Find inspiration in Patrick Heron’s early and late garden paintings, with his love of Braque, Matisse and Bonnard. Visit the subtropical Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens and harness colour and form in your own work.

Respond to Patrick Heron’s early and late garden paintings and his love of Braque, Matisse and Bonnard. Field trips include a trip to Tremenheere Sculpture Garden, with practical and structured learning throughout. It will suit all levels of student interested in responding to the natural world and exploring colour, form and abstraction in their painting.

Respond to Patrick Heron’s early and late garden paintings, exploring paintings from his own garden at Eagles’ Nest and his residency in New South Wales. Heron’s love of Braque, Matisse and Bonnard will also inform the course and set you on your own exploration of colour, form and composition inspired by nature.

The course includes a visit to Tremenheere Sculpture garden, a beautiful sheltered valley in west Cornwall, surrounded by woods, streams and dramatic vista, the perfect setting for this 22-acre exotic and sub-tropical garden. Your tutor will lead you though the dramatic gardens, which provide the backdrop to contemplative and inspiring art. International renowned artists such as James Turrell RA and David Nash RA have interacted with the garden to create site-specific permanent works, all harmonising with their garden setting.

Packed with inspirational experiences this course provides practical and structured learning. The course includes all your materials as well as travel to and entrance fee to Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens.

What will I learn?

1. A developed intuitive response to the environment.
2. Confidence to work out in the environment.
3. Ways to develop your sensory experience and sketchbook work into abstraction.
4. An understanding of Patrick Heron’s process with a focus on his garden paintings.
5. A better understanding of how to develop a creative process rather than a finished product.

Who would this course suit?

There will be walking on the first day on uneven and steep ground. You will be carrying a sketchbook and art materials with some sitting on the ground. There is a steep hill to get to the garden area. It will suit students interested in responding to the natural world and exploring colour, form and abstraction.

What to Bring

Timings and Breaks

Due to the field trip to Tremenheere on the first day we will meet at Porthmeor Studios at 9.30am. The minibus will return us to the studio in the afternoon and the day will finish at 4pm.  We start at 9.30am and finish at 4pm on the following two days. Occasionally these may be changed if required by the tutor. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided in the studio and there will be an hour for lunch.

On the first day you can bring a packed lunch but there is also a fantastic cafe on site. We will book a table for the group. On the Tuesday and Wednesday there are plenty of nearby places to eat or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch into the studio.