*NEW* Starting with light, shade, tone, texture, pattern and even a short session on portraits, this course aims to help you explore the basics of an artist's toolbox. Hone essential skills and find out how to develop for different kinds of subject. Both experienced and beginners welcome. Viv Philpot (Hampshire www.highamhall.com/viv-philpot) assisted by Geoff Philpot Residential: £466 Non-residential: £334 (inc. Materials)

An inspiring time to observe emerging buds and flowers with colours and textures fresh and ready to show! Capture a single specimen or create a composition. Relaxed atmosphere, individual attention, techniques explained for both beginner and experienced to work at their own pace. Lots of pencil types to try plus some new introductions and various paper surfaces. Susan Christopher-Coulson (Lancashire www.highamhall.com/ susan-christopher-coulson) Residential: £436 Non-residential: £304

*NEW* Explore lots of creative and expressive techniques with mixed media. Engage with your subject with greater depth, meaning and feeling. Create sumptuous paintings with acrylic inks, watercolour/ gouache, soft pastels - often in the same study. Robert Dutton (Yorkshire www.highamhall.com/robert-dutton) Residential: £340 Non-residential: £239

Cottages and villages, trees, bushes, flowers and, of course, lakes using Dry Pencil Media: graphite, coloured and water-soluble (with a water pen). Sketch around our grounds, also visit some local places for rustic buildings, livestock with the dynamic of gorgeous Lakeland scenery. For all. Margaret Eggleton (Surrey www.highamhall.com/margaret eggleton) Residential: £456 Non-residential: £324 (inc. Field Trips)

Be a less predictable Artist, modernise your painting approaches and re-ignite your passion. Explore ways of seeing and illustrating trees to express a little of the joy you perhaps could feel as a child, when imagination took you wherever you wanted to go. Jason Skill (Northumberland www.highamhall.com/jason-skill) Residential: £436 Non-residential: £304

The early summer garden is full of the most amazing subjects. Use this very forgiving medium, enjoy a relaxing few days of creativity. Draw your subject to show it at its best, choose the right colours, learn tricks to create a beautiful botanical illustration to be proud of. Demos and individual tuition throughout from an RHS gold medal award-winning tutor. Janie Pirie (Suffolk www.highamhall.com/janie-pirie) Residential: £529 Non-residential: £365

Paint in a variety of settings: Studio, Higham grounds and Lakes National Park. Enjoy demos, paint-alongs and painting en plein-air. Photograph and print your own scenes ready for painting in the studio. Develop skills, improve confidence. Beginners upwards. Mike Dobson MBE (N. Yorkshire www.highamhall.com/mike-dobson) Residential: £436 Non-residential: £304

Using some of the oldest drawing techniques., with inspiration from work by great artists, we will explore the techniques of traditional Pen and Ink and experiment with other Water-soluble Media. Ceri Allen (Carlisle www.highamhall.com/ceri-allen) Residential: £242 Non-residential: £172 Our hop-on, hop-off series aims to gently embed, refresh and refine the Foundation Skills for being a Fine Artist. Each course includes a slideshow and is Observational rather than working from photos.