Workshops & tuition

‘Wildflowers and Rolling Hills’

A day-long outdoor sketching and botany day in the beautiful Howardian Hills.

Saturday 6 July 2024, 11am–4pm

Birkdale Farm near Terrington, North Yorkshire. View map here.

Birkdale Farm is a 300 acre working family farm in the heart of the beautiful Howardian Hills National Landscape. It is a haven for wildlife and all their farming practices nurture biodiversity.

£120 per person including tea/coffee and home made cake at lunchtime (Max six people per workshop)

Bring your own materials. A selection of materials can be purchased from Kate on the day, should you need them.

Enjoy a day of guided botanical observations and sketching on a beautiful farm in the rolling Howardian Hills with Kate Pettitt (artist) and Frances Standen (conservationist, farmer and protected landscape management specialist). Frances will tell you about the abundance of wildflowers on the site, while Kate will guide your sketch book observations and techniques to collect useful visual information while out in the landscape.

Throughout the day, we will move around the farm to explore areas where wildflowers grow and views of the surrounding countryside are optimal.

Home made charcoal and fresh home grown produce will be available to buy on the day.

Nature / landscape lovers with an interest in wildflowers and ecology, and who love to draw, or who want to give it a go! You don't have to draw it all. You might want to focus on the flowers, or you might be more interested in drawing the views but enjoy Frances's insights – the locations we stop in will allow you plenty of choice and variety.

The workshops are suitable for all artistic abilities, whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned artist. You will receive guidance based on your own needs.

You will be encouraged to explore your materials, learn to look/observe and record useful information in your sketch book for later use.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions, meet like-minded people and enjoy the very special location.

Please note that this is an outdoor workshop. Some walking across farm land with some gentle hills and rough paths will be required, and some flexibility regarding inclement weather conditions is essential. You must ensure that the location is suitable for your own mobility/health requirements. Please see the Workshops terms and conditions and contact me if you have any questions.

Kate Pettitt is an artist based in York. She is experienced in the skills required to paint and sketch outdoors and uses her own sketches and outdoor studies to inform her studio paintings. Her work is exhibited and represented by galleries in England and Wales. Kate will provide artistic advice and guidance throughout the day.

Frances Standen is a farmer, shepherdess, ecologist, wild swimmer and cake baker! She has worked in conservation and protected landscape management for nearly 30 years providing freelance services with a specialism in land management. Frances will tell you all about the wildflowers and ecology of the site as you sketch, and answer any questions you might have.

Bring your own materials. A selection of materials can be purchased from Kate on the day, should you need them.

TRAVEL LIGHT! Don't be tempted to bring too much – remember you will have to carry it around all day, so think 'portable'.

I recommend the following essential items, plus any specific materials you like to work with:

• Sketch book that can take a bit of water (A5 is ideal, but no larger than A3-ish)
• Graphite pencil (water soluble if possible)
• Charcoal/black pastel pencil
• Chalk/white pastel pencil
• Tube of white gouache
• Watercolour paints
• Water brushes or maximum of three brushes of different sizes
• Lightweight fold-up chair (seat pads are available for sitting on the ground, but you might prefer to have more support/comfort)

You might have other materials that you like to use or might want to experiment with eg. pastels or acrylics so do bring them along. Just remember to keep it lightweight. Please do not bring oil paints or thinners.

I will provide (so you don't have to):

• Mixing palettes
• Water containers
• A3 boards
• Seat pads for sitting on the ground
• Pencil sharpeners
• A selection of essential art materials that can be purchased on the day, should you need them or forget yours. Please bring a bit of cash with you if you need these (and to buy some home made charcoal and eggs etc!)

Other things to bring:

• A packed lunch and a bottle of water/drink
• Sunscreen
• Any medication you might require

Wear:

• Sensible footwear suitable for walking on uneven ground and it might be a bit muddy if we have had rain
• A waterproof if the forecast is showery
• Layers if the weather is forecast chilly
• You might find a sunhat/peaked cap useful if the sun shows its face!

‘A Garden Sketch Book’

Day-long outdoor workshops at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens, North Yorkshire.

All dates are Tuesdays (when the gardens are closed to the public), 10am–4pm

• 23 July
• 20 August
• 24 September

Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens, located to the south of York. View map here.

Stillingfleet Lodge Garden and nursery is an organically managed, wildlife friendly, family garden close to York. Described as a quintessentially English garden, it is first and foremost a family garden, lovingly planted-up over 40 years by owners Vanessa and John Cook. It is a fine example of how to balance encouraging wildlife whilst retaining all the beauty of a cottage garden. The four acre site comprises a series of themed areas surrounding the traditional farmhouse plus a pond, meadow and vegetable garden.

£75 per person including your first tea/coffee and home made cake of the day (Max eight people per workshop).

Bring your own materials. A selection of materials can be purchased from Kate on the day, should you need them.

Fill your sketch book under Kate’s guidance, observe and gather useful information, and use your materials to capture the colour and movement of the plants through the summer season from July–September.

During your day at Stillingfleet, we will meet for introductions, coffee and cake before owner, Vanessa Cook, walks you around the gardens. Kate will then work with you, moving around the different garden areas to observe and record them over the course of the day.

All of these workshops take place on days when the gardens are closed to the general public so you will see the gardeners busy at work – an aspect of the place not usually visible to visitors.

Bookings are via Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens.

Garden / plant lovers who love to draw, or who want to give it a go!

The workshops are suitable for all abilities, whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned artist. You will receive guidance based on your own needs.

You will be encouraged to explore your materials, learn to look/observe and record useful information in your sketch book for later use.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions, meet like-minded people and enjoy seeing the gardens in 'work mode'.

You will be walking around a working garden with some uneven surfaces that may be slippery wen wet. Some flexibility regarding inclement weather conditions will be required. You must ensure that the location is suitable for your own mobility/health requirements. Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens own terms and conditions will apply to this workshop.

Kate Pettitt is an artist based in York. She is experienced in the skills required to paint and sketch outdoors and uses her own sketches and outdoor studies to inform her studio paintings. Her work is exhibited and represented by galleries in England and Wales. Kate will provide artistic advice and guidance throughout the day.

Vanessa Cook has been gardening nearly every day at Stillingfleet for over 37 years. It is a labour of love which started after she and her husband, John, bought a near derelict old farmhouse in the 1970s, surrounded by four acres of open fields. Vanessa will introduce you to the gardens at the start of the day.

Bring your own materials. A selection of materials can be purchased from Kate on the day, should you need them.

TRAVEL LIGHT! Don't be tempted to bring too much – remember you will have to carry it around all day, so think 'portable'.

I recommend the following essential items, plus any specific materials you like to work with:

• Sketch book that can take a bit of water (A5 is ideal, but no larger than A3-ish)
• Graphite pencil (water soluble if possible)
• Charcoal/black pastel pencil
• Chalk/white pastel pencil
• Tube of white gouache
• Watercolour paints
• Water brushes or maximum of three brushes of different sizes
• Lightweight fold-up chair (seat pads are available for sitting on the ground, but you might prefer to have more support/comfort)

You might have other materials that you like to use or might want to experiment with eg. pastels or acrylics so do bring them along. Just remember to keep it lightweight. Please do not bring oil paints or thinners.

I will provide (so you don't have to):

• Mixing palettes
• Water containers
• A3 boards
• Seat pads for sitting on the ground
• Pencil sharpeners
• A selection of essential art materials that can be purchased on the day, should you need them or forget yours. Please bring a bit of cash with you if you need these (and to buy some plants from Vanessa's nursery or extra cake of course!)

Other things to bring:

• A packed lunch and a bottle of water/drink
• Sunscreen
• Any medication you might require

Wear:

• Sensible footwear suitable for walking around the gardens. It might be a bit wet/slippery in places if we have had rain
• A waterproof if the forecast is showery
• Layers if the weather is forecast chilly
• You might find a sunhat/peaked cap useful if the sun shows its face!