Abstract Landscapes inspired by Lanyon

Acrylic / Mixed Media / Abstract / Landscape

We haven’t scheduled this course yet. Please email us to register your interest for future availability.

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Course details

Create lively contemporary paintings inspired by the landscapes that Peter Lanyon knew and loved.

Peter Lanyon painting of Prussia Cove in Cornwall
Peter Lanyon, Prussia Cove, 1960
Painting Wreck 1963 by Peter Lanyon
Peter Lanyon, Wreck, 1963 © The Estate of Peter Lanyon

Taking inspiration from Peter Lanyon — one of Cornwall’s most pioneering post-war artists — this course delves into how a sense of place, movement, and sensation can merge to form a deeply personal visual language. Develop the confidence to take risks and learn to ‘read’ the landscape so that you can work more intuitively, only abstracting what you need.

Lanyon’s paintings were rooted in direct experience: walking, climbing, and even gliding over the Cornish coast to capture the landscape from multiple viewpoints. He saw himself not as an abstract painter, but as a landscape artist striving to convey the feeling of being in the landscape — the wind, the light, the physicality of space itself. His belief that true abstraction arises from immersion and sensory awareness underpins the spirit of this course.

Natural world artist, Natalie Day, will explore Lanyon’s multi-viewpoint process, a transformative approach that has influenced her own artistic journey. During the course, you’ll visit Little Trevalgan, a location that inspired Lanyon’s thinking about landscape, to draw, write, and gather impressions that go beyond surface observation. Guided by Natalie’s Pause, Notice, Filter approach, you’ll learn to ‘read’ the landscape, abstracting only what’s essential while maintaining an authentic sense of place.

In the studio, you’ll translate these experiences into paintings, collages, and prints, exploring how memory and emotion can shape composition and form. The course encourages you to take risks, build a personal visual vocabulary, and push deeper into abstraction — connecting landscape, process, and perception in new and transformative ways.

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

Introduction to the week, Lanyon’s painting and Natalie’s approach, and the importance of having a repeatable process to create a fun and sustainable creative practice. Explore Natalie’s Pause, Notice, Filter framework which you’ll then put into practice out on The Island, drawing, writing and gathering information to inform and guide you through the week. 

In the afternoon we’ll explore how memory drawings can help you stay connected with place and start to play with simple collage compositions.

Day 2

Weather permitting, our morning will begin with a taxi ride to Little Trevalgan, just beyond St Ives — the landscape that inspired Lanyon’s ‘360° views’ paintings. Immersed in this setting, we’ll draw, write, and experiment, gathering material to refine and expand back in the studio.

In the afternoon, continue developing the work begun on the first day, translating drawings and paintings into collages. From these, we’ll begin a small series of collaged and printed pieces.

Day 3

Self-study day, for which Natalie will give you clear tasks and goals; it is an opportunity for you to put in to practice your new skills before getting feedback.

Day 4

Studio-based, we will develop-on from the previous two days. Look at the work from the self-study day and then warm up from memory and start to respond in your own ways to the landscape. 

In the afternoon, start to work in a larger format and through a series of techniques to push further into abstraction, using paint, print and collage. Start thinking about working on a series of outcomes.

Day 5

Carry on working on your series, consider lengthening the composition and taking some risks! Get together for a final tutorial as a group.

Throughout the week keep a sketchbook to keep ideas and information in one place.

What will I learn?

  1. Develop a personal visual language through direct experience of place.
  2. Build confidence to take creative risks and work intuitively.
  3. Learn to ‘read’ the landscape and abstract only what’s essential.
  4. Explore drawing, painting, collage, and print to express memory and emotion.
  5. Apply Lanyon’s multi-viewpoint approach to connect observation with abstraction.

Who would this course suit?

This course is ideal for artists and creatives looking to develop a personal and intuitive approach to abstraction, exploring how direct experience of landscape and sensory observation can inform drawing, painting, collage, and print.

Abstract Landscapes inspired by Lanyon

Acrylic / Mixed Media / Abstract / Landscape

We haven’t scheduled this course yet. Please email us to register your interest for future availability.

Register Interest

Taught by

Natalie
Day

View Natalie’s Work

Letting go of attachment to outcomes is an important element of my practice and teaching. I begin by gathering visual and sensory information, recording what I can on paper, then editing and simplifying back in the studio and using this to inform new pieces. By keeping myself curious I can step away from the idea of ‘making a painting’ and simply enjoy the process of exploring and letting the materials guide me. 

What to Bring

Our studios are fully equipped and we provide you with all the materials you need for your course. However, if you have a favourite set of brushes or any specialist materials that you would prefer to use, please bring them with you.

nb: this course will involve a field trip to ‘Little Trevalgan’ and some walking in and around St Ives. Please wear suitable walking footwear, and clothes for the weather on the day (e.g. a rain coat should there be some showers or sun cream if it is sunny)

Timings and Breaks

The first day starts at 10am and finishes at 4.30pm, please aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start time.

All course days after that start at 9.30am and finish at 4pm and there will be an hour for lunch. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and we will serve tea and coffee at break times during the day.

What our students say

A really gifted teacher. Very gently encouraging and giving just the right amount of support to move forward. Very well organised course.

Louise

Enjoyable and empowering. Natalie was clear and engaging and I would love to do more sessions with her… I have learned so much.

Andrea

Natalie is a great teacher, I appreciated how she kept checking in with how people were doing and encouraging them along too.

Francesca

FAQs

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