D O R S E T A R T R E T R E A T S
with Karina Nixon at Launceston Farm
A seasonal bi-monthly series of immersive one-day oil painting retreats exploring atmosphere, colour, light and landscape through slow, intuitive painting practices in the peaceful surroundings of Launceston Farm with artist, Karina Nixon. Each workshop is inspired by the shifting mood of the seasons and designed to leave you creatively refreshed, restored and inspired.
Join artist Karina Nixon for a slow and immersive day of landscape oil painting in the beautiful surroundings of Launceston Farm. Through guided demonstrations and individual support, you will explore creating atmosphere, depth and softness within the landscape through colour and tone, in a supportive and relaxed environment. Inspired by the quiet beauty of shifting skies, softened horizons and subtle colour relationships, this retreat invites you to move beyond representation and instead focus on creating a painting that evokes a feeling or sense of place.
Designed for both complete beginners and those with painting experience, these workshops offer a calm and encouraging space to slow down, reconnect with creativity and develop a more intuitive approach to landscape painting.
Your day includes all equipment and materials, light refreshments and a delicious vegetarian lunch.
Morning Session – 10.00 – 12.30
The morning begins with a welcome tea and coffee, followed by a live demonstration from Karina, sharing how she approaches the start of a painting, from selecting a composition to laying down the first tonal underpainting. You’ll then begin working on your own piece, drawing on references from photography, before beginning the first layers of your painting at your own pace.
Lunch Break – 12.30 – 13.30
A relaxed, seasonal vegetarian lunch, allowing time to pause and reflect. You’re also welcome to relax in the courtyard garden, wander along the picturesque countryside footpaths, sketch outdoors (please bring your own sketching materials if you would like to do this) or simply enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
Afternoon Session – 13.30 – 16.00
The afternoon returns to the studio for a deeper painting session, focused on building softness, depth and atmosphere within your work. Through demonstration and individual guidance, Karina will help you to build a unified colour palette and explore techniques such as layering, soft edges and tonal harmony. At the end, you will leave with a beautiful, finished painting and a lasting memory of the day.
Bookings: (including all equipment, materials, refreshments and lunch)
£125 per person
Location:
The Workshop, Launceston Farm, Tarrant Launceston, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8BY
Please bring an apron or wear clothes you don’t mind getting get paint on, and a box to take your painting home in (painting size: 25cm x 30cm)
Terms and Conditions:
Each booking allows for one person to attend the workshop.
All equipment and materials are provided.
Lunch and refreshments including tea and coffee are included. Please email info@karinanixon.co.uk for specific dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Please kindly note that your booking is non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, we will do our best to transfer your booking to a future workshop, provided you notify us at least four weeks before the workshop date and spaces are available.
Join artist Karina Nixon for a slow and immersive day of landscape oil painting in the beautiful surroundings of Launceston Farm. In this one-day painting workshop, you will explore how colour can be used to evoke mood, atmosphere and emotional resonance in landscape. Through guided demonstrations and individual support, you will learn how to create tonal colour palettes, create harmony and depth, and move beyond simply recording a scene to communicating a feeling. You will deepen your understanding of colour, strengthen your painting practice, and create a landscape that feels both personal and evocative.
Designed for both complete beginners and those with painting experience, these workshops offer a calm and encouraging space to slow down, reconnect with creativity and develop a more intuitive approach to landscape painting.
Your day includes all equipment and materials, light refreshments and a delicious vegetarian lunch.
Morning Session – 10.00 – 12.30
The morning begins with a welcome tea and coffee, followed by a live demonstration from Karina, exploring the relationship between colour, mood and atmosphere in landscape painting. Through discussion and practical techniques, you’ll learn how colour can be used to evoke emotion, create a sense of place, and communicate a feeling within a painting. You’ll then begin working on your own landscape, developing an expressive colour palette and laying down the foundations of your painting.
Lunch Break – 12.30 – 13.30
A relaxed, seasonal vegetarian lunch, allowing time to pause and reflect. You’re also welcome to relax in the courtyard garden, wander along the picturesque countryside footpaths, sketch outdoors (please bring your own sketching materials if you would like to do this) or simply enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
Afternoon Session – 13.30 – 16.00
The afternoon returns to the studio for a deeper painting session, focusing on using colour, tone and brushwork to strengthen the emotional impact of your landscape. Through demonstration and individual guidance, Karina will help you refine your palette and build harmony in your painting. At the end of the day, you will leave with a beautiful, finished painting and a lasting memory of the day.
Bookings: (including all equipment, materials, refreshments and lunch)
£125 per person
Location:
The Workshop, Launceston Farm, Tarrant Launceston, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8BY
Please bring an apron or wear clothes you don’t mind getting get paint on, and a box to take your painting home in (painting size: 25cm x 30cm)
Terms and Conditions:
Each booking allows for one person to attend the workshop.
All equipment and materials are provided.
Lunch and refreshments including tea and coffee are included. Please email info@karinanixon.co.uk for specific dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Please kindly note that your booking is non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, we will do our best to transfer your booking to a future workshop, provided you notify us at least four weeks before the workshop date and spaces are available.
Join artist Karina Nixon for a cosy and creative winter evening inspired by the quiet beauty of dusk. As the days shorten and the landscape softens into muted blues and glowing tones, this relaxed workshop will explore how to capture the atmosphere and magic of winter light through small landscape paintings using oil paint.
Working on a collection of miniature paintings, participants will be guided through colour mixing and simple techniques for creating mood, depth and atmosphere. Karina will share a demonstration during the evening, alongside plenty of individual guidance and encouragement.
Designed to be welcoming and accessible to all abilities, the workshop offers the opportunity to slow down, enjoy a creative evening and embrace the reflective beauty of the season.
A festive drink and nibbles will be served during the evening.
By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a collection of beautiful winter dusk-inspired mini paintings - perfect for framing, gifting, or keeping as a reminder of a peaceful and creative evening.
Workshop Details:
6.30pm - 9pm
Suitable for all abilities
All materials provided
Festive drink and nibbles included
Take home your finished mini paintings (please bring a box to take them home in)
Bookings:
£65 per person
Location: BEAR Wimborne, 71 High Street, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1HS
Terms and Conditions:
Each booking allows for one person to attend the workshop.
All equipment and materials are provided.
Drink and nibbles are included. Please email info@karinanixon.co.uk for specific dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Please kindly note that your booking is non-refundable.
A one-day workshop exploring coastal atmosphere in landscape painting.
Details to be released soon.
Please register your interest in this course by emailing info@karinanixon.co.uk
Karina Nixon is a contemporary British painter whose practice centres on landscape as atmosphere rather than geography. Positioned between abstraction and representation, her work is constructed through subtle tonal gradation and controlled layering, creating compositions that feel both expansive and contained.
She holds a BA Hons in Art Education from Roehampton University and trained at Sarum Studio Atelier of Fine Art before completing the Defining Practice programme and Professional Landscape Mentoring at the Newlyn School of Art in Cornwall. These formative experiences refined her disciplined approach to paint and her sustained focus on landscape.
Karina has exhibited widely across the UK, including at Wells Art Contemporary, the Society of Women Artists at Mall Galleries, Tremenheere Gallery in Penzance, and Blue Shop Gallery and Highgate Contemporary in London. Her work has been presented in solo and curated exhibitions and is held in private collections nationally and internationally.
Karina is a qualified teacher and has taught art extensively for many years in educational settings up to A-level, and in curated workshops and art courses for adults. She is a warm, patient and encouraging teacher who creates a calm and supportive space for creativity to flourish. Through thoughtful guidance and generous support, she helps students develop confidence, skills and a deeper connection to their creative practice.
“What a day. I’m still buzzing. Thank you, thank you. It was amazing and the work everyone produced was incredible. It was a transformative day and I can’t wait to create my next painting!”
“What a wonderful day; such a warm and supportive group beautifully guided by Karina. She was so positive and welcoming of all abilities. Thank you!”
“An invaluable day workshop for complete beginners through to established artists, delivered by a successful practising artist and trained teacher. A relaxing, creative and supportive day! ”
“Just the best day learning how to paint, it felt so calming and therapeutic - the time flew! Karina was an amazing teacher who created a lovely atmosphere for the day in such a beautiful setting.”
“Karina was absolutely incredible teaching and guiding our group through understanding tonal ranges and different types of colour palettes - the whole experience has been absolutely fantastic. The most peaceful and enjoyable day I have had in a very long time!”
“I can’t stop thinking about the workshop yesterday, it was so special and such a lovely day. You are such a lovely teacher with a lovely, calming aura; and so encouraging and positive.”
