Art Courses
About Freedom in Painting
Find your freedom - painting courses in Cornwall, Aylesbury and Kent.
The concept of ‘Freedom in Painting’ is that as artists, rather than being in awe of the subject, to move our practice forward, we need to invent, challenge and surprise ourselves and transform the subject into something that is ours, utilizing all our knowledge and skills in the pursuit of an idea.
Our NEW Loyalty Programme
From January 2023, if you attend four courses or workshops (including online workshops) - with at least one being a course in Cornwall, you will be eligible for a Limited Edition (50) Signed Giclee. You can find out more HERE.
To contact Ashley Hanson, please email or call 01208 77656 or 07534 043845.
at YOU TUBE VIDEO CHANNEL
A perfect antidote to Lockdown. This is an opportunity to watch Ashley live from the studio, working on a new 'Penzance' painting, from beginning to end, in a series of 8 half hour videos throughout February. Ashley will share his ideas, influences, process and techniques with the viewers, giving a fascinating insight into contemporary painting. In our previous 'Painting Process' sessions, many of our viewers found the videos invaluable for their own practice.
Eight years since the last painting in the 'Penzance' series, it's time to look again, with fresh eyes, at this fascinating harbour-town, with its' curious house-shaped inner-harbour and triangular lido.'
HOW IT WORKS: Subscribers will be be emailed the exclusive video links at 6.30pm on a Wed and Sat, from Wed 3 Feb. This will be accompanied by high resolution images of the painting in process. The links will be available to you to view in your own time and for you to refer back to indefinitely.
at The Old Lifeboat House
The unspoilt fishing-village of Porthleven, with its' iconic clock- tower and unique double-harbour, is the setting and inspiration for this 6-day painting course. Our studio is the Old Lifeboat House, dramatically positioned at the head of the harbour. Uniquely on our courses, artists will be working towards a one-day exhibition on the Thursday 4 April. This is an opportunity for artists with some experience to work in a small group – maximum seven - in a wonderful location that has inspired many of Ashley's own paintings.
Click here for review and gallery from the COVID safe Autumn 2020 Porthleven courses
Click here for review and gallery from the October 2019 Porthleven courses
at Online ZOOM Workshop
In a new Online Venture, using ZOOM, we aim to replicate the format and ambitions of our popular Freedom in Painting workshops. Suitable for artists with some experience. You will need a space to work and a reasonable internet connection and a laptop or tablet.
On day one, a slideshow and demonstration will be followed by a series of group exercises where the 10 artists, working with an simple image of their own choice (jug, boat, figure, vase, building, animal, tree etc), will explore a shifting relationship between image and ground before developing their painting (s) further on day two.
at Port Isaac Village Hall
Port Isaac is a traditional fishing village set amidst rugged and magnificent scenery on Cornwall's North coast, with narrow winding streets lined with whitewashed cottages that head down to the harbour. Truly inspirational: a rich variety of viewpoints and subject matter, an intoxicating mix of the natural and the man-made coastal landscape.
Click here for review and gallery from the 2019 painting holiday where we visited Port Isaac and Trebarwith Strand
Click here for the review of our Great Art competition winner on the 2018 Port Isaac course.
at The Old Lifeboat House
The unspoilt fishing-village of Porthleven, with its' iconic clock- tower and unique double-harbour, is the setting and inspiration for this 6-day painting course. Our studio is the Old Lifeboat House, dramatically positioned at the head of the harbour. Uniquely on our courses, artists will be working towards a one-day exhibition on the Thursday 4 April. This is an opportunity for artists with some experience to work in a small group – maximum seven - in a wonderful location that has inspired many of Ashley's own paintings.
Click here for review and gallery from the May 2019 Porthleven course
Click here for review and gallery from the October 2019 Porthleven courses
at Creek Creative, Faversham,Kent
HARBOUR: (A safe haven...usually). An intoxicating mix of the man-made and the natural landscape: structure, movement, weather...
Working out of the history of the genre - painterly Joan Eardley, the colour of Derain and Marquet, the analytical approach of Seurat & Signac and the abstractions of the St.Ives School - artists on this 2-day studio-based 'Freedom in Painting' workshop will explore the possibilities in painting using the motif of their chosen harbour, working from their drawings and photos.
'Harbour' has been a specialism of Artist-tutor Ashley Hanson throughout his career, with many series including Porthleven, Penzance, Aberdeen, Whitstable, Portsmouth and Barcelona.
at Creek Creative, Faversham,Kent
HARBOUR: (A safe haven...usually). An intoxicating mix of the man-made and the natural landscape: structure, movement, weather...
Working out of the history of the genre - painterly Joan Eardley, the colour of Derain and Marquet, the analytical approach of Seurat & Signac and the abstractions of the St.Ives School - artists on this 2-day studio-based 'Freedom in Painting' workshop will explore the possibilities in painting using the motif of their chosen harbour, working from their drawings and photos.
'Harbour' has been a specialism of Artist-tutor Ashley Hanson throughout his career, with many series including Porthleven, Penzance, Aberdeen, Whitstable, Portsmouth and Barcelona.
at Creek Creative, Faversham,Kent
Explorations of the possibilities of the window in painting...
Looking in, looking out, a frame within a frame.The role of the window has changed in painting from a supporting role, one of many motifs, to becoming a subject in its own right. During this 2-day workshop, participating artists will respond to the idea of window within painting: from the framing of views to the abstraction of the painted frame.
Artists are asked to bring drawings/photos of their favourite window(s) and the view beyond as the springboard for their paintings.
at Creek Creative, Faversham,Kent
Explorations of the possibilities of the window in painting...
Looking in, looking out, a frame within a frame.The role of the window has changed in painting from a supporting role, one of many motifs, to becoming a subject in its own right. During this 2-day workshop, participating artists will respond to the idea of window within painting: from the framing of views to the abstraction of the painted frame.
Artists are asked to bring drawings/photos of their favourite window(s) and the view beyond as the springboard for their paintings.
at Queens Park Art Centre, Aylesbury
A Freedom in Painting workshop exploring, mixing/making/working with the powerful opposites of black and white.
BLACK: Death & mourning, evil, anarchy, fear, strength, power, elegance, austerity, sadness.
WHITE: Purity, innocence, birth, cleanliness, peace, humility, winter, cold, clinical, beginnings.