Artists bloom during Chelsea Flower Week at Higham Hall

Pastel painting in the lovely herb garden at Mirehouse near to Higham Hall - a fantastic setting and  a real delight for us all in so many ways

Great news - our recent painting week at Higham Hall called 'Impressionistic Gardens' (celebrating natures colour and natural forms with expression), has been a complete success for everyone.

Painting in the sunny gardens at Higham Hall

Painting the beautiful mass of backlit flowers - such a glowing display of colour in the May sunshine at Higham Hall

All aglow again - the inspirational Azalea tree at Higham Hall from all sides. Such a stunning colour in the sunshine!

Using a variety of different painting media to include watercolour, gouache and pastel, painting flowers and gardens couldn't have been more fun! 

Mixing studio painting with two exclusive trips to the magnificent Mirehouse and Gardens (a private home but open to the public on select days) spending time in the tranquil gardens by kind permission by the lovely owners of Mirehouse was a really rewarding creative experience for everyone.

Demonstrating perspective techniques with pastels on Canson Mi-Tientes Touch 350gsm (sky blue) at Mirehouse and Gardens. Such stunning, inspirational and peaceful gardens

Demonstrating techniques how to layer both hard and soft pastels one over and into the other building expressive and impressionistic marks

Marion sketching in the lovely herb garden at Mirehouse - great compositions amongst the Allium planting especially wherever you looked!

Natures fireworks! Alliums in full bloom at Mirehouse and Gardens - magnificent colours

The quiet gardens proved to be a real inspiration with stunning views everywhere from the moment we entered the main gate.

Even the driveway down to Mirehouse and Gardens itself was amazing...

...so much so Sue decided to paint it with pastels - what a great result! (Unisoncolour pastels and Royal Talens Rembrandt pastels on Canson Mi-Tientes Touch 350gsm).

Marions lovely painting from the terrace at Mirehouse looking towards Basenthwaite Lake - what a great result!

The perfect month for the Rhododendron blooms to be seen in all their glory both at Mirehouse and Gardens...

...and Higham Hall

The Mature Rhododendron and Azalea in full bloom in particular at this time of the year both at higham Hall and Mirehouse and gardens were a real hit with everyone. At Mirehouse leading into the lovely walled 'bee' garden with its stone circle, sun dials, herb garden, apple trees the Rhododendron blooms were fabulous - especially the white ones! 

Perfect Azalea blooms at Mirehouse and Gardens

Celia pastel painting the beautiful view through mature trees towards Bassenthwaite Lake on the terrace at Mirehouse and Gardens

Lovely climbing roses in full bloom in a quiet corner of the gardens at Mirehouse

Just one of the lovely tranquil walkways around the mature walled garden at Mirehouse - I just couldn't resist it for my demonstration for everyone!

Another amazing student pastel painting, this time with a view directly over the gardens - such movement and expression in those pastel marks!

Another inspirational tree lined avenue at Mirehouse and Gardens - one to demonstrate for sure next time

At the front of Mirehouse stretching down to the lake towards the historical St. Bega's Church (one of the oldest and smallest in England) was a lovely, magnificent ancient meadow. It was a joy to see (and paint too) as the colours were stunning and the view was magical.

The superb mature, unspoilt, ancient flower meadow stretching down to the lake towards the lovely historical St.Bega's Church

The sign says it all

Marion painting the magnificent view and meadow towards St.Bega's church using Unison pastels on Canson Mi-Tientes 'Touch' 350gsm pastel paper. Radiant colours in the most perfect sunshine...

...and here it is! Marion's beautiful pastel painting of the wonderful view over the delightful meadow at Mirehouse

Looking back to Mirehouse and Gardens set within the most magnificent Lakeland setting

Day two at Mirehouse and Gardens - the resistance to paint the amazing and exclusive access viewpoint down Bassenthwaite Lake being just too much for some!

A rare view of Woodend Brow across Bassenthwaite Lake from the Mirehouse and Gardens estate

Whatever takes your fancy and what a result...OK, your excused for not painting the gardens with a result as good as this!

With the sun once again shining for us when we needed it most, we really made the most of the warm May weather. On our last full day of our rewarding art week together, everyone created some stunning and amazing work once again within the  lovely gardens of Higham Hall. 

Painting in the lovely sunshine at Higham Hall - such an inspirational garden!

Dazzling and delicate - lovely flowers at Higham Hall just about everywhere to inspire future paintings

With inspirational compositions everywhere and the gardens in full bloom there was plenty to inspirational views, colourful corners and lovely compositions to choose from and paint with our mixed media paintings.

With Chelsea Flower Show being on at the same time as our timely art week, it was great to relax in the comfortable lounge at Higham Hall in the evenings too with other guests with everyone being totally inspired day and night by flowers on the art course.

The natural woodland garden. Just one of the lovely mixed media student paintings created during our great week at Higham Hall - watercolour, gouache and pastel used in combination with great effect in this colourful bluebell wood painting.

A thoroughly rewarding art week for everyone and most certainly one we will be repeating again for next year at Higham Hall so do look out for that. 

Now, lets have a look at the calender for 2018 so we can see when Chelsea flower Show is on again!