Finding the botanical winter wonders: the not-to-be-underestimated evergreens, the very early rising winter bulbs and corms, along with some wonderfully-scented winter twigs, and more. Susan Christopher-Coulson (Lancashire www.highamhall.com/susan-christopher-coulson) Residential: £606 Non-residential: £424 (incl. optional minibus trip

A starter, or refresher, to get to grips with the basics in drawing. Be set projects to work on. Experiment with a variety of drawing media and develop skills under the diligent tutelage of a practising fine artist. Ceri Allen (Carlisle www.highamhall.com/ceri-allen) Residential: £242 Non-residential: £172 ESSENTIAL ART SKILLS is an on-going series to dip into as you wish.

*NEW* Painting Retreat: Artist (Linda) and a Theologian (Trevor) will offer artistic guidance and illustrated talks, respectively, as an enriching foundation to stimulate your creative juices. Look at ways in which various artistic traditions have engaged imaginatively with a sense of the human future, through different interpretations: representational, imaginative and even abstract. Explore how we can represent in painting our own understanding of our world's radical changes and their impact on humanity. Linda Birch (www.highamhall.com/linda-birch) Trevor Pitt (www.highamhall.com/trevor-pitt) Residential: £445…

Skills passed down by medieval craftspeople to create small-scale designs using 24-carat-gold leaf and pigments (a small amount of lead is possible). No drawing experience necessary, choose from a selection of medieval designs, including illuminated letters. Toni Watts (Lincoln www.highamhall.com/toni-watts) Residential: £262 Non-residential: £192 (incl. materials) Toni's FURTHER ILLUMINATION follows

Accurately draw fruit, veg, or plant and anchor it with shadow. Choice of subjects, or bring your own: grapes, tangerines, apples, nuts, asparagus, pakchoi, fennel, flowers, winter shrubs, beautiful leaves. An endless variety, even in Winter. One of the UK's foremost pencil artists. Janie Pirie (Suffolk www.highamhall.com/janie-pirie) Residential: £436 Non-residential: £304 Followed by Janie's DRAWING A BIRD OR ANIMAL. Attend both, save £30.

This course is only suitable for those with experience in laying manuscript gesso and using loose leaf gold. You will work on three small projects, one combining flat and raised gilding, one combining different colours or textures of gold (with the option to add tooling) and one using shell gold and watercolour paint. There will be a choice of two designs for each. NOT for beginners. Toni Watts (Lincoln www.highamhall.com/toni-watts) Residential: £262 Non-residential: £192 (incl. materials) Preceded by an INTRO…

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, this short break art holiday gives artists the ideal opportunity to explore Derwent's Inktense blocks on Canson cotton rich watercolour paper (all provided), using a bold approach and an expressive use of colour with this versatile and unique contemporary painting media. (Sorry, not suitable for pure beginners to art as the creative techniques taught may be too advanced.) Robert Dutton (Yorkshire www.highamhall.com/robert-dutton) Residential: £355 Non-residential: £254 (incl. materials)

Bird or animal of your choice (must be a clear, detailed picture), or from a supplied image. Following demos, apply colour, copy onto good paper and then colour step by step. Draw a stunning piece to be proud of, inspired by one of the UK's foremost pencil artists. Janie Pirie (Suffolk www.highamhall.com/janie-pirie) Residential: £340 Non-residential: £239 Preceded by Janie's BOTANICAL STILL LIFE. Attend both, save £30.