This vibrant and creative one-day workshop is for anyone who would like to explore the art of colour mixing and discover how different colour combinations can transform and enrich their paintings.

Do you find yourself using the same colour palette in your work? Are you reluctant to explore new colour combinations, or simply not sure where to start?

This workshop focuses exclusively on colour, encouraging experimentation and play to discover new approaches, unexpected combinations and palettes that resonate with you.

You’ll learn how to mix colours with greater accuracy and confidence, while exploring how colours are influenced by those around them and how they interact when placed side by side.

We’ll also explore fun and practical exercises around combining and contrasting colours, as well as ways to gather colour inspiration from books, objects and your everyday surroundings.

Working with acrylic paint and coloured collage papers, you’ll create a series of colour studies and swatches throughout the day. These will become a personal collection of colour ideas and combinations that you can return to for inspiration in your future work.

This is a playful and experimental workshop designed to encourage you to look at colour in new ways, step outside your usual palette and develop greater confidence in your own colour choices.

Experience

This workshop is suitable for both beginners and more experienced artists who would like to explore colour in a more intuitive and experimental way. While the workshop is particularly suited to painters, the exercises and ideas can be applied across a range of creative practices, including illustration, printmaking, textiles and other visual disciplines.

Teaching Experience

With over 15 years experience as an artist and art educator, I bring a practical and encouraging approach to teaching, creating a relaxed environment where participants feel comfortable experimenting and developing their own ideas.

I’ve taught a wide range of students through workshops, mentoring and higher education, including at Falmouth University, the St Ives School of Painting and The Tate. My approach is centred on sharing knowledge, encouraging curiosity and helping each person develop greater confidence in their own creative process.

I hold a full PGCE, have a BA arts degree from Birmingham University and completed my MA in fine art at Falmouth University in 2013.

Location

The workshop will take place at The Poly, a beautiful historic arts venue in the heart of Falmouth, Cornwall.

Falmouth train station is less than a 10-minute walk away, and there is a public car park conveniently located 5 minutes from the building, making it easy to access by car.

The Poly also has a wonderful café, Solskin, where you can order lunch during the workshop.

The Poly
24 Church Street
Falmouth
Cornwall
TR11 3EG

Practical Information

Time: 10.30am–4.30pm, with a one-hour lunch break

The price includes all materials and equipment

Group size: Maximum of 12 participants

Workspace: Each participant will have their own large table to work on.

Please get in touch if you’d like recommendations for local accommodation.

I’m also running two other workshops at The Poly during the same week: Expressive Acrylic & Ink on March 10th and Discover Mixed Media on March 11th. Both workshops explore different approaches to working with water-based paint and may be of interest if you’re looking to experiment with new techniques and develop your practice further. If you book more than one workshop taking place in March, you can enjoy 10% off with the code WORKSHOP10 at checkout.

Payment: If you would prefer to split the cost of the workshop into two payments, this can be arranged. Please email me at studio@lauramenzies.co.uk to discuss.

A fun and experimental one-day workshop exploring the playful processes of painting with inks and acrylics. I’ll share ways to work with both mediums in an expressive and intuitive way, alongside a range of mark-making tools and exercises designed to loosen up your approach.

Working on paper and raw canvas, you’ll explore the unique qualities of each medium — from the way inks flow and bleed to the translucent layers that can be built up with acrylics. We’ll experiment with different mark-making tools and techniques, encouraging you to step away from the need for perfection and embrace a more intuitive, process-led approach to painting.

The workshop also draws inspiration from the techniques of one of America’s most influential artists, Helen Frankenthaler (1928–2011). Frankenthaler became particularly well known for her pioneering soak-stain technique, in which thinned paint soaked into unprimed canvas, creating expansive areas of colour and unique, atmospheric effects.

I’ll guide you through ways of building up transparent layers to create loose, atmospheric and abstract paintings. We’ll also explore how drawing materials, including pastels, pens and coloured pencils, can be incorporated to add definition, texture and further layers to your work.

The day will include tutor demonstrations, plenty of time for experimentation and play, and the opportunity to develop a small series of paintings to take away with you.

Experience

This workshop is suitable for both beginners and more experienced artists who would like to loosen up their approach.

Teaching Experience

With over 15 years experience as an artist and art educator, I bring a practical and encouraging approach to teaching, creating a relaxed environment where participants feel comfortable experimenting and developing their own ideas.

I’ve taught a wide range of students through workshops, mentoring and higher education, including at Falmouth University, the St Ives School of Painting and The Tate. My approach is centred on sharing knowledge, encouraging curiosity and helping each person develop greater confidence in their own creative process.

I hold a full PGCE, have a BA arts degree from Birmingham University and completed my MA in fine art at Falmouth University in 2013.

Location

The workshop will take place at The Poly, a beautiful historic arts venue in the heart of Falmouth, Cornwall.

Falmouth train station is less than a 10-minute walk away, and there is a public car park conveniently located 5 minutes from the building, making it easy to access by car.

The Poly also has a wonderful café, Solskin, where you can order lunch during the workshop.

The Poly
24 Church Street
Falmouth
Cornwall
TR11 3EG

Practical Information

Time: 10.30am–4.30pm, with a one-hour lunch break

Materials: The price includes all materials and equipment

Group size: Maximum of 12 participant

Workspace: Each participant will have their own large table to work on.

Please get in touch if you’d like recommendations for local accommodation.

I’m also running two other workshops at The Poly during the same week: Exploring Colour on March 9th and Discover Mixed Media on March 11th. Both workshops explore different approaches to working with water-based paint and may be of interest if you’re looking to experiment with new techniques and develop your practice further. If you book more than one workshop taking place in March, you can enjoy 10% off with the code WORKSHOP10 at checkout.

Payment: If you would prefer to split the cost of the workshop into two payments, this can be arranged. Please email me at studio@lauramenzies.co.uk to discuss.

During this playful and experimental workshop, you’ll explore a range of materials including acrylic, ink, collage and pastels and discover how they can be layered to create rich mixed-media artworks full of texture and depth.

You’ll begin by creating your own collage papers through a series of guided mark-making exercises, experimenting with colour, pattern, texture and gesture. You’ll then combine these papers with other selected materials, layering them onto wooden panels to create a small series of striking artworks.

This workshop is an opportunity to let go of perfectionism and embrace a more intuitive and experimental approach to making. By combining and layering different materials, you’ll discover the unexpected possibilities that can emerge when you allow yourself to play, experiment and loosen up your approach.

Experience

This workshop is suitable for both beginners and more experienced artists who would like to explore new ways of combining materials and develop a more playful and intuitive approach.

Teaching Experience

With over 15 years experience as an artist and art educator, I bring a practical and encouraging approach to teaching, creating a relaxed environment where participants feel comfortable experimenting and developing their own ideas.

I’ve taught a wide range of students through workshops, mentoring and higher education, including at Falmouth University, the St Ives School of Painting and The Tate. My approach is centred on sharing knowledge, encouraging curiosity and helping each person develop greater confidence in their own creative process.

I hold a full PGCE, have a BA arts degree from Birmingham University and completed my MA in fine art at Falmouth University in 2013.

Location

Location

The workshop will take place at The Poly, a beautiful historic arts venue in the heart of Falmouth, Cornwall.

Falmouth train station is less than a 10-minute walk away, and there is a public car park conveniently located 5 minutes from the building, making it easy to access by car.

The Poly also has a wonderful café, Solskin, where you can order lunch during the workshop.

The Poly
24 Church Street
Falmouth
Cornwall
TR11 3EG

Practical Information

Time: 10.30am–4.30pm, with a one-hour lunch break

Materials: The price includes all materials and equipment

Group size: Maximum of 12 participants

Workspace: Each participant will have their own large table to work on.

I’m also running two other workshops at The Poly during the same week: Exploring Colour on March 9th and Expressive Acrylic and Ink on March 10th. Both workshops explore different approaches to working with water-based paint and may be of interest if you’re looking to experiment with new techniques and develop your practice further. If you book more than one workshop taking place in March, you can enjoy 10% off with the code WORKSHOP10 at checkout.

Payment: If you would prefer to split the cost of the workshop into two payments, this can be arranged. Please email me at studio@lauramenzies.co.uk to discuss.

A calm and inspiring half-day workshop exploring creative journalling as a way to gather ideas, document experiences and nurture your artistic practice. Through a combination of watercolour, collage, sketching and mark-making, you’ll discover simple and playful ways to start your own art journal.

I’ll share how I use my journals to capture ideas and inspiration, drawing on my recent travels in India as an example of how journalling can inform and influence new work. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore a selection of my own art journals and gain insight into the different ways they can be used as a source of inspiration and a way to strengthen your connection to both yourself and your creativity.

The workshop will include tutor demonstrations, gentle guidance and plenty of time to explore different approaches to recording your ideas.

By the end of the session, you’ll have explored a range of techniques and leave with ideas and inspiration to continue at home independently.

Experience

No previous experience is necessary. This workshop is ideal for anyone looking to reconnect with their creativity or find new ways to gather ideas and inspiration. It’s also perfect for those with busy lives who would like to make more space for creativity, even in small pockets of time.

Teaching Experience

With over 15 years experience as an artist and art educator, I bring a practical and encouraging approach to teaching, creating a relaxed environment where participants feel comfortable experimenting and developing their own ideas.

I’ve taught a wide range of students through workshops, mentoring and higher education, including at Falmouth University, the St Ives School of Painting and The Tate. My approach is centred on sharing knowledge, encouraging curiosity and helping each person develop greater confidence in their own creative process.

I hold a full PGCE, have a BA arts degree from Birmingham University and completed my MA in fine art at Falmouth University in 2013.

Location

The workshop will take place at The Poly, a beautiful historic arts venue in the heart of Falmouth, Cornwall.

Falmouth train station is less than a 10-minute walk away, and there is a public car park conveniently located 5 minutes from the building, making it easy to access by car.

The Poly
24 Church Street
Falmouth
Cornwall
TR11 3EG

Practical Information

Time: 10.30am–1pm

Materials: Please bring a hardback sketchbook to work in. An A5 or A4 size would be ideal. All other materials and equipment for journalling are included in the workshop price.

If you book more than one workshop taking place in March, you can enjoy 10% off with the code WORKSHOP10 at checkout.

Payment: If you would prefer to split the cost of the workshop into two payments, this can be arranged. Please email me at studio@lauramenzies.co.uk to discuss this.

Enter your email address in the box below to be notified as soon as the next workshop date is confirmed.

Join me for a fun, creative and experimental introduction to painting with oil and cold wax—a wonderfully versatile medium that adds body, transparency and depth to oil paint while allowing for rich layering, expressive mark-making and faster drying times.

Whether you're completely new to the medium or looking to build confidence with oil painting, this workshop offers a welcoming and supportive environment in which to experiment, play and discover new ways of working.

Together we'll explore how to create intuitive, abstract paintings full of atmosphere, texture and depth, while developing the confidence to work more freely and embrace the unexpected.

What You'll Learn

Throughout the day you'll explore:

• How to use oil and cold wax to create luminous, layered surfaces.

• Building depth and texture through multiple layers.

• Expressive mark-making using a variety of tools.

• How to loosen your approach and paint more intuitively.

• Embracing experimentation and the unexpected.

• Materials, mediums and setting up your workspace.

• Creating abstract compositions with confidence.

The day includes tutor-led demonstrations, plenty of time for experimentation, personalised one-to-one guidance and opportunities to connect with other creatives in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere.

By the end of the workshop, you'll have created a series of approximately eight paintings on paper, along with new skills, confidence and inspiration to continue exploring the medium in your own practice.

Who Is It For?

This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as artists looking to expand their practice and gain confidence with oil and cold wax. No previous experience with the medium is required.

Location

The workshop takes place at The Poly, a beautiful historic arts venue in the heart of Falmouth, Cornwall—a vibrant coastal town renowned for its creative community and close connection to the sea.

The venue is less than a 10-minute walk from Falmouth Town railway station and has public parking nearby.

Workshop Information

• 10.30am–4.30pm (including a one-hour lunch break)

• All materials, specialist tools and refreshments included

• Maximum of 12 participants

• Each participant has their own dedicated table and wall space.

• Flexible payment plans are available—please email studio@lauramenzies.co.uk to arrange this.

About Me

I hold a PGCE in Art & Design and have over 15 years' teaching experience. Alongside my professional studio practice, I have been a visiting lecturer at Falmouth University and regularly teach at Tate St Ives and the St Ives School of Painting.

I hold a BA in Performing & Visual Arts from the University of Birmingham and completed my MA in Fine Art at Falmouth University in 2013.

‘I can’t recommend Laura’s cold wax and oil workshop highly enough. It’s a method I’ve been wanting to explore for some time . Her way of explaining the various mixing and layering techniques and her encouragement of intuitive, free and loose mark-making was exactly what I wanted. I’m now working on pieces at home and loving the process

Enter your email address in the box below to be notified as soon as the next workshop date is confirmed.

Join me for an inspiring three-day workshop exploring the expressive possibilities of oil and cold wax in the beautiful seaside town of Falmouth, Cornwall.

Working in a relaxed, supportive environment, you'll discover how to create intuitive, atmospheric landscape paintings inspired by the colours, textures and rhythms of the Cornish coastline. Whether you're looking to loosen your approach, deepen your understanding of abstraction or explore a new medium, this workshop offers the time and space to immerse yourself in your creative practice.

Oil and cold wax is a wonderfully versatile medium that adds body, transparency and depth to oil paint while allowing for rich layering, expressive mark-making and faster drying times.

What You'll Explore

Over three days, we'll investigate a wide range of techniques and processes, using photographs, sketchbooks, found natural materials and your own memories and imagination as starting points for painting. Participants are also welcome to bring their own landscape-related reference material if they wish.

Throughout the workshop, I'll share the approaches I use in my own practice to create expressive, abstract landscapes that evoke a strong sense of place.

Together we'll explore:

• Creating intuitive, abstract landscape paintings

• Working with oil and cold wax medium

• Building rich layers, texture and depth

• Expressive mark-making using a variety of tools

• Colour, composition and atmosphere

• Loosening your approach and painting more freely

• Developing your own visual language

• Creating a personal response to the Cornish landscape

By the end of the three days, you'll have created a substantial body of work—approximately 15 paintings on paper—along with new skills, confidence and fresh ideas to continue developing your practice.

Who Is It For?

No previous experience with oil and cold wax is required, although some painting experience will be beneficial.

You may have attended one of my shorter workshops, completed one of my online webinars through the St Ives School of Painting or experimented with the medium independently. Whatever your starting point, the workshop is designed to help you build confidence while developing your own individual approach.

Location

The workshop takes place at The Poly, a beautiful historic arts venue in the heart of Falmouth—a vibrant creative town shaped by its close connection to the sea.

The venue is less than a 10-minute walk from Falmouth Town railway station and is close to public parking.

Workshop Information

• 10.30am–4.30pm each day

• Maximum of 12 participants

• All specialist materials and tools included

• Split payment options are available—please email studio@lauramenzies.co.uk to arrange this.

• My full refund policy can be found at the bottom of my website.

• If you're travelling from further afield, I'm happy to recommend local accommodation.

About Me

I hold a PGCE in Art & Design and have over 15 years' teaching experience. Alongside my professional studio practice, I have been a visiting lecturer at Falmouth University and regularly teach at Tate St Ives and the St Ives School of Painting. I hold a BA in Performing & Visual Arts from the University of Birmingham and completed my MA in Fine Art at Falmouth University in 2013.

‘Laura’s workshop was all I had hoped for and expected but also so much more. The workshop filled in many gaps and allowed me to propel my learning forwards. Laura is an excellent, kind and patient teacher and gently leads- encouraging reflection and engagement at a steady pace. She was also extremely generous with her knowledge and resources. I feel the course was a catalyst for a new direction of work and I can’t wait to get back into the studio with this new understanding and sense of focus’.

‘I can’t recommend Laura’s cold wax and oil workshop highly enough. It’s a method I’ve been wanting to explore for some time . Her way of explaining the various mixing and layering techniques and her encouragement of intuitive, free and loose mark-making was exactly what I wanted. I’m now working on pieces at home and loving the process.’

"Laura is a gorgeously generous teacher - she gives so freely of her energy, enthusiasm, warmth and of course, knowledge and skill. Prior to joining her in-person 3- day Oil and Cold Wax workshop, I had undertaken her Creative Journaling online course, which seriously and wonderfully reinvigorated my personal practice, so I already knew I liked Laura's style of instruction and creative approach, as well as her art. The workshop turned out to be one of the best things I've ever done - truly a life-affirming experience. I learned so much about how to see, understand and engage in the artistic process. I've loved getting back into my own practice since, which had lapsed for some years due to lack of confidence. Gladly, Laura helped me tap back in and renew my creative spirit."