundaries.

This extended format allows for a more personalised approach. Whether you are drawn to seascapes, landscapes, rockpools or St Ives streets, Nina’s tuition will support you in developing greater confidence, control and expressive freedom in your pastel work. 

Day to day plan

This is a rough indication of what to expect over the course. However sometimes the structure of the days may alter depending on the nature of the group and weather.

Day 1

Reconnecting & Refining Your Personal Approach
The course begins in the studio overlooking Porthmeor Beach, where you’ll reconnect with your practice and share your personal goals for the workshop. We then head out to the coastline to gather reference material, focusing on creating expressive drawings using tonal relationships, rhythm and mark-making to capture the essence of place.

Afternoon:
Back in the studio, you will begin developing these sketches into exploratory studies using your own pastel palette. Nina will guide you in refining your colour choices, layering techniques and composition to support your individual artistic voice.

Day 2

Colour, Atmosphere & Interpretation
Weather permitting, we will walk to The Island and St Nicholas Chapel, working en plein air to develop colour studies that explore mood, light and atmosphere. You’ll respond to it—interpreting it through your chosen colour palette and personal mark-making.


Afternoon:
Return to the studio to translate these colour notes and sketches into more developed works. Nina will offer tailored one-to-one guidance to help you push your technique further, exploring harmony, contrast and expression using your own materials. 

Day 3

Consolidation & Personal Expression
Using your reference material, colour studies and exploratory work from the previous days, you will spend the final day developing a resolved, personal artwork. This will be a chance to bring together your skills in composition, layering and colour selection to create a piece that reflects your evolving artistic direction.
Nina will support you in consolidating your learning, refining your process, and identifying the next steps in your pastel journey.

What will I learn?

  • An opportunity to develop personal projects with expert support
  • Techniques to enhance luminosity, depth and texture in your artwork
  • Focus on individual style development rather than step-by-step replication
  • Supportive group environment with like-minded artists
  • Nina’s teaching is nurturing, insightful and highly personalised, helping you uncover what truly inspires you as an artist and how to translate that into powerful, expressive pastel paintings.

Who would this course suit?

This course is designed for artists who have already developed a foundation in soft pastels and are ready to take the next step in refining their personal style. If you are looking to deepen your practice, explore your own subject matter, and work with greater independence and confidence, this course will offer the guidance, space and inspiration to do so.

With Nina’s hands-on mentorship and experience as a professional artist, you will be encouraged to develop your unique artistic voice, push your creative boundaries and strengthen your personal process. This course is ideal for returning students who enjoy working in a supportive, friendly and highly personalised environment, and who wish to grow individually.

It is particularly suited to those who:

  • Want to explore their own subjects and at a scale they desire
  • Enjoy constructive guidance, one-to-one feedback and the time to evolve a body of work
  • Are seeking to deepen expression and develop a more intuitive approach to pastel painting

Evolving with Soft Pastels – Discover Your Artistic Voice

Painting / Pastel / Seascapes – Materials included

Book Selected Date

Taught by

Nina
Squire

View Nina’s Work

With her early life spent on the coast of Devon, Nina Squire, has always been drawn to the sea and the rugged coastline that surrounds her. She seeks to capture the changing moods of the sea, from the calm, serene blues of a summer’s day to the stormy, tumultuous greys of a winter’s evening.

What to Bring

Please bring your own pastels and materials. With Nina’s guidance, you will work more independently, selecting palettes that resonate personally with your subject matter. A suggested colour palette will be provided in advance to help you curate your own collection and ensure you have the colours and tones needed to explore atmosphere, mood and light. We will supply pastel primer but you can bring your preferred surface to work on.

Timings and Breaks

The course starts at 10am on the first day ending at 4.30pm. Subsequent days start at 9.30 am ending at 4pm.

Tea and coffee will be served and there is an hour for lunch, with plenty food options nearby.

FAQs

Art Courses

Do I need any previous art experience?

Not always. We offer courses for all levels, including complete beginners, intermediate students and more experienced artists. You can look for the experience level listed on the individual course page to find the most suitable option for you. If you need any guidance on what course might suit you best, contact on our friendly team on 01736 797180 and they will be able to help.

Art Courses in St Ives

How do I log in to my online account?

To log in to your account, please follow these steps:

  1. Go to our website: www.schoolofpainting.co.uk
  2. Click on the ‘Log in’ button (usually found near the top right of the page)
  3. Enter the email address and you used when booking
  4. Click “Log in” to access your account

Once logged in, you’ll be able to view your bookings, outstanding payments, online courses and any relevant account information.

If you’ve forgotten your password, simply click ‘Forgot password?’ on the login page and follow the instructions to reset it.

If you have any trouble accessing your account, please email us and we’ll be happy to help.

Do you offer art classes for children and teenagers?

Yes. Our Young Artists Programme includes art workshops for children and teenagers, with sessions designed for different age groups. During the summer, we also run creative workshops for children aged 7-13.

How large are your art classes?

Our studio courses are taught in small groups of around 10 to 12 people, allowing tutors to provide individual guidance alongside group demonstrations and discussions.

What is included in an art course?

Course fees include professional tuition from a practising artist and use of the School’s studio facilities. Materials and equipment are all included in our in person courses, workshops and life drawing sessions – so you can just turn up and get started. Teas and coffees are also provided throughout the day.

Can I attend an art course on my own?

Absolutely. Many students come to St Ives School of Painting independently. Courses offer a welcoming and sociable environment, with plenty of opportunities to meet other people who share an interest in making and learning.

Do you offer beginner painting courses?

Yes. Our programme includes beginner-friendly painting courses covering materials such as oils, acrylics and watercolours. These courses introduce you to essential tools and techniques while giving you plenty of time to practise and explore your own ideas.

How do I choose the right art course?

Start by considering how you would like to work. You may want to learn a particular medium, improve a skill such as drawing or colour mixing, explore a subject such as landscape or still life, or develop a more personal approach. Each course page explains the content, materials, level and teaching approach to help you decide. Our friendly, helpful team are always available to help further.

Please call us on 01736 797180 to discuss your options or email [email protected].

Who teaches your art courses?

Our courses are led by practising artists – including Jill Eisele, Alice Mumford, Iona Sanders and Neil Canning – all with extensive knowledge of their chosen subjects and materials. Each tutor brings their own artistic experience, working methods and approach to teaching, giving students the opportunity to experience a wide range of ideas and techniques.

How do I get my work home?

Tutors have special techniques for transporting oil paintings and for our 3 day courses we will give you a plastic folder with a handle. These are also available to purchase for £3.50 or do bring a portfolio.

Please note: For the course Bigger, Bolder, Braver with Boo Mallinson, we will provide a large A1 size plastic folder for your work but please consider how you will be able to transport the larger canvases home safely before signing up for the course as we will not be able to store large paintings in the studio. On this course you will be painting on a 50cms x 50cms and a 1m x 1m canvas alongside smaller pieces.

For international students we are happy to arrange transportation of your work back home, postal costs will be borne by you.

What times do courses run?

Most of our courses start at 10am and end at 4.30pm on the first day. Subsequent days we start at 9.30am ending at 4pm.

Short workshops start at 10am in the Summer and 9.30am/ 1.30pm during September festival


In Person Courses

What do I need to bring?

You don’t need to bring anything with you unless we specify beforehand. All materials, aprons and tools are provided, however some people do like to bring along their favourite set of brushes or sketchbooks.

What do I do for lunch?

Courses allow an hour’s break for lunch and there are numerous places nearby or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch into the studio.

Can I bring my dog?

The studios are busy places with lots of equipment and not suitable for bringing a pet dog. We can accommodate assistance dogs with prior notice so we can make suitable adjustments. If you wish to bring an assistance dog please call 01736 797180 or email [email protected]

Choosing an Art Course

Do you run life drawing classes in St Ives?

Yes. We hold regular life drawing sessions in St Ives, including Thursday evening and Saturday morning classes. These welcoming, tutored sessions are open to a range of experience levels and provide an opportunity to practise drawing from a life model. Our life drawing sessions are held just a 5 minute walk from our studios at The Island Centre.

Do you offer art courses for adults?

Yes. We run art classes and courses for adults throughout the year, from accessible introductory workshops to more intensive courses for people looking to deepen their creative practice.

What types of painting can I learn?

Our courses cover a wide range of approaches, including oil painting, acrylic painting, watercolour, gouache, landscape painting, still life, portraiture and abstraction. We also offer courses exploring colour, composition, mark-making and creative confidence.

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