Colourful Cockerel: Loosen up Your Watercolours
Day Course
£80pp
High-quality materials included
A Taste of What’s To Come…
What You Will Do
We will explore a range of classic watercolour techniques that, together, will combine into this cheerful cockerel artwork.
You will learn how to control your paint based on the fundamental techniques of stamping, wet on wet, lifting, dry brush, salting, wet on dry, washes and glazing, as well as mistake correction.
We will start with a fun exercise, painting 5 feather shapes, each made with different techniques. In the afternoon, you will transfer the cockerel drawing provided onto the best quality watercolour paper, ready for you to get painting.
No Experience Necessary
This course is suitable for all levels of art experience, whether you are new to watercolour painting or are experienced and just want to hone your skills or loosen up your technique.
Caroline will demonstrate techniques for you to practice before you begin the major cockerel exercise in the afternoon.
Caroline and Emma will be on hand throughout the day to offer support and advice, including while you create the cockerel artwork in the afternoon.
You will be given handouts to bring home, allowing you to revisit what you learned during the course.
Creative Processes
Caroline will take you through the process of creating the cockeral artwork after lunch. From sketch transfer and light to dark painting, through to the final fine details.
During the course, you will be provided with two sheets of top-quality watercolour paper, professional-quality paints, brushes, and other necessary sundries.
If you don’t finish on time, there will be a full equipment list for you to take home to source the paints for yourself.
You will also have free access to the online cockerel painting course for a limited time. This video can be downloaded and kept forever, allowing you to finish or repeat the course at your own pace at home.
FAQs
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Caroline will demonstrate several traditional watercolour techniques for you to try out during the course.
In the morning we will undertake wet on wet, wet on dry, dry brush, salting, lifting, washing and glazing while painting 5 simple feather shapes.
Our palette comes form nature and is matched to the beautiful plumage of a proud cockerel bird.
You will transfer the sketch provided onto your finished sheet ready for painting - this is a useful skill in itself, if you like to paint form a reference image.
We will be painting our cockerels in the afternoon. Caroline will demonstrate the various stages of the artwork, harnessing the techniques learnt in the morning, and you will paint along.
Materials for the day are included and are for studio use only. There will a full equipment list, for you to be able to source the materials for yourself should finishing off at home be necessary.
The handouts will remind you of the step-by-step process and we will also offer you free access to the online version of this course for a limited time, for you to download the video and keep forever.
There will be a welcome tea or coffee and internet access.
Free parking is available.
Your provided materials include 2 sheets of best quality watercolour paper. If you require more sheets, you can buy them from us for an additional £2.00 each.
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Lunch is not provided, please bring a packed lunch with you.
Extra paper is not included in the course cost.
You will be provided with 2 sheets of paper. If you require more sheets, you can buy them from us for £2.00 each.
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Your tutor will be Caroline Tatham, a qualified lecturer who has a lifetime of experience teaching creativity and is a professional watercolour artist.
Your teaching assistant will be Emma Tatham, who will offer lots of encouragement and practical support.
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Not at all. We specialise in supporting and encouraging those with no previous experience. You just need a ‘can-do’ attitude!
If you do already have painting experince our exercises will help you to loosen up.
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Materials are included in the course cost, including top-quality paints and the highest-quality watercolour paper.
Paints, brushes and sundries are for use in the studio only.
You’re welcome to bring your own paints if you prefer.
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Do not worry! We are all creative and Caroline specialises in connecting people to their inner creative voice.
You just need to be willing to give it a go. Absolute beginners are most welcome.
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You will gain a greater understanding of the tried and tested techniques of watercolour painting, including image transfer.
You will also have an understanding of Caroline's creative process and how this can inspire your own creative artwork.
You will learn practical techniques and create a beautiful artwork to take home.
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Yes! You are very welcome to join our free online community ‘Creative Space’ where Caroline offers encouragement and feedback to posting members. In this free group.
In this free group, there is a bank of free archived resources, such as weekly botanical art prompt sheets, designed to inspire your artwork (#CreativeSpaceNatureSpark). As well as reference photos, reference images, sketches and equipment lists, from our archived Fun-Sized Art School FREE art initiative.
There is also the chance to win prizes in the group challenges.
Please see the button below.
You will also have free access to the online version of this course, for a limited time period, which you can download and keep forever!
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This course is suitable for all levels of art experience, whether you are new to watercolour and gouache painting or are experienced and just want to hone your skills.
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Saturday 4th July 2026, 10:00 - 16:00.
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The course cost is £80.
Including art materials to be used in our studio.
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Doors open at 10am where tea and coffee will be available.
The course finishes at 4pm.
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In the unlikely event that a course is cancelled, please review our Terms and Conditions.
About Your Tutor
Caroline Tatham is a passionate artist who loves helping people to discover their own innate creativity.
She studied at the Royal College of Art and has taught at a range of colleges and art schools, including Central Saint Martins School of Art in London.
Caroline is a qualified lecturer and has loved running the Cotswold Gardening School since 2010. She specialises in teaching creative design to a professional standard for those with no previous experience, helping them achieve results they never imagined possible. She is proud to have 30+ years of teaching experience under her belt.
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Join our community Creative Space and meet other like minded creatives and see some of the techniques from our courses in action.
