Watercolour: Creative Techniques & Expressive Painting

Wed 22 Apr- 24 Jun (8 wks) | 7-9pm  | 16+ yrs

Explore the creative possibilities of watercolour across this inspiring 16-hour course. Experiment with expressive mark-making, layered washes, texture, and colour harmony while developing strong composition. Through guided projects and demonstrations, build confidence, refine technique, and create vibrant, personal paintings full of atmosphere and energy.

What will the course cover and how will it be taught?

Over 16 hours, this course invites you to explore watercolour with curiosity and confidence, developing both technical control and expressive freedom. Through a series of enjoyable, structured exercises, you will experiment with washes, layering, texture, and colour relationships, building skills that lead towards resolved final paintings. An experimental approach is encouraged throughout, helping you loosen up, take creative risks, and expand your personal style. 

You will learn how to begin a painting with clarity and purpose, adapt and rescue work in progress, and build depth through transparent layers. Practical guidance will cover essential materials, including papers, brushes, pigments, and alternative tools, as well as colour mixing. 

Teaching includes live demonstrations, guided studio activities, group discussion, study of selected artists’ work, peer feedback, and individual one-to-one support to nurture your development. 

Who is it suitable for?

This course is suitable for beginners and those wishing to refresh their practice.  

Important Information

This course will be held in Studio 3. There are no sessions during half term 25-29 May, or during 1-7 June.

 What do I need to bring?

All painting materials need to be provided by the students.  

Please bring:

1. Basic set of watercolour paints ( a good student quality set of 12 colours is good, like Cotman or Windsor and Newton). 
2. One decent round watercolour brush (No. 8, 10 or 12 is good and sable or sable mix is best), plus the option to bring a ½” – 1” soft flat brush 
3. Kitchen roll. 
4. A watercolour mixing palette or a couple of white plates to mix colours on. 
5. Water spray bottle. 
6. Water pots. 
7. Some decent watercolour paper at least 300gms (gummed pads are good). Paper surfaces in Rough or Cold Pressed is best.  
8. Masking Tape. 
9. A small notebook and pencil. 

Are there any additional costs?

No

About the tutor

Catherine MacDiarmid brings over 30 years of teaching experience to her role, combining extensive classroom practice with the insight of a dedicated, practising artist. She has exhibited widely, including the BP Portrait Award (2001/02), the New Light Art (2021/22 and 2023/24), and regularly at the Mall Galleries. Her work has received numerous accolades, most recently the Watercolour Materials Award at the Jackson’s Painting Prize in 2023 and the People and Faces Award 2025 at the Lake Artists Society. She is an elected member of the Lakes Artists Society and the Contemporary British Portrait Painters. Catherine has also appeared on Portrait Artist of the Year (2014 and 2018), reaching the semi-finals in 2019. Alongside private portrait commissions, her work is collected internationally, and she is based in her home studio in Kendal.

See all Creative Learning courses here.