This unusual combination of media – drawing pens and dry coloured pencils – has been developed by artist and author Helen Hanson to depict both landscape and the natural world.

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For this autumn course students will focus on the birds, plants, berries and mammals found in mountain and moorland habitats. Students can choose their topics and follow techniques for ink drawing, embossing and coloured pencil work, building up creative natural history images. This is slow art, but therapeutic and very rewarding, with plenty of individual tuition and advice.

About the tutor

Helen Hanson

Helen Hanson was a Fellow of the Society of Botanical Artists for 25 years, winner of the President’s Award and a former Council Member of the Society of Women Artists. She was for many years a successful printmaker, exhibiting her landscape etchings in galleries and exhibitions throughout Britain. Always inspired by the natural world, she now concentrates on works in ink and coloured pencil and has written two books for Crowood Press, Landscape in Ink and Coloured Pencil and Nature in Ink and Coloured Pencil.

About Flatford Mill

We have four buildings that are used for visitor accommodation. Whilst most rooms are either en-suite or have a dedicated bathroom, there are some
rooms in The Mill that share showers and toilets at the end of the hall. If this is
un-suitable for you please make the office staff aware upon booking or as soon as possible.

Please be aware that you are visiting a Field Centre that caters in the main for school parties; the accommodation is basic and dormitory style, but warm and comfortable.

Explore our range of botanical illustration courses and drawing and sketching courses hosted by our engaging tutors and learn from their expertise and skills. Our art courses are a chance to meet like-minded people, a chance to unwind from everyday life, and a great opportunity to experience the UK’s glorious countryside surrounding our field centres.

This course is open to participants aged 18 and over only. For under-18s, please contact the centre directly or see our young people courses and activities for families.

Example Timetable

Arrival day

Check-in is between 1600-1800. If you are arriving after 1800, please advise us so we can arrange a self-check-in.

You will meet the tutor at dinner, following which you will have your first session

What's Included

  • Expert Tuition
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Full Board Accommodation
  • Hot and Cold Drinks
  • Picnic Lunch

Before You Attend

What to bring

  • Artist’s coloured pencils (preferably non-watercolour, although these can be used dry) - Faber Castell Polychromos, Derwent Artist or
  • Procolour, Caran D’Ache Pablo or similar.
  • A4 Bristol board (Strathmore Series 300 smooth is recommended). This will be available for purchase from the tutor by the sheet.
  • An HB pencil and ruler
  • A good pencil sharpener with a very sharp blade (Möbius & Ruppert round brass sharpener is highly recommended)
  • A grey putty rubber
  • Waterproof Indian ink pens - Faber Castell Pitt artist pens (SX, S, F, M) or Staedtler pigment liner pens (0.5, 0.3, 0.1 and ultra fine 0.05.
  • A sketch pad or cartridge paper for preliminary drawings

There will be plenty of subjects to inspire, but feel to bring your own photos, images or sketches. Tuition will be suited to the topic and habitat, so please choose relevant images to get maximum benefit.

Opportunities to attend this course

  • Fri 30, October 2026 19:00 - Sun 01, November 2026 17:00

    Location
    Flatford Mill
    Price
    £225 - £320
    Tutor
    Helen Hanson
    Pay a deposit of £150.00 per item