"Girls’ Night In' ~ A Two-Day Watercolour Workshop' ~ with Sarah Stokes
Part of a Long Weekend of Watercolours and Charcoal, with Sarah Stokes
'Girls’ Night In' ~ A Two-Day Watercolour Workshop with Sarah Stokes - all abilities.
This cheerful two-day workshop focuses on painting a trio of hens in watercolour — full of character and charm, and all achieved with just three colours and black. All materials will be provided.
Day 1 – Getting Started
We’ll begin by tracing the Hens onto watercolour paper so you can concentrate on painting rather than drawing accuracy. From there, we’ll move on to colour mixing practice, exploring how to create a surprising range of tones and shades from a limited palette.You’ll spend time getting to grips with the behaviour of watercolour — how it moves, blends, and reacts on the paper — before applying your first loose washes, working mostly wet-into-wet to establish soft shapes and gentle transitions.
By the end of the first day, you’ll have a lovely underpainting with the mood and structure of the piece already in place.
Day 2 – Layering, Detail and Finishing Touches
On day two, we’ll add the third and final layers, deepening tones, strengthening shapes, and starting to bring out each hen’s personality.
You’ll learn how to add texture, form, and fine detail while keeping that expressive, light-handed feel that makes watercolour so fresh.
We’ll also look at simple mark-making and decorative touches to tie the composition together and give your finished piece character and polish.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have:
- A completed painting of three lively chickens full of warmth and charm
- A solid grasp of limited-palette colour mixing
- Confidence in layering, tonal control, and brushwork
- A better understanding of how to handle watercolour with both control and freedom
This workshop is relaxed, friendly, and ideal for anyone who wants to build confidence in their painting while enjoying a creative couple of days with like-minded people. Beginners and intermediates welcome!
As this is a collaborative workshop between Sarah Stokes and Quirky Workshops. Please note there are slightly different T&C's regarding cancellations, which are detailed below**. Quirky Open Vouchers may not be able to be used on this course.
9.30am - 5.00pm each day
Taking place in the first floor Swallow Barn - accessed by stairs
£295 home made lunch/ fresh coffee/ home baking/all materials included
Dates for this course - see the table below to book:
NEW date *** Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th November 2026
(Sarah will be teaching a 'The Charcoal Hare' on the day before - bookable separately)
This is a collaborative workshop taking place in the first floor Swallow Barn - accessed by stairs only.
Please bring: This course is suitable for beginners and the more advanced. No experience is necessary and all materials will be provided and included within the course cost. This enables Sarah to teach all students using the same materials and therefore techniques.
Below 'Swallow photo' from Sarah's May 25 workshop at Greystoke.
About the Artist Sarah is a published professional wildlife artist working from the beautiful Worcestershire countryside, in England. She has always had a love of nature and is constantly inspired by the birds and animals that live in the woodlands surrounding her Arley home and studio on the banks of the River Severn. She has a real love for teaching art and the joy that it brings to those using watercolour for the first time. As Resident Artist at the Arley Estates in Bewdley, Sarah holds regular classes and retreats at the Studios on the Estate.
** If you need to cancel your place on a workshop - If you tell us more than 8 weeks prior to the workshop date, you can transfer to another workshop, (subject to availability) upon payment of a 20% admin fee and any balance due. Alternatively, you may revert your booking to a credit that must be used within a calendar year. In both of the instances above, a 20% admin fee is applicable and must be paid with 48 hours of requesting the change, and Quirky Workshops must be notified of that payment as soon as possible. Both must take place before the 8 week period preceding your workshop date. If you wish to cancel with less than 8 weeks ’notice, your payment is non-refundable and non-transferable. However . . . If we manage to re-sell your place at any stage, we will issue a credit of 80% of your course fee, that can be used towards another workshop taking place within a calendar year. As always, the very best solution is to tell us as soon as possible, but also consider finding someone else to take your place. Just inform us of the name change and any dietary requirements before the day.
Friday 9th October 2026 ' The Charcoal Hare'
Saturday 10 Sunday 11th October 'Girls Night In' two days of Expressive Watercolour
Workshop Details
| Workshop Date | Sat 7th November 2026 9:30 am |
| Available places | 3 |
| Individual Price | £295.00 |
