Plein Air Workshop
Five Days Plein Air Painting in Roundstone
Connemara · 17–21 August 2026
Monday 17 – Friday 21 August 2026 · Roundstone Community Centre & locations around Connemara
€425 total · €100 deposit · balance due four weeks before
About the workshop
The Day
The shape of the day
Mornings
Each morning we meet at 10:00 in the Community Centre. For 45 minutes I share inputs and tips on the most important aspects of outdoor painting, and I review the previous day’s work with whoever wants feedback. My approach is supportive and encouraging — sharing over fifty years of experience in a relaxed, informal way.
Out painting
At 11:00, after a quick coffee, we head out to nearby painting locations, weather permitting. I demonstrate how I select a scene and start the work, then move through the group offering one-to-one advice. Short demonstrations throughout the day illustrate specific techniques. Joining the demos is completely optional — they tend to be most helpful to painters with less outdoor experience.
The week’s rhythm
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 10:00–13:15, then 14:00–16:00. Tuesday and Thursday afternoons are free — to visit other parts of Connemara, walk, swim, or continue painting independently.
If the weather turns
If the weather isn’t suitable, we stay in the spacious Community Centre and work from references — local paintings of mine, local photos, or your own.
The Teaching
What we’ll cover
- My 10 Steps to Great Landscape Painting
- Colour Harmony
- Composition
- Key Drawing Tips
- Figures in the Landscape
What’s included
- Five days of instruction (Mon–Fri, 17–21 August)
- Daily morning sessions on key landscape painting Tips & Techniques
- One-to-one guidance throughout each painting session
- Optional demonstrations of technique and process
- Daily group review the following morning
- Indoor backup at the Community Centre on poor-weather days
Skill level
All levels welcome — from those with no outdoor painting experience through to experienced and professional painters. My teaching is matched to each person’s stage of experience and ability.
Group size
A small group — no more than twelve painters
If you’ve always wanted to join this workshop, this year may be your last chance. From this year on, I won’t be running any more in-person workshops or classes — other than possibly in Cross & Cong; and this year’s Roundstone workshop may be my last.
— John
The Place
Roundstone
Questions
Things people ask
- What happens if the weather is bad?
- We move indoors to the Community Centre and work from references — local paintings of mine, local photos, or your own. Connemara weather is unpredictable; the indoor option means a wet day is still a productive painting day.
- What level of experience do I need?
- Any. Over twenty-plus years I’ve taught complete beginners through to professional painters, and several have returned more than once. The teaching is matched to each person’s stage. If you’re unsure, write to me.
- When is the balance due?
- The €100 deposit reserves your place. The €325 balance is due four weeks before the workshop.
- What’s the cancellation policy?
- You can cancel and get a full refund up to four weeks before the workshop. Within that four-week window the deposit is non-refundable, but you’re welcome to transfer your place to someone else.
- Where should I stay?
- Roundstone has a hotel, several B&Bs, apartments to rent, and accommodation in the surrounding area. Book early — late summer is peak season in Connemara. Email if you’d like specific recommendations.