With over 70 courses on offer during 2007, all with excellent tutors, we feel that we have something for everyone, whatever their level of ability or preferred medium.

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Watershed Studio offer a warm welcome to students at our rural studio that lies on the edge of our family farm in North Essex. The studio was converted seven years ago and I can safely say that hosting art courses is infinitely preferable to feeding calves on cold and damp winter mornings! With views over open farmland, chickens strutting around the garden, plus the occasional visit from an inquisitive farm dog it is all very peaceful and conducive to the creative process!

2006 was another wonderful year for us here - it was lovely to see so many familiar faces returning, some wanting to try new courses and different tutors and some preferring to come to familiar favourites. We were also thrilled to welcome new students and hope they will be back this year too. Our Open Weekend in July 2006 was particularly successful - the weather was wonderful and we had over 14 tutors demonstrating, some for a short stint and some staying all weekend. Over 600 people visited.

A huge thanks must go to all of our wonderful tutors who come down to Watershed - we might provide a warm welcome with good food but it is the tutors that make the courses so stimulating, inspiring and enjoyable - a truly winning combination! We have kept all the same tutors as in 2006 but thrown in some new courses to ensure that we keep the programme fresh and exciting. These are listed on this site [2007 Programme] but please do call, or email, if you would like further information or want to talk about the various courses [contact us]. It is always a good idea to get in touch anyway to check availability of spaces before booking - some courses are already full this year. As we also run the family farm from the house you might have to leave a message but I will endeavour to get back in touch with you as soon as possible.

The Studio Facilities

The Studio was converted from a redundant farm building nearly seven years ago, and we could never have imagined that the old calf rearing barn would prove such an ideal venue for the many scores of successful courses that have been run there since. Our students agree that the atmosphere is welcoming and friendly deceptively spacious. We are wheelchair friendly and there is ample parking. The Studio enjoys a rural outlook over open farmland and the adjacent meadow is also popular with painters.

The Food

Home-cooked farmhouse lunches form an important part of the day with students eating either in the conservatory or outside on the terrace, depending on the weather. Special dietary needs are catered for provided you inform me well in advance, preferably at the time of booking! Karen, my mother in law and trusted helper and aide is often about at lunchtimes and we both enjoy catering for such an appreciative clientele! Practically all courses include lunch in the price and homemade cake in the afternoon with tea and coffee etc on tap during the day.

Special Breaks and Studio Hire

Watershed Studio are happy to organise special days for art groups and clubs wishing to try something different or want a change of scene. We have excellent facilities in a lovely environment and we can organise a tutor, meals etc if required too. Unfortunately, because the programme is so full we cannot offer longer breaks but please call me, Allison, to chat over the options - I am always happy to help where I can.

Informal Life Drawing Days - with model but no tutor.

Watershed Studio doubled the number of these classes in 2006 and again they have been very popular so I have added more dates for 2007. They will now take place once a month except during the winter. It is advisable to book early – as the maximum I will take on a class is 12, these days fill quickly.

These informal days, with no tutor, always take place on a Monday and where possible they are adjacent to other tutored life courses in case anyone wishes to extend their visit here! We do try to use different models where possible, both male and female but obviously sometimes this isn’t always possible. Patricia from Myriad Modelling Agency has been brilliant during the past year providing some excellent new models for all our classes much to the appreciation of the students and tutors.

Each day costs £20 and runs from 10am to 4pm with a break for your own packed lunch. Tea and coffee is available on tap. The day is run by mutual consensus between the artists and model and they work extremely well!

Private Tuition

Some of the tutors are happy to give private coaching at the Studio - although you arrange this directly with them please call me first for further details.