Watercolour and Mixed Media Workshops
at Downend Farm Studio

Join Ali at her studio in North Dorset for a monthly series of in-person mixed-media workshops, exploring a new creative themes through demonstration and discussion each session. Working with watercolour-based techniques alongside contemporary materials, these workshops offer a chance to experiment, build confidence, and discover fresh approaches to your creativity.

With only six places available each month, you’ll receive plenty of individual attention and tailored guidance, ensuring the session supports your personal interests and level of experience. All abilities are warmly welcome — from complete beginners to those looking to expand their skills as the tuition is tailored to the individual.

Please bring your own materials, a suggestion of a basic kit is outlined below plus enjoy relaxed, good-quality refreshments during the workshop.

Event poster for an art workshop titled 'Watercolour & Mixed Media', scheduled for April 8, 2026, from 10:00 to 12:30 at Downend Farm Studio, featuring painting with a palette knife.

All forms of paint, even watercolour, can be applied with a palette knife to give depth and texture. This workshop will explore the variations and potential of different media to create more expressive paintings.

Watercolour and Mixed Media Workshops

£25.00

A monthly in-person mixed-media workshop, each exploring a new theme through creative techniques.

Workshop:

With so many species of tree to record, it can be overwhelming where to start. Join Ali as she takes you through what to look for, how to describe textures and what combinations of materials you might enjoy to tell the story of your favourite tree.

Watercolour and Mixed Media Workshops

£25.00

A monthly in-person mixed-media workshop, each exploring a new theme through creative techniques.

Workshop:

Chalk pastels offer an opportunity to be expressive and dramatic, particularly in landscape painting. Combine pastel with watercolour and other media to suggest sunsets and weather events with eye-catching drama.

Watercolour and Mixed Media Workshops

£25.00

A monthly in-person mixed-media workshop, each exploring a new theme through creative techniques.

Workshop:

Animal eyes make great studies for learning all about coloured pencil - how to apply it, layer it and what makes a good surface. Join Ali to explore your own stash of pencils or borrow some of her finest collection to test before making your own purchase.

Watercolour and Mixed Media Workshops

£25.00

A monthly in-person mixed-media workshop, each exploring a new theme through creative techniques.

Workshop:

Printmaking has always been a love for Ali having studied it as part of her degree. Join her to learn how to cut your own lino block and enjoy her collection to learn the techniques and how very addictive making prints can be.

Watercolour and Mixed Media Workshops

£25.00

A monthly in-person mixed-media workshop, each exploring a new theme through creative techniques.

Workshop:

A popular subject in watercolour but tricky to get just right. Join Ali as she guides you through how to make white look dynamic when tackling watercolours.

Watercolour and Mixed Media Workshops

£25.00

A monthly in-person mixed-media workshop, each exploring a new theme through creative techniques.

Workshop:

A fitting tribute to the date, join Ali as she shares techniques for using large brushes to achieve, soft and ethereal flowers.

Watercolour and Mixed Media Workshops

£25.00

A monthly in-person mixed-media workshop, each exploring a new theme through creative techniques.

Workshop:

Glass painting and decoration has been part of culture for over 4000 years. Crafters have found ways of using specific materials to allow the paint to adhere but there are plenty of alternatives, often with materials you may already have.

Watercolour and Mixed Media Workshops

£25.00

A monthly in-person mixed-media workshop, each exploring a new theme through creative techniques.

Workshop:

Questions you may have…

How do I book?
Using the details above, add the workshops of your choice to your cart and pay for them on the checkout page, this can be found at the top of each web page shaped like a shopping trolley. As soon as the transaction has gone through, you will receive an email with all of the details for you to keep, please check your spam folders if it hasn’t reached you, for future reference putting ali@learningtopaint.co.uk as a contact into your email supplier helps to stop this happening. Keep this email very safe and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to read it, well before your session, as it contains what preparation you may need to consider and the materials that are going to be used. Should you misplace this email, we are very happy to send it again but cannot guarantee that it will arrive in time if we are only given short notice.

What do I need to do to attend in person?
Come to the studio (address at the bottom of each web page and in your booking email), allowing approximately 15 minutes before we start to set up. When you get to the studio you will find plenty of parking, two steps up to the studio or level access at the rear and a warm welcome. There are good quality refreshments and toilet facilities at the studio, please be aware that we are situated on a large working farm and so there may be animals, vehicles and a workforce both on the approach and around the studio.

I’d like to discuss what will be covered during the workshop - what can I do?
You are very welcome to contact Ali ahead of booking without any obligation. The images you see in the description will be the type of resources we will work from and if you would like to see the style of Ali’s painting, please browse the gallery section of this website to see how she interprets a subject. Ali does not prescriptively paint a sample piece ahead of the workshop so that you can see her overcome the same creative issues that you may be experiencing in real time. This helps to keep her work fresh and spontaneous.

What materials will I need?
When your booking is confirmed you will be able to access a full equipment list so that you have plenty of time to prepare before the session. Ali recommends certain products but the success of your session does not rely on you duplicating the brand or quantities of materials you may need. At the start of every session, Ali always runs through the alternatives or takes questions on whether what you have is suitable. Should you wish to discuss this ahead of booking, you are more than welcome to email her without obligation.

What happens next?
As soon as your booking has been confirmed and you have received your email, gather your materials and look forward to spending time with Ali in a creative environment, exploring new painted possibilities.

A very basic list of equipment that you may want to consider for these workshops can be found HERE. You are welcome to interpret any session in your own way, please make a note of the media we will be covering and if you have any reservations or questions, Ali invites you to email her ahead of the session.

Watercolour and Mixed Media Workshops at Downend Farm Studio

Please bring your own materials, a suggestion of a basic kit is outlined below plus enjoy relaxed, good-quality refreshments during the workshop.

All forms of paint, even watercolour, can be applied with a palette knife to give depth and texture. This workshop will explore the variations and potential of different media to create more expressive paintings.

With so many species of tree to record, it can be overwhelming where to start. Join Ali as she takes you through what to look for, how to describe textures and what combinations of materials you might enjoy to tell the story of your favourite tree.

Chalk pastels offer an opportunity to be expressive and dramatic, particularly in landscape painting. Combine pastel with watercolour and other media to suggest sunsets and weather events with eye-catching drama.

Animal eyes make great studies for learning all about coloured pencil - how to apply it, layer it and what makes a good surface. Join Ali to explore your own stash of pencils or borrow some of her finest collection to test before making your own purchase.

Printmaking has always been a love for Ali having studied it as part of her degree. Join her to learn how to cut your own lino block and enjoy her collection to learn the techniques and how very addictive making prints can be.

A popular subject in watercolour but tricky to get just right. Join Ali as she guides you through how to make white look dynamic when tackling watercolours.

A fitting tribute to the date, join Ali as she shares techniques for using large brushes to achieve, soft and ethereal flowers.

Glass painting and decoration has been part of culture for over 4000 years. Crafters have found ways of using specific materials to allow the paint to adhere but there are plenty of alternatives, often with materials you may already have.

Questions you may have…

What happens next?As soon as your booking has been confirmed and you have received your email, gather your materials and look forward to spending time with Ali in a creative environment, exploring new painted possibilities.

Watercolour and Mixed Media Workshops
at Downend Farm Studio

What happens next?
As soon as your booking has been confirmed and you have received your email, gather your materials and look forward to spending time with Ali in a creative environment, exploring new painted possibilities.