Dorset Landscape Inspired Summer School 2025

Thursday 24th, Friday 25th, Saturday 26th July 2025

Join Ali to be inspired by the iconic Dorsetshire countryside including historic buildings, majestic coast, rolling hills and magnificent wildlife. Ali will encourage you to immerse yourself in your chosen subjects and experiment with media both traditional and contemporary to create works bound to be original and creative.

Overview

Ali is hosting a Summer School inspired by her home county which she adores. Spend three days surrounded by glorious Dorset and enjoy Alison’s expert, informal tuition and hospitality.

Your time together will include en plein air painting sessions, demonstrations by Ali, and one-to-one advice and support. The group number will be kept moderate to ensure everyone has the time and space to enjoy the tuition and location. A comprehensive range of mixed media with watercolour techniques will be covered and participants will focus on developing their own loose and expressive style of painting, with guidance from Ali.

Deposit

To secure your place with a deposit and pay the remainder in 2025 when a final price has been determined, please use the payment button below and checkout in the usual manner.

If you have any queries before paying your deposit, please contact Ali and she will be happy to chat to you.

Dorset Inspired Summer School 2025 deposit
£50.00
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Proposed Itinerary:

Wednesday 23rd July: Arrive in Dorset and you are invited to a relaxed and welcoming drinks evening (included in your fee) at Ali’s studio from 18:00 - 20:00

Thursday 24th July (approx 09:30 - 16/17:00): Painting on Location. Ali will arrange a trip from the studio via minibus (included in your fee) and use her extensive organisational skills to ensure that every detail is taken care of. In 2025 she is looking at two prospective locations, depending on cost and accessibility, please be aware that this may include alternative forms of transport to reach our location. You will be encourage to paint, draw, photograph and collect visual information to use in a larger piece on Saturday and Ali anticipates that you will encounter water, foliage and buildings. Lunch is included and will be provided for you.

Thursday 24th July (evening): Dinner at The White Horse pub, Stourpaine. This has now become a much anticipated part of our time together, it’s not included in your fee but allows you the opportunity to choose from a select menu in advance and the pub have always been incredible at accommodating us and taking care of our every wish.

Friday 25th July (approx 09:30 - 12:30): Painting on Location. You will invited to return to Ali’s home to concentrate on hills and fields, using the studio as a base and enjoy views across the Blackmore Vale with a comprehensive demo from Ali to inspire your own painting project.

Friday 25th July (from 13:00 - 18:00): Join Ali for a late lunch (included) at Stourpaine Village Hall before an afternoon of experimenting with techniques and materials ahead of a full day of painting. Stay at the hall until you have had a one-to-one chat with Ali, using her extensive knowledge of materials and techniques to request what you need for the following day.

Saturday 26th July (10:00 - 16:00): Spend the whole day at the hall creating uniques creative responses to your sketches and photographs gathered during your time in Dorset. Ali will work with each person individually to encourage you and before we all part company, you will be enthusiastic to share your work and learn from each other to take home plenty of inspiration for future projects.

Schedule

The itinerary will incorporate locations across the county where Ali will organise your transport and guide you through the process of successful location painting.

As this course is planned so far in advance, it is impossible to guarantee the locations we will visit, but Ali has every intention of including her own home and a trip to a very special part of the coast.

Therefore, if you would like to join Ali for this very unique holiday, please consider the following:

Early estimates suggest that the cost of the course will be approximately £450.00 (the same as in 2024) but there are many factors to include, none of which can be secured until 2025 so please bear this in mind before committing.

What is included in my fee?

Participants will be given access to any materials they request for the duration of the course and a very special welcome gift will be provided on the first day for you to use and keep. If you wish to bring your own equipment, please download our suggestions from a link when you book.

Also available for you to use during the course will be technology to support taking and printing photographs, plus we can provide comfortable chairs - unless you have a favourite you wish to bring of course!

Lunch will be provided, even when we are away from base, please inform us of any food allergies when we confirm your booking. Tea, coffee and other light refreshments will be available throughout the day or we will be at a location where they can be purchased.

If you intend to travel by train to us, please let us know and we will happily collect you from your station the day before the course starts. If you have any concerns at all regarding accessibility or inclusion, please do not hesitate to get in touch ahead of your booking. If you would like suggestions for accommodation, please scroll to the bottom of this page.

We offer unprecedented levels of support during your time with us from planning an online meet-up before the holiday, making sure you have reached your accommodation without any hiccups and looking after you while you are in the area. Your tuition, materials, transport, sustenance and hospitality are reflected in the price.

All terms and conditions can be accessed HERE, please make sure you have thoroughly read them as your balance payment is seen as compliance and acceptance.