Have You Tried Watercolour or Soft-Pastel Before?…
Recognise Any of These Statements?…
Where’s my painting gone? That looked great when it was wet!
Why can’t I do this? It looked so easy in the video! What am I doing wrong?
Oh my god what is that great big cauliflower thing in my sky!
Why does my painting look so tight (boring!)!
How do I get those fantastic textures I keep seeing in everyone else’s paintings?
The guy in the book said I can’t correct anything but I’ve made a mistake! What do I do?
Look at the comments above. Have you found yourself saying anything like this lately? Is this you? Well if it is I would love you to come and take one of my workshops. My workshops are all about helping you get back to having fun during your painting time and more importantly actually getting the medium you are working with to do what you want it to do.
I will help you to see why some of the things you may have been shown previously might actually be the very things that are stopping you from progressing and I will also show the simple techniques that I use personally. In fact every painting you see on this web-site has been produced using a combination of the very techniques that I will teach you. Sound Good?
During each workshop I will demonstrate and pass on the very techniques that I have used day to day in my own painting for the last twenty odd years that enable me to produce landscape paintings full of atmosphere, drama & texture. I will also show you how to recognise when it can be beneficial to ignore the so called rules of certain mediums and show you how much fun painting can actually be once you learn to loosen up a bit with it.
No Fluff, No Flannel Just Lots of Practical Tips & Techniques That Will Help Get You Producing Fantastic Paintings!
What Others Have Said!
Wow what a workshop! You certainly opened my eyes. I didn’t realise just how much all the little habits I have picked up have stifled my progress. As you said on Saturday we all just assume that because it’s in a book that it must be how things are done and never think to question it. I have a feeling that me and watercolour are going to become best buddies again lol - Dave Stockton
Hi Greg just a quick email to say thank you so much for the wonderful workshop yesterday. I was nearly ready for throwing my watercolours in the bin but you have shown me the way forward. Thanks for sharing your approach & experience and see you next year! - Debbie Falson
A belated thank you for a very enjoyable day on Saturday at the workshop. The best Christmas present in a long time. Thank you! - David Berry
Thank you for a great painting course I really enjoyed it. I thought I would learn a couple of tips for painting watercolours but had my painting world turned upside down.  You answered many of my half-thought questions for which I hadn’t realised that I was looking for answers.  I was heading towards being a watercolour purist but you have opened up the door for me to a wider interpretation of applying the media.  Its going to take a while to incorporate my learning into my new paintings but I am looking forwards to the challenge with supercharged vigour.  I now understand why your courses are so popular. Thanks again. – Brian Gilbert
IÂ just wanted to drop you an email to say a really big thank you for the watercolour workshop I recently attended in Coniston, It was fantastic!! Ever since meeting you & seeing your work I have been inspired to paint the mountains, as I spend as much of my spare time as I can photographing & walking the fells, but never thought I could ever paint them, so I am really chuffed to have found such pleasure in doing so. - Nicky Simmons
Hi Greg Just wanted to say many thanks for a really enjoyable and informative day yesterday. Must admit my stomach sank when you revealed “our painting”! LOL! However, you shared your tips and techniques and it happened which made for a great day in a great venue. Thanks for the inspiration! - Jackie Maher
Thanks Greg for a really brilliant workshop where I learned so many new techniques and also areas where I was going so wrong in my current work.  Everything was so easy to follow and your demonstrations brought everything into reality.  The rule books have been discarded!….Cheers once again! – Neil Roebuck
Where and when?
Workshops are held in the bustling lake district town of Ambleside at the Ambleside Parish Centre on Vicarage Rd. The venue provides a fantastic working space and excellent facilities.
For Workshop Dates & Booking Click The Button Below.
[Please note that places are limited and workshops are usually booked up very quickly so please book early to avoid disappointment.]
We start the day at 10am and finish at 4pm with a break for lunch and you can either bring a packed lunch with you or if you fancy treating yourself (and why not!) you can can visit one of the local cafe’s. Tea & coffee etc will be provided throughout the day by me free of charge and I will even throw in a some nice biccies - as long as you leave a chocolate one for me!
I will provide paper and a drawing board for you to use on the day so all you need to bring is yourself, your usual watercolour paints & brushes or soft-pastels and most importantly an open mind. If you do this I guarantee that you will have fun, leave with a painting that you are hopefully proud of and more importantly an armoury of tips & techniques that will help to ensure your future progress!
An information pack with more details and directions to the venue for your workshop will be provided by email 7-14 days before your chosen workshop date but if you have any questions before you make your booking please feel free to contact me. You can do this either by email or you can click the live-chat button on the website - if I am not available to talk just leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
I look forward to meeting you!
So Why Would You Want To Take a Painting Workshop With Me?
Well, I have been painting in watercolour for over 30 years and soft-pastel for 20 and have only ever painted landscapes & seascape. I did not go to art college so have been free to experiment without the constraints of a formal art education so to speak and this has allowed me to focus completely on developing techniques that enable me to portray the landscape as efficiently and convincingly as I can.
I am regularly booked to provide demonstrations & workshops for art clubs & societies across the U.K and these are always well received because I make a point of showing people that painting does not have to be difficult if you just adjust your approach a little.
As a professional artist I make the bulk of my livelihood from the sale of my work so I do not teach because I have to but rather choose to teach as a way of hopefully passing on what I have spent three decades plus learning.
I love what I do! And, if through teaching a few workshops I can maybe in some small way help one other person pursue their dream to become a working artist then I will be a very happy guy.
Maybe that person might even be you?
FAQ’S
Here are a few frequently asked questions. If there is anything I have not answered feel free to click the live chat button at the bottom right of the page and you can ask me direct.
Are the workshops suitable for beginners?
Short answer - YES! Although it helps if you have had a little experience with watercolour previously i.e can take a brush, mix a bit of paint and apply to the paper (nothing too advanced).Â
Do I have to supply my own materials / what will I need to take part?
I will provide everyone who attends with paper and a drawing board that they can work on for the day. With regards to paints & brushes - just bring what you have.
I try to discourage people from going out and buying a load of kit for a workshop as they may never use it again. If you do want to use the same colours as me I send out a short info pack 1-2 weeks before each workshop that has all those details.
I also have a range of quality materials on sale on the day at a discount should you wish to add to your arsenal!
Can I just turn up on the day?
No due to demand all places have to be pre-booked.
Is there disabled access?
There is disabled access. The venue can be accessed from the carpark by means of a purpose built ramp and our workshop space is on the same level.
Is lunch / refreshments provided?
I provide refreshments throughout the day i.e. tea, coffee, water with a high probability of some biccies but you will have to make your own arrangements for lunch. At Ambleside we have access to the kitchen so if you wish to bring along a packed lunch or a meal to reheat you can do so alternatively it is a very short walk to the nearest cafe's but please be advised Ambleside get's very busy during the summer and you may not have enough time to have a sit down meal.
Is there parking?
Yes there is free parking available at Ambleside Parish Centre and if for any reason the carpark is full there is plenty of parking available in the town centre.
What do I do if I need to cancel?
Life is unpredictable so I understand that things may happen that are out of your control meaning you can no longer attend the workshop you booked. Please contact me as soon as you know you can't attend your workshop by emailing me at: greg@greghoward.gallery as it's possible I may be able to offer you a place on another workshop and also so that I have enough time to offer the place on the workshop you can't attend to someone else.
If none of the other dates I can offer are suitable for you I may be able to carry your booking over to the following year or alternatively I can provide you with a refund - please note however that I can only provide a full refund if you cancel your booking at least 14 days before the workshop.
