LONG ART COURSES

Course Dates

5 DAY
ART COURSES

A group of four tutors provide varied and stimulating courses suitable for all abilities.

Courses run from Sunday to Friday,
once a month from Spring to Autumn.
The dates for 2008 are:
 

9-14 Mar

13-18 Apr

11-16 May

15-20 Jun

13-18 Jul

17-22 Aug

14-19 Sep

12-17 Oct

The Town Mill  nestles in the heart of the historic town of Lyme Regis - 'The Pearl of Dorset'. Lyme itself lies within the spectacular Dorset and East Devon Jurassic Coast. The area was awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in 2001 because of its superb geology and its extensive range and quantity of fossils.

The local area offers a heady mix of sea, shore, countryside, fossils, trees, big skies, quaint buildings, art and craft galleries, and walks - endless stimuli for both the amateur and professional artist.

The mill complex houses a working watermill, a hydro-electric generating system, two art galleries, a pottery, a picture framer, an artist's studio, an exhibition area, a bakery, a mill shop and a café/bistro, all clustered around a central courtyard.

The art courses are based in a large first floor studio room in the old Miller's house adjacent to the courtyard.  

The Course Tutors. There a four tutors. Christine Allison is an experienced artist and teacher as well as being the course co-ordinator. She trained at St. Martin’s School of Art and The New York Studio School. Don Hudson and Berey Pealing are full time potters at The Town Mill. They trained at Harrow and Brighton respectively and are the ceramic tutors for the course. Gail Sagman is the course's resident painter in the Attic Studio of The Town Mill; she also trained at St. Martin’s School of Art and is a full time artist.

The Course. Overall, the tutors provide a friendly, varied and stimulating five-day course suitable for all abilities. With Christine, you can expect to build up a sketchbook inspired by our stunning surroundings and to make some finished paintings. You will produce two or three ceramic piece under the expert guidance of Don and Berey. With Gail you will be led through a full day workshop that will ’liberate your methods of painting and drawing’ with new and exciting abstract ways of working.

Picture Framing. As well as drawing, painting and ceramics, we also include an informal yet informative session with Tim Pritchard who is the expert picture framer at Town Mill Framing in the old stable block at the Town Mill. Tim will talk about things to consider when framing your work.

Fishing Boat Trip. Taking full advantage of the locality we will take a trip on one of the local fishing boats on the last day (a great way to see the Jurassic Coast – don’t forget your camera!) to catch some mackerel. We bring them back to the studio, draw or paint them and then we eat the rest at our last night barbeque beside the lovely setting of the Miller's Garden - our walled garden designed to re-create a 17th century planting scheme.

The working programme is Monday to Friday. Morning sessions are 10:00am - 1:00pm, we take an hour lunch break. and then afternoon sessions are from 2:00pm - 5:00pm. Some ceramic sessions may take place in the evening.  

We get together for a couple of hours on Sunday evening for introductions over a glass of wine or a cup of tea. This gives us all a chance to meet each other and plan the week. Often the weather can play a large part in our planning, especially as to when to take our mackerel fishing boat trip!

A typical time-table might look like the example below, but sessions will always be confirmed at the Sunday induction meeting.

Sunday   4.30 – 6.30pm
Meet at The Mill House studio for introductions and time-table planning.

Monday  10am – 5pm
(1 hour lunch break each day)
Meet at the studio. Sea, shore, sky, land – out and about with Christine and your sketchbook.

Tuesday  10am – 5pm
Pottery session at The Town Mill pottery with Don and Berey in the morning (or evening). Sketchbook work with Christine in the afternoon.

Wednesday 10am – 5pm
Possible dawn painting with Christine. Then, from 10am, meet at the studio for an experimental drawing and painting workshop with Gail in the Attic Studio.

 Thursday 10am – 5pm
Meet at studio. Pottery session in the morning (or evening) with Don and Berey. Boat Trip in the afternoon with Christine.

Friday  10am – 5pm
Meet at studio. Drawing and painting of fish with Christine. One hour talk with Tim, the frame maker, on framing your work.

6.30pm
The end of course barbeque.

There are 6 places on each course. Each course costs £250 per person. Participants book their own accommodation from the wide range available in and around Lyme Regis – self-catering, B&B, hotels, pubs, caravan parks etc. A list is available from The Lyme Regis Tourist Centre 01297 442138. It is imperative that you telephone or e-mail to reserve your place for a particular week before booking your accommodation.

Unfortunately there is no wheelchair access to the art studio.

A deposit of £50 is required at the time of booking and the balance of £200 is to be paid one calendar month before arrival. Confirmation of booking and a map will be sent to you on receipt of your deposit. Please provide the details requested below and send the form, with a cheque for your deposit (made payable to The Town Mill Trust), to:

Art Courses, The Town Mill, Mill Lane, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3PU

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Name…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Address……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Telephone…………………………………………e-mail……………………………………………………………….

Course dates Sunday………………………………………..to Friday…………………………………….

I have telephoned and agreed the above dates and enclose a £50 deposit.

Signed…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Date:.......................

9-14 Mar

13-18 Apr

11-16 May

15-20 Jun

13-18 Jul

17-22 Aug

14-19 Sep

12-17 Oct

Hardback sketchbook (A4). Portable drawing stool. Selection of drawing pencils. Eraser. Pencil sharpener. Set of watercolours. Brushes. Water soluble crayons or wax pastels. Fine black pen. Selection of papers of your choice. If you prefer working at an easel please bring a folding one with you. Oil paints or acrylic paints if you would like to use them.  A bag to carry things in for outside work. Apron/work shirt.

There is a good art shop in Lyme Regis should you forget anything!

The Town Mill
Mill Lane, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3PU, England
Tel: 01297 443579     e-mail info@townmill.org.uk