Helen is an experienced tutor, originally qualifying as a Suzuki piano teacher in Canada before embarking on a degree in Fine Art. After completing the degree she taught painting and printmaking for local authorities and led community projects. Since 2004 she has concentrated on residential courses - for 10 years she ran her own painting holidays in Dorset, and recently she has taken painting groups to India and Paxos. Her enthusiasm for her subject, wide-ranging knowledge and ability to encourage and support each individual has ensured that her painting courses are popular and enjoyable, and her students leave with a new confidence and a desire to develop their painting skills.
Helen has been teaching watercolours on cruise ships for several years and enjoys the chance to introduce people to a new hobby and to give them the skills to develop it further when they return home - many people arrive in the classes as complete beginners then leave with some beautiful paintings and a desire to join a regular painting class.
Some comments by recent guests:
'I have discovered a whole new world out there’
'You are so kind, patient and gentle Helen!’
'I shall now try to look at things in different ways – and try lots of experimentation! Inspiring!’
'Grateful for the nice room, great food and Helen’s tuition, with her contemporary ideas on landscape painting and techniques. Also for her friendliness, knitting us together as a group.'
'I have learned a great deal from Helen about colours and been inspired to use them more boldly. Helen works so hard to help us all, no-one is left out.'
'Eye-opening – thank you. Really enjoyed the challenges with guidance. Encouraged to expand and not give up.'
'I go away full of enthusiasm to play with my paints and know I can produce something I will like. I am looking at shapes and colours with a new eye and am going to have fun experimenting with it all. ’
'I have discovered a whole new world out there’
'You are so kind, patient and gentle Helen!’
'I shall now try to look at things in different ways – and try lots of experimentation! Inspiring!’
'Grateful for the nice room, great food and Helen’s tuition, with her contemporary ideas on landscape painting and techniques. Also for her friendliness, knitting us together as a group.'
'I have learned a great deal from Helen about colours and been inspired to use them more boldly. Helen works so hard to help us all, no-one is left out.'
'Eye-opening – thank you. Really enjoyed the challenges with guidance. Encouraged to expand and not give up.'
'I go away full of enthusiasm to play with my paints and know I can produce something I will like. I am looking at shapes and colours with a new eye and am going to have fun experimenting with it all. ’
2021
April 18-23 and June 27-July 2 2021 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck.
The price of £820 includes a double room for single occupancy, 5 nights half board with a welcome cream tea on the first day. Discounts for two sharing and non-painting partners, also sometimes there is a small single room available. We will spend some time in the garden at Kingston Country Courtyard which has wonderful views, and we will walk or take the local bus to nearby places including Corfe Castle, Kingston and the cliffs. You can use any materials you like though if we're walking it's best to keep it simple. If you need any more information please contact me, and please let me know if you'd like a booking form.
2020
28 June -3 July Kingston, Dorset Cancelled
22-29 August Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight Rambles with a Sketchbook www.hfholidays.co.uk
24/11-10/12 2020 Teaching watercolours on Fred Olsen M2031 - Voyage to the Islands of the Caribbean.
2019
26 April–3 May Brecon Rambles with a sketchbook
13 – 17 May Selworthy Landscape painting
1 – 8 June Selworthy Sketching & painting in gardens
21-28 June Alnmouth Sketching & painting in gardens
20-24 August St Ives Rambles with a sketchbook
If you're interested in any of these holidays contact HF Holidays www.hfholidays.co.uk
I will also be teaching watercolour classes on a Greek Islands Cruise in September/October - https://www.fredolsencruises.com/cruise/greek-islands-and-corinth-canal-m1925
2018
February 14-March 1 Art instructor on Saga Pearl ll: Bright lights in Norway
June 23-30 Rambles with a Sketchbook, Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
July 14-22 Sketching and Painting in Gardens, Selworthy, Somerset www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
2017
February 2-16 Art instructor on the Braemar, Barbados to the Amazon
April 23-May 11 - Art Instructor on the Oriana, Mediterranean
July 22-29 Rambles with a sketchbook, Selworthy, Somerset www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
August 11-18 Rambles with a sketchbook, Beddgelert, Snowdonia www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
September 1-8 Rambles with a sketchbook, Brecon www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
December 8-21 Art instructor on the Saga Sapphire, Canary Islands
2016
27 July - 14 August Art instructor on the Saga Pearl ll: Flavours of the Mediterranean -details here
Sept 17-24th Rambles with a Sketchbook, St Ives - details here
Oct 17-21 Lino Printing at Abingworth - details here
2015
30 May - 6 June: Rambles with a Sketchbook, Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
8 - 15 August: Rambles with a Sketchbook, Sedbergh, Yorkshire www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
28 September - 5 October: Autumn Painting week on Paxos www.paxoslife.co.uk Tel: 01444 258048
26 - 30 October: Portrait Painting, Church Stretton, Shropshire www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
April 18-23 and June 27-July 2 2021 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck.
The price of £820 includes a double room for single occupancy, 5 nights half board with a welcome cream tea on the first day. Discounts for two sharing and non-painting partners, also sometimes there is a small single room available. We will spend some time in the garden at Kingston Country Courtyard which has wonderful views, and we will walk or take the local bus to nearby places including Corfe Castle, Kingston and the cliffs. You can use any materials you like though if we're walking it's best to keep it simple. If you need any more information please contact me, and please let me know if you'd like a booking form.
2020
28 June -3 July Kingston, Dorset Cancelled
22-29 August Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight Rambles with a Sketchbook www.hfholidays.co.uk
24/11-10/12 2020 Teaching watercolours on Fred Olsen M2031 - Voyage to the Islands of the Caribbean.
2019
26 April–3 May Brecon Rambles with a sketchbook
13 – 17 May Selworthy Landscape painting
1 – 8 June Selworthy Sketching & painting in gardens
21-28 June Alnmouth Sketching & painting in gardens
20-24 August St Ives Rambles with a sketchbook
If you're interested in any of these holidays contact HF Holidays www.hfholidays.co.uk
I will also be teaching watercolour classes on a Greek Islands Cruise in September/October - https://www.fredolsencruises.com/cruise/greek-islands-and-corinth-canal-m1925
2018
February 14-March 1 Art instructor on Saga Pearl ll: Bright lights in Norway
June 23-30 Rambles with a Sketchbook, Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
July 14-22 Sketching and Painting in Gardens, Selworthy, Somerset www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
2017
February 2-16 Art instructor on the Braemar, Barbados to the Amazon
April 23-May 11 - Art Instructor on the Oriana, Mediterranean
July 22-29 Rambles with a sketchbook, Selworthy, Somerset www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
August 11-18 Rambles with a sketchbook, Beddgelert, Snowdonia www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
September 1-8 Rambles with a sketchbook, Brecon www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
December 8-21 Art instructor on the Saga Sapphire, Canary Islands
2016
27 July - 14 August Art instructor on the Saga Pearl ll: Flavours of the Mediterranean -details here
Sept 17-24th Rambles with a Sketchbook, St Ives - details here
Oct 17-21 Lino Printing at Abingworth - details here
2015
30 May - 6 June: Rambles with a Sketchbook, Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
8 - 15 August: Rambles with a Sketchbook, Sedbergh, Yorkshire www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
28 September - 5 October: Autumn Painting week on Paxos www.paxoslife.co.uk Tel: 01444 258048
26 - 30 October: Portrait Painting, Church Stretton, Shropshire www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558