" As we have large groups of foreign children in the months June 20 - August 31, the house has all the necessary facilities for welcoming groups.
" The art courses take place in any other time of the year.
" The house has a beautiful setting: both with its garden and the village setting. (see photos).
" There are 16 beds available.
" There are 2 kitchens with electric and Aga cookers. (see photo)
" There is a long dining room with a 21 foot table which doubles up as work space!
" There is a small indoor swimming pool which when covered with planks becomes a lesson room studio. .
" There are 3 shower rooms. Each with lavatory and basins. Bedrooms are not "en suite".
" There is a further single lavatory and basin (see photos)

ART FACILITIES.
" For the specific art facilities. There is a fine etching press on which to do intaglio printing -both etching and lino cuts. (photo of press and children's work)
" There is a pottery kiln in which to do simple work. We offer this as an extra as we have no wheel so all "pots" or figures are hand made.(photos of children's work)
" There is plenty of work space. (photos)
1. Lower "cellar used as theatre for children groups (see link if you are curious)
2. The table in the "long rrom".
3. The sitting room.
4. The large loft "TV room"
5. The "swimming pool" is quickly boarded over and gives a well lit studio.

THE COURSE
" Since Middlesmoor village and the house are in a particularly beautiful setting, and I myself am a landscape painter (see photos) the emphasis of the course will be on Landscape painting. Weather permitting, we will paint outside. For wet weather, beside continuing with work in progress, we can do drawings that can develop into etchings or lino cuts to do on our press..
" A little simple pottery making is also possible.
" The "teaching" in the course will have these aspects. Most amateur painters do not want to be burdened with much abstract talk. What they are looking for is some useful hints and "tricks" that they can work into their own practice. I have found that the engine of such courses is often the enthusiasm and support from the group and the "teacher" needs to read the group and the different needs of each individual.
" We have an interesting collection of books and slides and for those interested, the material that I have bout together for my book on "2oth Century Painting will be interesting. My main intention is to illustrate how the main push of 20th century painting was in extending the language of representation and almost in rediscovering formalities that perspectival drawing had put aside. This rather than the "discovery" of abstraction is what I think is important.
" As for the mysteries of painting, they are best dealt with from the individual paintings and person.
" Recently I have moved from oil painting to watercolour and acrylic painting.
" A good art courses requires enjoyable surroundings, the company of other enthusiasts, sensitive and not interfering "teaching" and decent food.

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