During the course we will use wet into wet and wet into dry techniques, limiting the layers and using lively direct brushwork to keep watercolour fresh and singing from the page. You will gain a better understanding of colour mixing and how to use a limited palette to avoid dull muddied colours.  You will also learn how to mix and use various shades of greens and different tones, strengths and consistencies of colour, to bring lightness, harmony and a sense of space and distance to your artworks. 

You will observe Nicky creating watercolour paintings in stages, then create your own artworks inspired by the paint application methods demonstrated. Composition guidance will be offered and general support given to help everyone improve their artworks and handle the tricky yet magical medium of watercolour. Nicky helps students elevate their technical and creative skills whatever their level during the joyous journey of creating vibrant paintings.

Please bring your own watercolour kit which should consist of the following items or similar:
Watercolour paints
Any brand is OK but academy, or student quality to be avoided. I prefer tubes rather than pans.
Watercolour brushes
A medium and large round or mop style squirrel or sable
A small and medium pointed round brush - synthetic
Small detailer brush
Watercolour paper
Rough or Not surface paper minimum 250 gsm/ 1401b weight is required to achieve effective results for loose watercolour style painting.  I use Bockingford or Saunders Waterford brands but any good quality brand such as Fabriano or Langton is fine. I favour cotton rag composition over paper pulp but any good quality paper with a rough texture is fine.
Other items
Waterpots, palette, drawing board, kitchen roll, pencil, rubber
Colour Selection
This is a general selection - some paintings require a specific colour in this instance you will be notified in advance.
A warm and a cool shade of each primary and an earth tone is good to have in any watercolour palette. We will use the following often in workshops and they are fairly standard of a normal set of watercolours.
Lemon yellow or gamboge yellow
Raw Sienna
Cobalt blue
Ultramarine blue
Burnt Umber
Cerulean blue
Permanent Rose
Dioxazine Purple
Red (any primary red) 

I favour transparent colours such as the above rather than Cadmium colours which are opaque.
No greens are required as they are better mixed with various yellow and blue hues.  

Nicky Hunter

Nicky’s passion and skill for painting and illustrating flowers began with a diploma in art and design and a degree in textile design and blossomed over two decades designing embroidered and printed textiles working for well known British brands and selling internationally to global brands and fashion houses.  Through further fine art training and her love of painting with the challenging yet magical medium of watercolour her artworks bloomed into bold yet beautiful florals alive with radiant colour and light. Though her first love is florals, many more subject matters are explored, she is inspired by nature and ignited by colour.   Her career has developed into a full time professional artist and watercolour tutor teaching in Buckinghamshire at her studio in Westbury Arts Centre; also hosted nationally as a guest tutor at prestigious art schools and enjoys being hosted to demo watercolour at art societies nationally. She is passionate about supporting others on their creative journeys and improving their technical skill and artistic flair painting in watercolours too.  A selection of majestic snowy mountain scenes were selected  and exhibited in 2022 at The Gallery Holt (Norfolk) for the ‘Harmonies’ exhibition, showcasing artwork by some of the finest  artists in the UK, many accredited  RI, RSMA, RA .

www.nickyhunterart.com