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 & board—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."

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