summer en plein air workshops
Paint & Picnic – Enjoy a Treat Day Out
Experience a Full or 1/2 Day Outdoor Painting Workshop. Unwind & Relax with Lots of Hands-On Help & One-to-One Tuition. Stroll through the Beautiful Surroundings, Enjoying Peace & Tranquillity.
Join Me For A Relaxing Day Of Outdoor Painting
Passionate about teaching Nina has over 20 years of experience. Unwind & enjoy an easy, fun, relaxed atmosphere, with lots of hands-on help & one-to-one tuition.
Demonstrations in sketching & painting are given. No need to worry about the rain!! We’re covered – with an area to work in no matter what the weather!!
Previous venues include workshops at: Burtown House & Gardens, Leixlip Castle, Moyglare House & Gardens. & Hamwood House.
This year En Plein Air days will be hosted by Coolamber House & Gardens, Co Westmeath & Larchill Arcadian Gardens, Co. Kildare.
Indoor workshops will take place throughout June, July & August, Maynooth, Co.Kildare.
Looking forward to sunny days ahead!!!
Full Day @ Coolamber House & Gardens - 12th July 2025
Welcome to a relaxing and inspiring day of painting en plein air painting held in the historic outbuildings of Coolamber House, nestled in Lismacaffrey, Co. Westmeath.
At the heart of Coolamber is their passion for creating a day that is both enriching and enjoyable, where education and inspiration meet in a beautiful, tranquil setting.
Coolamber House itself dates back to the early 1800s and holds a rich and fascinating history. Originally, it was home to the O’Reilly family, including Percy Philip O’Reilly, who represented Ireland in polo at the 1908 Olympics, bringing home a silver medal.
From 1947 until 2002, Coolamber became home to Prince Ernest and Princess Virginia of Saxony, bringing a unique chapter of European heritage to this Irish estate.
Five years ago, Ann Marie Durkin & her family embarked on the rewarding journey of restoring Coolamber House and its gardens to their former beauty.
Each season brings new growth and transformation to Coolamber, by hosting our plein air painting workshop we are invited to be part of this journey.
Learn, explore and simply enjoy Coolamber, leaving inspired and connected with nature.
Suitable for all levels, an acrylic painting workshop, all materials & equipment supplied.
Half Day @ Larchill House & Gardens - 9th August 2025
Say hello to Percy the peacock, look out across the lake, see the walled garden, free ranging chucks & partridges, & hear a little bit about the history of the house & garden from Mikie De Las Casas the current owner of Larchill.
The gardens at Larchill had fallen derelict, the lake drained, and the walled garden lost to grazing, until the De Casas family purchased Larchill in 1994 and set about restoring the estate.
Larchill Arcadian Garden is a ‘Ferme Ornee’ or Ornamental Farm and is the only surviving, near complete, garden of its type in Europe with ten 18th century follies, from the intriguing Fox’s Earth to the beautiful lake fortress of Gibraltar.
Enjoy the luminous effect of painting in natural light, become fully immersed in atmosphere & creativity. Be inspired to create in this calm, beautiful space.
Suitable for all levels, all media – oil acrylic watercolour, all materials & equipment supplied.
Like The Idea But Have No Clue What To Do Or Where To Start?
Don’t panic!! Nina will be on hand to help you choose a subject, get started, build and then complete your chosen piece. All levels of student ability are catered for from total beginners to intermediate and advanced level students.
No Need To Bring Any Art Materials Or Equipment. The Whole Kit & Kaboole Is Supplied!!
The Coolamber workshop is an acrylic painting workshop with all materials & equipment supplied.
Students attending Larchill can work in their preferred medium or diversify as they choose. Fees include drawing materials for working in pencil, charcoal, or pastel (papers) and painting materials & equipment for oils/acrylics (one canvas per student), or watercolour (papers).
What’s The Plan - Full & Half Day Workshops
Start the day with a warm welcome spending a moment or two saying hello over a coffee or juice before getting started.
Students are then invited to stroll through the beautiful gardens finding their bearings & relaxing into their environs, using viewfinders to seek out subjects that catch the eye. Direction is given on outdoor painting & choosing a scene to paint, practising looking and seeing, thinking about focal points & composition.
Nina will begin with a short demonstration sketch, sharing essential techniques. She’ll offer guidance on working with acrylics / other media and encourage you to experiment freely. Particiapants will have time to create their piece choosing their own spot to get set up & paint.
Then take a relaxed break, a perfect time to chat, exchange ideas, and connect.
After break students focus on building their work, adding details and refining techniques, with Nina offering individual guidance and encouragement, advising students on their use of colour, texture and overall painting techniques.
Congregate to finish off the day, reviewing work, chatting and taking photos.
If the weather is unfavourable, looking, sketching & photographing will quickly take place outdoors. Longer pieces can then be worked on from our indoor / sheltered area.
What's Included?
Coolamber is an acrylic painting workshop. At Larchill students can work in their preferred medium or diversify as they wish. Nina will advise on medium selection if students are unsure.
Fees include all materials & equipment needed to paint in acrylics (Coolamber), or students choice of medium (Larchill), oil, acrylic or watercolour. One canvas per student is supplied and watercolour paper as required.
Disposable aprons, easels, paint, palettes, brushes palette knives, water tubs, cloths etc are supplied for students use.
Students take their work home at the end of the day – usually, a sketch on paper and a painting on canvas or paper.
Entrance to the gardens & refreshments are included in the fee.
Lunch @ Coolamber – enjoy a delicious, two-course lunch in the elegant dining room of Coolamber House. Savor the flavors of fresh, seasonal ingredients and indulge in a glass of Cava (or a non-alcoholic option).
Breaktime @ Larchill enjoy a nice hot cup of tea or coffee, juice, water with some scones, pastries, fresh fruit & yogurts.
So, What Will I Need?
Wear old clothes and your most comfortable pair of shoes!!! Bring sun cream, sunglasses, bug spray, a big hat, a light warm jacket or raincoat & a camera or phone. If you prefer to work seated bring a camping stool or chair.