Are you interested in learning more about field sketching and watercolours, wildlife and botanical illustration? Do you enjoy nature rambles and birdwatching? Do you want help identifying warblers and spring wildflowers and new ideas about how to keep an artistic record of what you see? Then read on.

Along with world-renowned bird painter Sophie Webb, I have set up a new workshop based around my home and the forests of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve. We will spend three days in these escarpment lands, learning the craft of a professional illustrator and enjoying spring birds, frogs, wildflowers and more. Each participant will try their hand at field sketching and watercolor painting, mostly done outside, direct from live subjects. We will also review techniques for more detailed studies and spend some time working on fur or feather texture, leaf venation, or petal form. Sophie and I will assist all participants in their work and demonstrate our own styles and approach to nature painting. We will visit Fiona’s own 26 acre forest, other Halton Region forests, Crawford Lake Conservation Area, and several other sites in Halton.

For the second half of the workshop we will drive to Long Point Biosphere Reserve, where we will spend our early mornings out birding, learning about warblers, tanagers and a host of arrivals from the south. Later in the day we will paint and/or sketch the landscape, plants or animals that we find. We will also visit Rondeau Provincial Park, a prime location for spring birding and a glorious area for hiking and nature study. We will spend 3 days in these two reserves before returning to the Milton area.

Spotted Owl by Sophie Webb (scroll mouse over pictures to see titles for other pieces)

Workshop dates: May 10 to 15, 2009, excluding arrival/departure days.

May 10 to 12 we will be in Speyside, located 15- 30 minutes from Milton, Georgetown, Guelph and Oakville, Ontario. Participants living in this area can stay at home and take part in the workshop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

May  13 to 15 we will be staying in a hotel in the Long Point area.

Participants from out of town should plan to arrive in Toronto on May 9. We will meet your flight and take you to a hotel or bed and breakfast in Georgetown and we will arrange all transport and accommodations. We will take you to the airport on May 16 for flights home.

Anyone wishing to take part in the first 3 days only, or last 3 days only, may do so, but priority will be given to those who wish to sign up for the entire workshop.

This workshop is limited to 8 participants.

Cost: Non-residents, full workshop, arriving May 9, departing May 16, all accommodations (7 nights), meals, transport, entry fees and  course: $2,200 US

Local residents: 6-day workshop with 2 nights hotel accommodations, lunches on days 1-3, all meals on days 4-6, transportation and entry fees: $1,500  Cad

Local residents: 3 day workshop in Halton, May 10-12 lunches only, own transport: $400 Cad (or $150 per day for 1-2 day signups)

Local residents: 3 day trip to Long Point area May 13-15 all inclusive: $ 1,100 Cad

Please email me (see Contact page) for more information and to register.