ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

This 4 day Oil Painting Workshop will be spent exploring the world-renowned gardens at Powerscourt House.

Dave will guide participants through the process of painting from life with a short studio based theory session and practical demonstration each day looking at the essentials of plein air painting, we will then travel up to the gardens to paint for the day, with Dave offering support and guidance on a one-one basis. 

We will cover a range of subjects including how to choose a suitable subject, planning and composition, and of course colour theory while exploring the wonderful range of colour this unique opportunity at Powerscourt Gardens offers.

Please note this workshop is not suitable for beginners but is ideal for anyone with some prior experience of oil painting that wishes to gain more understanding and experience by working alongside an award-winning and skilled Plein-air artist.

Materials needed

Bring all the oil paints that you are familiar with and use regularly.
As a minimum you should have:

Artists Quality Cadmium Lemon
Alizarin Crimson & ultramarine (students quality is fine)
Titanium White

Some medium - Dave uses 50%/50% sansodor (or similar) and linseed oil

Brushes - I recommend Rosemary & Co Hog Filberts series 47 in a range of sizes

Some panels (I use canvas panels in a range of sizes from 6x8” to 12x16” and prep them with a thin diluted layer of burnt umber acrylic)

Some paper towels

A pochade box or portable easel to work on.

Meet Dave

" I’m drawn to light, atmosphere and mood in paintings. A successful painting is when a great subject, however simple, meets with the incredible colour and texture that oil paint can offer”

Dave West was born and raised in South Wales and is now settled in Balbriggan, North County Dublin. He studied Illustration at the Carmarthenshire College of Art & Design also gaining a degree in Art History with the Open University. He has had numerous solo exhibitions and exhibited widely in Group Shows including the Royal Hibernian Academy, Royal Ulster Academy, and in the UK with the Royal Academy, Royal Society of Oil Painters, Royal Society of Marine Artists, The New English Art Club, The Royal Society of British Artists, and the UK Pastel Society, at which he won the 2013 Schminke Award. Ice has won awards at several plein air festivals including a first prize at ‘Paint out Norfolk’ in 2023, and at the 'Art In The Open’ festival, a Silver award in 2024 and the Gold Mayoral first prize in 2017.

ABOUT POWERSCOURT

Powerscourt Gardens in County Wicklow was named no. 3 in the World’s Top 10 Gardens by the National Geographic, second only to the Palace of Versailles and Kew Gardens in London. Powerscourt is the only one of the three that is not state owned.  Dating back to the 13th century, Powerscourt is a vast country estate noted for its magnificent Palladian style mansion and 47 acres (190,000 m2) of formal landscaped gardens in the picturesque village of Enniskerry, County Wicklow. Set on a commanding hilltop position, against the backdrop of the Sugarloaf mountains, a sweeping terrace on the mansion’s southside opens onto a breath-taking, ornamental garden and lake. 

The Gardens offer visitors a sublime blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statues and ornamental lakes, secret hollows, and rambling walks.  Managed by Head Gardener, Alex Slazengerand a team of gardeners, Powerscourt Gardens were designed from 1731 onwards, with the desire to create a garden which was part of the wider surrounding landscape. Powerscourt Gardens include The Walled Gardens, The Italian Garden, The Dolphin Pond, The Japanese Garden, Pets Cemetery and Pepperpot Tower, among other features and attractions.

Powerscourt Gardens - National Geographic Award: The prestigious accolade comes from National Geographic’s “Top Ten” series of the best trips, adventures, and places to visit in the world.