Contemporary Portraiture Masterclass
Four Night Residential Check in Monday 21st September 2026
Available spaces
Join us for an inspiring four-night portrait drawing masterclass at the serene Cober Hill, nestled in the picturesque North Yorkshire countryside. Led by Samira Addo, the 2018 Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year winner, this residential offers an immersive introduction to contemporary portraiture for artists of all levels. Known for her self-taught mastery of oils and her bold, emotive style, Samira will guide you through three structured workshops, each building essential skills in drawing, painting, and capturing a sitter’s essence. Day 1: Introduction to Contemporary Realism You’ll explore the foundations of contemporary realism, developing your own style through Samira’s expressive approach. Learn to use key tools, including brushes, palette knives, and oil paints, focusing on bold mark-making and varied paint application techniques to create dynamic textures. Day 2: Introduction to Portraits and Faces Focusing on observing and processing a sitter’s features, you’ll learn to sense and feel the emotional nuances that bring portraits to life. Day 3: Exploring Colour and Texture in Portraits You’ll explore colour theory and texture, learning to select limited palettes that evoke mood and energy, inspired by Samira’s vibrant style. Experiment with techniques to achieve a likeness through abstract mark-making, blending realism with expressive flourishes to capture a sitter’s essence. Optional evening sessions include: - Life Drawing with Christopher Shaw - Outdoor Sketching with Colin Powell - Art History talk with Linda Polkowski / Eddie Lawler The residential package includes full board, en-suite accommodation in Cober Hill’s historic mansion house with breakfast and evening meals provided, alongside a daily buffet lunch. Complimentary refreshments, including tea, coffee, and snacks, are available throughout the day in breakout areas. Check in begins at 3:00pm on Monday 21st September with check out by 10:30am on Friday 25th September. Following check out you are welcome to join your tutors and other participants for refreshments and a chance to discuss your week and share the work you have created before saying your goodbyes and departing Cober Hill. Payment Plans We normally ask for payment up front for all residentials, however we are also able to arrange a payment plan for you. Please contact info@bookaclass.org for more information and to book.
Cancellation Policy
All residentials are priced including VAT charged at 20%. By completing this purchase you are securing a place for a residential, including full board accommodation at Cober Hill. We understand that plans can change, so we’ve outlined our cancellation and rescheduling policies for our residentials to ensure clarity and flexibility. At North Yorks Art School (NYAS), we incur a number of costs as soon as a residential booking is made — including venue, tutor, bank charges and administration fees. Unfortunately, due to the increasing number of cancellations, we now need to pass on a portion of these costs to customers when cancellations occur. Rescheduling Your Booking You can reschedule your booking up to 8 weeks before the start date of your residential free of charge — provided you transfer your place to another NYAS residential event taking place at Cober Hill (subject to availability). Reschedules outside of this time will be subject to a 10% booking fee. We will confirm the change in writing and transfer your place accordingly. Cancellations & Refunds If you choose to cancel your booking rather than reschedule, the following cancellation fees will apply: Over 6 Months 90% Refund 4 to 6 months 80% refund 2 to 4 months 70% refund 31 to 60 days 50% refund 30 days or less No refund Refunds will be processed to your original payment method within 3–5 business days once the cancellation is confirmed. Your Right to Cancel (Cooling-Off Period) If you live in the UK or EU, you are entitled to a 14-day cancellation window from the date of booking. Within this period, you may cancel for a full refund without providing a reason. To exercise this right, contact us at info@bookaclass.org within the 14-day period. Refunds will be processed to your original payment method. For all booking-related enquiries, rescheduling requests or cancellations, please email: info@bookaclass.org