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Gilly Marklew watercolour artist

A watercolour artist and Natural tutor

Gilly Marklew specialises in representational watercolour painting, however, the techniques and approaches taught in Gilly's workshops, equip the artist with building blocks and techniques to take away and apply to their own self expression.

For more about Gilly as an artist please visit her facebook page Watercolour classes in east Anglia

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South Norfolk Watercolour workshops

Monthly watercolour workshops in Lundy Green NR15 2NU

Join Gilly Marklew's watercolour workshops in Lundy Green near Hempnall south Norfolk, Gilly says "my experience has taught me how to structure my courses to the needs of my students in a fun and informative way, which helps students overcome some common painting hurdles to help build confidence".

For more information on Gilly's as an artist, please go to her facebook page watercolour classes in East Anglia

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 Watercolour workshops in idyllic setting

GROVE FARM HOUSE
LUNDY GREEN
HEMPNALL
NORWICH
NORFOLK
NR15 2NU

01508 499070

gill@gilly-marklew.co.uk

Grove Farmhouse is situated in a tiny Hamlet just south of Hempnall South Norfolk, there is ample parking for a multitude of cars.

Pictured above is Gilly Marklew's teaching studio in a separate building from the main house.

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Learn how to paint with watercolours

 with experienced tutor Gilly Marklew

Gilly Marklew is offering watercolour painting  for absolute beginners intermediates and advanced students, in a fun and structured way, where you can learn techniques before applying them to paintings suited to your level.

In 2022 beginners and intermediates will be taught in the same workshop

WORKSHOP DATES

2024 intermediate workshops resume on January the 10th from 10.00 am till 4pm
 

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Beginner workshops are at Lundy green near Hempnall south Norfolk, from 10.00 am till 1.00pm and are £20 per woshop bookable in a block of 4 at £80

The latest date for a brand new beginners course is on the 20th Feb 2024

 

This is the first of a series of twice monthly half day workshops in watercolours for beginners.
This is aimed at students who have never painted in watercolour before, for those who have previously attended a beginners watercolour workshop with me, or for those who have painted before but need to overcome some common painting hurdles.
Whichever level you are at, Gilly will cater for your individual needs on the first workshop, and gradually streamline you as the workshops progress.
It is the aim of these workshops to enable the student to paint competent representational watercolours, and learn in a way which is enjoyable and absorbing.
These monthly workshops are ideal for those with busy lives who cannot commit to weekly classes, and want longer than the few hours weekly classes normally give them to consolidate what they are learning in a progressive way.
Gilly also offers email support so students can practice between workshops, and a residential option for those travelling from further afield.
It is intended that these workshops continue indefinitely and carry the student from beginner to improver and beyond.
The price advertised is for a block of 4 twice monthly workshops, and can be paid at the time of the workshop, these workshops are sequential and progressive, and will continue throughout the year.

Contact Gilly to book a place gill@gilly-marklew.co.uk

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Improvers painting

An example of how an improvers painting can progress to an advanced level

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Advanced class painting

An example of an advanced student technique in producing texture in watercolour painting using sedimentary pigments and granulation medium.

Lessons I Provide

Making Learning More Enjoyable

From how to load your brush up properly, to which angle to hold your brush, Gilly takes you through many common stumbling blocks in watercolour application.

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Beginner building blocks

Basic watercolour application

Success in beginners watercolour painting depends on starting out having a tutor who understands how to teach the basic building blocks of application technique before moving on to more explorative work, without this, the student may be left wondering what they are supposed to be doing, Gilly understands this and has a step by step structured approach on a very basic level, leaving no one behind to overcome common stumbling blocks.

She also offers after class online support with an illustrated outline of the workshop, so students can re cap what they have learned throughout the day, and practice at home.

Free taster seession Sept the 1st 10.00 till 12.00 contact Gilly to book a place.

gill@gilly-marklew.co.uk


This is an ongoing course

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Intermediate workshops

Incorporated into beginner workshops

I love taking students to the next level, once they have developed basic application skills from the beginners workshop, and watch them gain in confidence to produce competent watercolour paintings.

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Advanced watercolours

Personalized Attention

 Gilly is a watercolour artist, and has taken absolute beginners to being exhibiting and award winning artists in their own right, once a good competence at application is achieved, students can then explore composition, colour theory, perspective and much more, as well as knowing how and where to exhibit.

 

Free taster workshop from 10.00 till 12.00  contact Gilly to book.

gill@gilly-marklew.co.uk

This is an ongoing course into 2023

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Student activity

Gilly's students learning about colour in composition

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Student activity

Gilly's students creating a colour and light composition with themselves

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Student exercise

Gilly's students translating what they have learned about colour and composition to sourcing their own still life

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MEL COLLINS

Gilly Marklew was my art tutor in watercolour for four years from 2013-2017. She was based at Comberton Village College, Cambridgeshire. I joined Gilly’s tutorials after retirement having not painted since studying A Level Art in the 1970s. Encouraged by Gilly, I am now painting and exhibiting regularly in Cambridge and the local region for the Society for East Anglian Watercolourists and The Cambridge Drawing Society.

Gilly focussed on planning, preparation and plenty of painting practice in her classes. She encouraged her students to develop and keep returning to the basics (wet-on-wet washes, wet-on-dry, dry brush strokes), to experiment (with new paint brands, colours, additives), to concentrate on tonal contrasts and value masses and to think carefully about composition, both inside of the classroom and outdoors. 

Gilly demonstrated these techniques regularly and illustrated her sessions with different genres of watercolour art and different artists both new and old. Gilly gave me a love of art and a range of artists and an appreciation of colour, content and composition.

MEL COLLINS

I have attended Gilly’s watercolour painting class since the spring term of 2012, having found her on line and decided to try and see.  Gilly is an inspiring teacher who, as a brilliant artist also has the ability to teach in a way that encourages and inspires the student.  Every lesson is different and interesting, Gilly teaches the different techniques used in watercolour and often refers to historical or modern artists for illustration for her lessons.  I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of her class for the last 5 years and have learnt so much from her and absolutely recommend her classes to anyone who wants to learn how to paint in watercolours.

Scilla Devenish

TESTIMONY

Gillian Marklew is a gifted and inspirational teacher. As well as being a very accomplished watercolour artist, she is such a rare thing as an art teacher who loves teaching and who does it brilliantly. Her lessons are always fun and inspirational, as well as being well structured and filled with practical as well as theoretical information, which is put into practice during the class. She also provides comprehensive handouts, which are very useful both in class and also when painting at home.


Gilly is very hands-on and practical. She is very methodical and will guide the students through the various stages of the painting. She teaches all aspects of painting from general colour theory and composition to particular aspects of the watercolour medium, such as the ratio of water in the brush and on the paper, the difference between pigments, how to lay down washes, when to carry on working on a wet paper and when to stop and leave the paint to dry before continuing – all the things which are so important and will make a painting successful or will ruin it and turn it into mud. She also refers to paintings by other artists as examples of the topic of the day (e.g. using complementary colours) and for inspiration.


Gilly is also sensitive to different students’ levels of experience and will guide each student according to their needs. She always gives friendly and encouraging feedback, and will also point out where and how you can improve your painting. She is always available for questions and will give clear and comprehensible advice.


I have been to Gilly’s residential summer courses for the last six years and also to some of her day classes in Norfolk. I always find her classes very enjoyable, and I always come away feeling I have learnt new, inspiring and useful things, and I have often produced a picture I would have regarded as impossible before receiving Gilly’s expert and friendly tuition.


I can highly recommend Gilly to anyone who wants to embark on the journey of learning watercolour painting and to those who have already started and wish to continue the journey. You will learn about the wonderful process of painting with this beautiful medium – and you will have lots of fun!


Marita Byrne

Paintings by Gilly Marklew

These are some of the paintings Gilly Marklew has created showing the various techniques Gilly Teaches

View Gallery

There may be no better way to communicate what we do than through images. As you browse our site, take a few moments to let your eyes linger here, and see if you can get a feel for our signature touch.

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