Courses in Painting, Printmaking, Drawing and Ceramics tutored by professional artists.
Weekly Courses
A few hours at at time, each week, throughout the year, predominately in ceramics. See Pottery Hub for details
Immersive Courses.
A full day, three days or five days. These courses offer immersive time to get inspired, get connected and deepen your knowledge. Stay on site in our residential accommodation, or travel to and from Coombe each day (if you live locally, or prefer to stay in accommodation off site).
“The teaching was relaxed, informative and supportive but also encouraged you to develop and have confidence in your own style. It’s a quiet haven, a place to fully immerse yourself in being creative and relax completely.”
Introduction to Pottery Weekend - Beginners Pottery.
A three day course designed specifically for anyone wanting to work with clay for the first time. This course led by our regular class pottery tutor Verran Townsend and you will have a chance to both handbill and throw on the wheel.
Pottery - How to Set Up Your Pottery Studio - 1 day course with Lara Lloyd.
A one-day course designed for anyone setting up their own pottery studio and looking for practical hands-on advice and guidance.
What’s the best system for recycling clay? How much shelving will I need? What goes in a studio risk assessment? Who are good UK suppliers? What size kiln do I need? Do I need three phase electric supply…A pugmill…a slab roller…a spray booth? Where can I get the best buckets?
Painting - DAVID MANKIN Remembering in Paint - 3 day course, Abstract Landscape Painting in Acrylic + Mixed Media - SOLD OUT
Join David on an exciting voyage through the expressive handling of paint and materials, mark making and collage.
He will guide you through the process of translating the shapes, textures, feelings and moods of the landscape in paint.
Painting - DAVID MANKIN Remembering in Paint - 3 day course, Abstract Landscape Painting in Acrylic + Mixed Media - SOLD OUT.
Join David on an exciting voyage through the expressive handling of paint and materials, mark making and collage.
He will guide you through the process of translating the shapes, textures, feelings and moods of the landscape in paint.
Painting - 5 day course, Intuitive Abstract Painting in Acrylic + Mixed Media with Kate Trafeli.
An experimental intuitive painting course working with acrylics and mixed media, this course is suitable for painters of all abilities. It will be particularly useful if you have some painting experience and want to experiment with abstraction and how you use colour, or if you have a more experience but you want to free up from your current style and spend some time experimenting with a different approach.
Ceramics - Platters and Place: an introduction to painting and mark-making with slips- 3 Day course with Anna Lambert.
This is a three day course with internationally recognised and celebrated professional potter Anna Lambert. Learn how to develop designs for simple slab built ceramic platters and tiles. You will discover ways to build complex and layered surfaces with tonal and coloured slips, using combinations of surface pattern techniques.
You'll start with the rolling of slabs for plates and test pieces. We will then spend time around Coombe Farm, drawing and gathering ideas for the workshop.
Painting - A bold approach with Tessa Pearson.
A bold approach to sketchbook painting is a fresh and vibrant course with accomplished painter and printmaker Tessa Pearson. You will spend time drawing the surrounding gardens and hedgerows using a variety of mixed media including resists, pastels, watercolour, inks and crayons to create lively spontaneous sketchbook studies which we will then translate into more considered paintings in the studio, capturing the energy and characteristics of the direct observation.
Painting & Drawing for Absolute Beginners - Immersive 5 Day course.
This inspiring and enjoyable drawing & painting course for beginners is for people who have always wanted to draw and paint but just don’t know where to start or want to develop their work.
If you are familiar with the fear of the blank page, have the feeling that you can’t draw, or you want to expand your skills, this course is suitable for you.
Painting - 5 day course, Intuitive Abstract Painting in Acrylic + Mixed Media with Kate Trafeli.
An experimental intuitive painting course working with acrylics and mixed media, this course is suitable for painters of all abilities. It will be particularly useful if you have some painting experience and want to experiment with abstraction and how you use colour, or if you have a more experience but you want to free up from your current style and spend some time experimenting with a different approach.
Intermediate Painting & Drawing for Improvers - 5 Day course.
This inspiring and enjoyable drawing & painting course for improvers is for those that have taken part in beginners courses and want to progress their work.
Francine Lawrence and Susi Hoyle have taught over 2000 people to draw and given them the confidence to keep drawing.
Ceramics - Slab built and Slip-painted Ceramics – Responding to Place - 5 Day course with Anna Lambert.
This is an immersive five day intensive pottery residential with the internationally recognised potter Anna Lambert. Anna builds her work from a white earthenware mixed clay, using a variety of handbuilding techniques.
Painting - A bold approach with Tessa Pearson.
In this course Tessa will introduce you to the fabulous techniques for making monoprints using a silkscreen. This very experimental and unpredictable printmaking method uses no prepared matrix and each print is basically a one off painting created from layers of handpainted and drawn imagery pulled through a screen . Tessa will share her own techniques and we will also explore additional elements of drawn marks and collage with cut stencils. Imagery will be drawn from sketchbook explorations , and time will be spent considering colour and composition. This course is suitable for all abilities with a sense of adventure, prepared to embrace the unexpected!
Painting - DAVID MANKIN Remembering in Paint - 5 day course, Abstract Landscape Painting in Acrylic + Mixed Media - SOLD OUT.
Join David on an exciting voyage through the expressive handling of paint and materials, mark making and collage.
He will guide you through the process of translating the shapes, textures, feelings and moods of the landscape in paint.
Ceramics - Dylan Bowen - Making and decorating dynamic slip decorated earthenware - 1 place released.
Dylan Bowen. Making and decorating dynamic slip decorated earthenware - During this course Dylan will demonstrate and teach various techniques based on his own work.
Painting - 5 Day course, Watercolour Abstract Landscapes with Paul Riley.
This course is designed to explore the process of abstracting from the figurative world of nature and to careful editing and composition to leave space for your watercolours to ‘breathe’.
The landscape tradition in watercolour has been long established.
FAQs
What is your cancellation policy?
A deposit of £150 is required at the time of booking, this is to secure your place on the course and is non-refundable and non transferrable unless we are cancelling the course in which case you will be refunded. The balance of course fees are required three weeks before your course starts. They are also non-refundable and non transferable, therefore we suggest you take out adequate travel insurance at the time of booking to ensure you are covered in the event that you are unable to attend your course. Download our full Terms & Conditions for courses here
Is there availability on the course I want?
SOLD OUT courses will be marked as 'Sold Out', and there will not be an option to ‘add to cart’ other courses will have availability.
I can only eat certain things, will this be a problem?
Not at all, when you book your place the booking form will ask you for our dietary and/or access requirements so just let us know and we’ll cater for you accordingly.
Can I bring my dog?
Coombe is home to chickens who supply our eggs, as well as wide variety of people, some of whom have canine allergies. Therefore we don’t support owners bringing their dogs with them/dogs on site. Our neighbours next door at Fingals do accept dogs therefore you have the option of booking with us as non resident and staying next door with your dog.
Do I have to have lots of experience?
No, all our courses are suitable for all abilities except where expressly described i.e. painting for beginners. The rest of the courses are suitable for all, from artists making a living from their work, to complete beginners and we welcome this mix.
What is the cost of a course?
Course prices range from £370 + VAT for a long-weekend to £815 + VAT for a 5-day residential course full board - see each specific course for exact prices.
Do you take waiting lists?
Yes, please email us to join a waiting list for a specific course or tutor or email us here.
How do I get from Totnes train station to Coombe?
Recommended taxi companies from Totnes are Badger Cabs or And Some Cabs. If you let us know when your train time we can see if others would like to share a taxi with you. Sometimes we are also able to pick you up depending on arrival times so do check with us. At the end of the course, we can give you a lift back to Totnes train station.
If I book as a resident, will I have to share a bedroom?
No all our rooms are for single occupancy unless you expressly wish to share a double room with a partner, in which case just let us know at the time of booking, for everyone else all rooms are for single occupancy.
How do I book on to a course?
Click onto the course for more information and online booking OR call us and we can either book you in over the phone or send you a booking form in the post 01803 722 352.
I’m not sure which course is best for me, can someone advise me?
Yes of course, give us a ring to discuss your interests and level of experience and we can advise you on different options and answer any other queries you may have 01803 722352.
Question not answered?
If your question isn’t answered here, please do get in contact with us