A course for anyone, of any age or background, that wants to learn to draw and paint, but doesn’t know where to start. This week is wonderful way to start at the beginning, in a relaxed and non competitive environment.
“Thank you very much for imparting your knowledge and giving me confidence to draw – an amazing experience.”
Francine Lawrence and Susi Hoyle have taught hundreds of people to draw–and given them the confidence, skills and knowledge to keep drawing and enjoy it.
This unique course is spread over five days, and is ideal if you have always wanted to draw and paint but just didn’t know where to start.
The course begins with explanations of art materials, and demonstrations of how different paper, pens and pencils can affect your final drawing.
Then it will be your turn to experiment with different drawing materials, you’ll leanr how to make items look 3D, understand light and shade and do some easy perspective before venturing into colour with watercolour paints and soft pastels. Francine and Susi will show you how to draw and paint what you really see rather than what you think you see!
“Because there are two of us, we can spend time giving individual help and guidance – and we love teaching absolute beginners”
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This course is designed for complete beginners. If you have some experience but still consider yourself to be more of a beginner then Francine and Susi run an excellent ‘improvers’ course see here.
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SUNDAY
5-7pm Residents Arrive
7.00pm Non residents arrive
7.00pm Welcome Drinks
8pm Dinner
MONDAY-THURSDAY
8.30am Breakfast
9.30am Tuition
1.00pm Lunch
2-5pm Tuition resumes
7.00pm Dinner
FRIDAY
8.30am Breakfast
9.30am Final tuition session
1.00pm Lunch
2.00pm Course ends
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We have onsite accommodation. You can book in as a resident and stay with us, or a ‘non-resident’ if you wish to stay elsewhere or if you live nearby.
More information here
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Residential
£903 + VAT includes tuition, accommodation and food from arrival on Sunday through to departure after lunch on Friday.
Non-residential
£650 + VAT include all tuition, welcome drinks on Sunday and lunch from Mon-Friday.
The studio-based sessions are lively and fun and there will also be time to go out as a group to expand the skills learned in the studio.
You will be sketching outside in the lovely winding lanes or at secret locations by the River Dart – building your confidence as you go. You’ll be encouraged to collect items to bring back to the studio to create new artwork and by the end of the week everyone will have several drawings and colour sketches, a sketchbook journal and increased confidence to continue drawing and painting.
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Francine Lawrence trained as a graphic designer and photographer and was the launch art director and later editor of Country Living magazine. She loves the countryside and never goes anywhere without her sketchbook – making watercolour sketches of food is one of her passions (sometimes to the annoyance of her husband who often has to wait for her to draw his lunch before he can eat it).
Susi Hoyle also studied graphic design. She then took her skills to Australia where she worked as production designer on feature films and travelled extensively in South East Asia. She spent several years in Sri Lanka, and more recently Mexico, where she has developed her unique colourful style of artwork.
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We will equip the studio with all the materials you require but you will get messy so please do bring an apron and invest in an A4 hardbacked Sketchbook (buy in advance and bring it with you or you can buy one from us onsite when you arrive)
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We are located in Devon between Totnes and Dartmouth.
Our postcode is TQ6 0JA
Driving
We have plenty of free onsite parking.
Trains
Totnes is nearest station then we can arrange lift shares or send taxi details. We are about 20 minutes from the station and costs approx £35 each way.
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Min 6 max 12 to allow the tutor to give everyone enough attention and time on the press.
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Food is a key part of an immersive course at Coombe. Meals are taken at a long shared table with the other participants either inside in the cooler months or outside in our courtyard when the weather is warmer. Our onsite chef caters for you including all/any dietary requirements. We grow our own vegetables and keep chickens for fresh eggs daily. For those that enjoy wine, we have a fantastic wine merchant who supply us with a small range available to buy onsite.
![FRANCINE & SUSI - BEGINNERS PAINTING & DRAWING - RESIDENTIAL [£1,084 inc VAT] JULY 2026](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8369cf32838066ecfc21b6/5b2ec077-9cf0-41da-a875-89013fbe2dd8/IMG_2183.jpeg)
The total price for this residential course is £902 + VAT (£1,084) including all your food, accommodation and tuition.
At the point of booking/adding to cart, you are asked to pay a non-refundable* deposit of £150.
The remaining balance (£934) is payable three weeks before the course starts (either by bank transfer, cheque or card over the phone)
*Non-refundable and non-transferrable. Please read our full Terms & Conditions including cancellations.
![FRANCINE & SUSI - BEGINNERS PAINTING & DRAWING - NON-RESIDENTIAL [£780 inc VAT] JULY 2026](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8369cf32838066ecfc21b6/7cdf00f1-a89b-4680-94cc-cac35f03ec12/43.%25252BFrancine%25252B%25252526%25252BSusi%25252BBeginners%25252BOrange.jpg)
The total price for this NON-residential course is £650 + VAT (£780) including welcome drinks, all your lunches and tuition.
At the point of booking/adding to cart, you are asked to pay a non-refundable* deposit of £150.
The remaining balance (£630) is payable three weeks before the course starts (either by bank transfer, cheque or card over the phone)
*Non-refundable and non-transferrable. Please read our full Terms & Conditionsincluding cancellations.
Dylan Bowen. Making and decorating dynamic slip decorated earthenware - During this course Dylan will demonstrate and teach various techniques based on his own work.