Portrait Drawing Masterclass Residential
Four Night Residential Check-in Monday 17th August 2026 Check-out Friday 21st August 2026
Available spaces
Join Wendy Barratt, Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2023 and acclaimed Royal Society of Portrait Painters exhibitor, for an inspiring 3-day masterclass in portrait drawing. This immersive experience goes beyond technical skills, focusing on forging a genuine emotional connection between artist and sitter through keen observation, playful mark-making and personal expression. Wendy's approach emphasises the human essence - capturing emotion, expression and the subtle shapes that define your subject, while encouraging you to develop your unique way of seeing and interpreting the world. Day 1: Playful Exploration & Observation Dive into drawing exercises designed to unleash creativity with charcoal, pencil and mixed media. Explore ways to connect deeply with your live model, sharpen your observational skills for capturing a true likeness, and experiment boldly with tools and techniques. Wendy will guide discussions on tone, values and the power of limited materials to simplify and strengthen your drawings. Days 2-3: Building Your Portrait Work intensively on creating a portrait drawing from a live sitter. Tackle challenges creatively, trust your instincts and nurture that vital artist-sitter bond. Benefit from Wendy's group tuition, live demonstrations and personalised one-to-one feedback throughout the process. Day 3: Critique & Celebration On Friday morning, showcase your completed portrait in a supportive group critique led by Wendy and featuring your fellow artists. Share insights, celebrate progress and enjoy a communal group lunch before departing Cober Hill in the early afternoon. Optional Evening Sessions Enhance your stay with these enriching activities: Life Drawing with Christopher Shaw Outdoor Sketching with Colin Powell Art History Talk with Linda Polkowski / Eddie Lawler About Wendy Barratt Winner, Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2023 (commissioned to draw Dr. Jane Goodall for the National Portrait Gallery). Exhibitions: Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award (National Portrait Gallery), Royal Society of Portrait Painters (2023 & 2024). Member, Contemporary British Portrait Painters (CBPP). Residential Details This masterclass includes a full board four-night stay at the scenic Cober Hill retreat, just outside Scarborough and includes all materials and equipment. Check-in: From 3pm, Monday 17th August 2026 Check-out: By 10am, Friday 21st August 2026
Cancellation Policy
All Classes, Courses, Workshops and Masterclasses are priced including VAT charged at 20%. By completing this purchase you are securing a place for the Masterclass and accommodation at Cober Hill. We understand that plans can change, so we’ve outlined our cancellation and rescheduling policies for our masterclass and accommodation at Ampleforth Abbey to ensure clarity and flexibility. Masterclass Rescheduling: You can reschedule your booking up to 4 weeks before the start of the masterclass. We will transfer your booking to an alternative date and provide written confirmation of the change. Cancellations: You may cancel your booking up to 4 weeks before the masterclass for a full refund, which will be processed to your original payment method within 3–5 business days. Within 4 Weeks of the Event: Cancellations made less than 4 weeks before the masterclass will not be refunded. However, if we are able to rebook your place within the 4 week period we will be able to process a full refund. Accommodation Rescheduling: Accommodation can be rescheduled up to 6 weeks before your stay, subject to availability. We will confirm the new booking details in writing. Cancellations: You may cancel your accommodation booking up to 6 weeks before your stay for a full refund. Within 6 Weeks of the Stay: Cancellations made within 6 weeks of the arrival date will incur a 50% cancellation fee. If we are able to rebook your accommodation, we will refund the remaining balance to your original payment method. Your Right to Cancel If you are a customer living in the United Kingdom or the European Union you have the right to cancel your contract to purchase services from us within 14 days of purchase without giving notice. The cancellation period will end 14 days from the date of purchase when you purchased a service. To exercise your right to cancel you must inform us of your decision to cancel within the cancelation period. To cancel, contact us by email at info@bookaclass.org.