ON THE COURSE
Interesting classes to hone your skills or learn something new
ANGELS FARM POTTERY, HAMPSHIRE
A few years ago the art of ceramics saw a huge soar in popularity, reflecting wider trends towards the appreciation of craftsmanship. We recently featured the Studio Pottery London project and their sleek makers’ space, but here’s something different. Angels Farm is tucked away in picturesque countryside just outside of Lyndhurst in the New Forest and offers visitors friendly, welcoming surroundings in which to develop their clay technique. Beginners and experts alike are all welcome on a range of weekend courses and evening classes, taught by experienced potter Jo Osman in her wisteriaclad farmhouse, angelsfarm.co.uk.
EASEL & LENS’ ARTIST IN ITALY, TUSCANY
Where could be more inspiring to hone your landscape painting skills than the endlessly rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside? The Easel & Lens’ Artist in Italy residential courses consist of four, seven or 10-day expeditions that are helpfully targeted to painters of varying skills. No matter if you’ve never picked up a brush or you’re a seasoned hand, the inspiring surroundings of olive groves, cypress trees and cascading fields all dappled under the Mediterranean’s light are sure to stimulate the creative juices. Expect excursions out into the local landscape, alfresco lunches and an expert eye on hand to guide your every brushstroke, easelandlens.com.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY COURSES
The year’s recent and continuing events have made those of us with gardens more grateful for them than ever, and keener to take the best care of them we can. The
RHS’ programme of workshops and masterclasses promises to enhance our knowledge of all things botanical. Be it staple classes in growing vegetables, planting succulents and mastering propagation to craftier courses in making plant-based watercolour inks, landscape photography or even weaving wicker garden baskets, there’s something to suit even the most abstract of horticultural interests, rhs.org.uk.