PAINTING & DRAWING - FRANCINE & SUSI - INTERMEDIATE COURSE FOR IMPROVERS

Sunday 12 July 2026 17:00
Friday 17 July 2026 14:00

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Do you enjoy drawing and painting but feel a bit stuck? Not sure what the next step is? Perhaps you always paint the same subject in the same safe way but would like to loosen up?

This five-day workshop will help you develop your drawing and painting skills, stretch your imagination and allow you to experiment with new mediums and ideas. Susi and Francine have been teaching together for over 10 years and have very different but complementary teaching styles. But both agree that “There is no such thing as making a mistake. Each mark you make has value, and ‘accidents’ are the first steps to creativity! It’s about enjoying the journey.”

Susi and Francine set dynamic exercises that will and unlock your creativity, and the joy of having two tutors means there is plenty of time for individual help and guidance. Francine enjoys teaching art history, perspective and colour theory, “I like to understand how an artist achieved a particular effect.” And Susi loves to play with vibrant colour: “Let go, use your intuition and allow your imagination to take over!”

Each day in the studio students are encouraged to try a new medium or technique using watercolour, gouache and acrylic, and there will be opportunities to go out to draw and paint in inspiring secret locations with stunning views. By the end of the week everyone will have tried something new and gained confidence in their art journey.

If you want to develop your skills, find your style, experiment with new mediums this is the course for you!

“This course is amazing whether you think of yourself as more of a beginner or intermediate. There’s lots of excellent tuition from Francine and Susie and great places to paint outdoors. It was great fun but we all learnt a lot too. In fact I framed two of my pieces of artwork as a reminder of what an enjoyable time I had. I would wholeheartedly recommend it. ”

— Julia Milligan, Surrey

This course is designed for anyone that has done some beginners classes or is self taught and wants to develop their skills and confidence across a range of mediums tutored by experienced teachers.
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
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
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.
Please bring the following items.
- A hard backed sketchbook
- 3B and 6B pencils
- A set of drawing pens (optional)
- A set of artist quality watercolours and a set of acrylic paints
- A selection of Brushes
- An A3 pad of Watercolour paper 300gsm cold pressed (Cass Art is good value)
- An apron - it can get messy.
DO also bring any materials you would like to try out, but we won’t be working with oil paints on this course.

“Francine and Susi are inspirational teachers. Patient and encouraging throughout. They were able to accommodate all levels of experience. Everyone made significant progress. A tremendous week. I thoroughly recommend it. ”

— Jane Bird, BerkshireQuote Source

Francine and Susi both live in London and regularly draw and teach together see – Art Splash London for more information.
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 tutors to give everyone enough attention and time on the press.
Food is a key part of an immersive course at Coombe. Meals are taken at a long shared tables with the other participants 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.

“What an absolutely super week in Devon. The course was so informative and just great fun - Susi and Francine really helped me develop my art in a great setting. The atmosphere, accommodation and food is just perfect. Thoroughly recommend it! ”

— Lee Lance, Reading