Icon painting courses in the UK and Ireland 2019

These pages about past courses are included for general information only.

Courses and self-help groups for 2019  (United Kingdom and Eire).

This page lists the principal icon-painting courses in the UK and Ireland for 2019.  There are other icon painting courses which are listed in ‘The Iconographers Review’ which is mailed to all members of the Association or can be obtained using the contact page on this website.  Courses held in Eire are listed below the UK section)

Introduction to Byzantine Icon Painting

Tutor Hanna Ward

http://www.hannaward.com

11 – 15 November 2019

10:30 – 17:30

Fee £385

This course provides an introduction to all aspects of traditional Byzantine icon painting. The aim is to understand the history and meaning of icons and to gain the skills to be able to draw and paint them. Students will learn to paint with egg tempera, natural and semi-precious pigments and to use clay and gold leaf for gilding.

Students will also learn practical, basic geometry in order to be able to design and draw their own images. The emphasis will be on drawing, which is a key skill in icon painting. Students will be given a step-by-step guide through the various disciplines of this nearly 2000-year-old tradition. This will include drawing from the original design, the use of geometry, the use of clay and gold leaf for gilding the halo, learning to understand the symbolism and harmonious use of colours and painting with egg tempera.

Students will leave the course with an understanding of meaning as well as techniques behind this traditional art.

Further information contact :  The Princes School, Catherine Mountford Coordinator, Open Programme 19-22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG +44(0)20 7613 8500 or go to https://www.psta.org.uk/open-programme

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Russo-Byzantine Icon Painting: The Holy Trinity

Tutor Dr Irina Bradley
28 October – 1 November 2019

10:30 – 17:30

This course will take students through the process of creating an icon in liquid tempera technique, which involves the use of natural earth and mineral pigments. Students will be introduced to gilding with genuine 23 ½ carat gold leaf and painting with shell gold. The aim is for students to complete an icon by the end of the course.

On this course, students will paint all the same subject, the Holy Trinity. If you wish to work on a different image, please contact us to discuss the feasibility with your tutor.

The focus of this course will be a painting of the Nativity.

Further information contact :The Princes School, Catherine Mountford Coordinator, Open Programme 19-22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG +44(0)20 7613 8500 or go to https://www.psta.org.uk/open-programme

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Paint & Gild an Armenian Cross

Tutor Hanna Ward

7 December 2019

10:00 – 16:30

Fee £60

This one day workshop is a brief introduction to illumination: try your hand at line work, gilding and painting. At the end of the course students will have finished a beautiful Armenian cross to take home.

Further information contact :The Princes School, Catherine Mountford Coordinator, Open Programme 19-22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG +44(0)20 7613 8500 or go to https://www.psta.org.uk/open-programme

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Hanna Ward’s ‘ICON CLINIC FOR ALL THE UNFINISHED ICONS’

23 – 26 November 2019 in Caterham, Surrey with Hanna Ward For four days in November Hanna will open her studio and invite and welcome all icon painters to come and finish their unfinished icons.

Hanna will not finish the icons for you, but will support and guide you by improving your painting and drawing skills.

You are welcome to attend for all four days or for just one day. The price per day is £70. Coffee, tea and cakes are provided but please bring your own lunch.

Places are limited so please book early. For more information Contact Hanna on 07518 341288 or hannalward@hotmail.com

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Russo Byzantine Icon Painting Course

Monday 21st October to Friday 25th October 2019

Led by Irina Bradley  

Ealing Abbey’s Benedictine Institute is pleased to be hosting the following course in October 2019 and three places remain at the time of writing.

Dr Irina Bradley studied icon painting in Russia, Italy and the UK. She was awarded a doctorate by the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts where she has been teaching at MA level for a number of years.  For Irina icon painting has always been a very deep spiritual experience and she shares her love of this tradition by teaching practical courses and giving lectures on a regular basis. Her icons were recently exhibited at Prince and Patron Exhibition at Buckingham Palace.

This 5-day course is suitable for beginners and students of higher levels of ability, NO previous artistic experience is required.

We will be painting an icon inspired by the 15th century icon Madre della Consolazione. Both beginners and returning students will have a choice to paint a simplified image featuring The Virgin Mary’s face and bust or to paint the whole image on bigger boards over 2 courses. Returning students may work on other images, if confirmed by Irina.

All materials and the use of tools are included in the price, which also covers icon boards and the use of 23/5 carat genuine gold leaf and shell gold.

There also would be a possibility to decorate icons with semi-precious or precious stones, which are not included in the course fee. For those wishing to gild all of the background and the frame on a bigger board may do so at an extra charge for the extra gold leaf.

Course venue:  Maurice Fowler Hall, 1A Montpelier Avenue, Ealing, London, part of Ealing Abbey site 

Course Fee – £350 per person. Places are limited so timely registration recommended 

Non-refundable deposit of £100 on registration, full fee paid by 7th October 

Benedictine Institute,  74, Castlebar Road, Ealing, London W5 2DD  

www.benedictine-institute.org 

email: info@benedictine-institute.org 

Tel: 020 8862 2156 

Charity No. 242715

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Introduction to traditional Byzantine Icon Painting

Tutor: Hanna Ward

2nd September – 8th September 10.30 to 17.30

Venue : The Princes School of Traditional Arts

Price £385

This course provides an introduction to all aspects of traditional Byzantine icon painting. The aim is to understand the history and meaning of icons and to gain the skills to be able to draw and paint them. Students will learn to paint with egg tempera, natural and semi-precious pigments and to use clay and gold leaf for gilding.

Students will also learn practical, basic geometry in order to be able to design and draw their own images. The emphasis will be on drawing, which is a key skill in icon painting. Students will be given a step-by-step guide through the various disciplines of this nearly 2000-year-old tradition. This will include drawing from the original design, the use of geometry, the use of clay and gold leaf for gilding the halo, learning to understand the symbolism and harmonious use of colours and painting with egg tempera.

Students will leave the course with an understanding of meaning as well as techniques behind this traditional art

For full details visit https://www.psta.org.uk/open-programme/introduction-to-byzantine-icon-painting-6

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 Icon Paining Course at Turvey Abbey (September 24th to 29th 2019)

The icon course will be led by Sr Esther of Turvey Abbey.

It will include:

  • Teaching about and meditation on icons
  • Individual and group tuition
  • Simple drawing techniques
  • Experiencing the use of icons in Orthodox liturgy

Cost: £375, payable on booking.

For further information and booking please contact: Sr Judith, Priory of Our Lady of Peace, Turvey Abbey, Turvey, Bedford, MK43 8DE

Email: judith2.maureen@btinternet.com                    Web: turveyabbey.org.uk

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Icon Painting at All Saints’ Church, Turvey (July 2019)

A three-day course was  held at All Saints’ Church, Turvey, Bedfordshire (July 2019)  Cost: £60.00 – includes all materials provided.  Registration was via e-mail to sr.esther@turveyabby.org.com by 22nd June with name, postal address and e-mail to Sister Esther at Turvey Abbey, Turvey, BEDS. MK3 8DE.

It is hoped that a further short course on icon painting will be held at All Saints’ Church, Turvey during 2020.

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Icon Painting Workshop with Theodoros Papadopoulos

September 23rd – 28th  2019

London, UK

St. Nektarios Orthodox Church

Join us on this six-day intensive course where we will captivate you in the art of the Byzantium painting technique. During the course we’ll write (paint) the icon of  Archangel Michael .

This  “ Archangel Michael  ” icon will come alive before you as the visiting master iconographer and expert instructor, Theodoros Papadopoulos, guides you, step by step, through the ancient techniques of Byzantine Iconography.

Let us journey together, discovering anew, this traditional artistic expression of theology and spirituality, often called the “meeting place of the Divine”. Whether you are absolutely beginner or an advanced artist, this workshop offers an opportunity to learn and refine your techniques in this sacred art.

The course focuses on the art of egg tempera painting. Our goal is for students to understand and learn the artistic practices as well as the philosophy of Orthodox Iconography. The coursework is divided into individual steps; the instructor explains the principles and then demonstrates each phase in detail, answering all questions. Through the process of demonstrations the stages as well the whole method of painting an icon will be presented.  The students will then put into practice these skills under the guidance of the instructor Theodoros Papadopoulos.

The techniques of painting will be taught in a clear and concrete way enabling the students to easily apply these techniques. From the very beginning to the completion of the course, every student will work on his or her painting with assistance by the instructor.

 

The schedule of courses runs daily from 9:00 until 16:30.

Nevertheless, there is a possibility, if needed and depending on the progress of the courses, to extend the schedule by one and a half hours every day throughout the workshop and finish each day at 18:00. Therefore, please arrange your schedule so that if necessary to be able to stay until 18:00.

Instructor

Theodoros Papadopoulos .

Location

St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church.

Address: Wycliffe Rd, London SW11 5QR, UK.

Course fee:  £420. The price includes all materials including boards, pigments, brushes, etc.

Registration is required and course space is limited. Please register early to guarantee your spot. A non-refundable deposit of £150 is required to reserve a place in this workshop. The remaining balance is due upon arrival on September 23, 2019. If you are interested in signing up, please make the deposit of £150   using the button on my website https://theodoreicons.com/london    If you prefer other payment method, please contact me at:  theodoreicons@gmail.com

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Russo-Byzantine Icon Painting

Monday – Friday, 25 February – 1 March 2019, 10:30 – 17:30

Tutor: Dr Irina Bradley

Venue: The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts, 19-22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG

This course will take students through the process of creating an icon in Russo-Byzantine style in liquid tempera technique, which involves the use of natural earth and mineral pigments. Students will be introduced to gilding with genuine 23 ½ carat gold leaf and painting with shell gold. The aim is for students to complete an icon by the end of the course.

The exact figure to be painted will be specified closer to the start of the course. If you wish to work on a different image, please contact us to discuss the feasibility with your tutor.

https://www.psta.org.uk/open-programme/russo-byzantine-icon-painting-2

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Introduction to Byzantine Icon Painting

Monday- Friday, 29 April – 3 May 2019, 10:30 – 17:30

Tutor: Hanna Ward

Venue: The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts, 19-22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG

This course provides an introduction to all aspects of traditional Byzantine icon painting. The aim is to understand the history and meaning of icons and to gain the skills to be able to draw and paint them. Students will learn to paint with egg tempera, natural and semi-precious pigments and to use clay and gold leaf for gilding.

https://www.psta.org.uk/open-programme/introduction-to-byzantine-icon-painting

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Russo-Byzantine Icon Painting

Monday – Friday, 3-7 June 2019, 10:30 – 17:30

Tutor: Dr Irina Bradley

Venue: The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts, 19-22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG

This course will take students through the process of creating an icon in Russo-Byzantine style in liquid tempera technique, which involves the use of natural earth and mineral pigments. Students will be introduced to gilding with genuine 23 ½ carat gold leaf and painting with shell gold. The aim is for students to complete an icon by the end of the course.

The exact figure to be painted will be specified closer to the start of the course. If you wish to work on a different image, please contact us to discuss the feasibility with your tutor.

https://www.psta.org.uk/open-programme/russo-byzantine-icon-painting-3

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ICON SUPPORT GROUP – TURVEY ABBEY – TURVEY – Bedfordshire. MK43 8DE

The dates of our Icon Support Group for 2019. They are being held on the following Mondays:

21st January
11th February
18th February
11th March
18 March
1st April
13 May
27 May
3rd June
12th August
2nd September
9th September
30th September
21st October
28th October
4th November
25th November.

They are for any who have already done an icon Course and wish to practise and develop their skills further. You are encouraged to undertake an Icon you would like to do – with a certain approval! – and this year I would like to give some time for developing sketching and seeing how things are constructed (nothing too advanced!)

We shall be starting at 9.50 am with some tea, coffee, biscuits and before the end of the session in the morning, looking at an icon to understand what is included in it, its relevance and history etc. and where possible with a short mediation on it.

The suggested charge for the day is £10.00 (or whatever can be given if this is not possible) – it’s just to help cover certain costs and includes refreshments of tea, coffee, biscuits. Please bring your own packed lunch as well as your own brushes, pigments, gesso board and if possible tracing paper and pencil.

Come to enjoy meeting others and practising in a meditative atmosphere too!

If you have not been before and would like to see what we are about do come along.

The day is held in Brand House (the building with the clock tower).

Hope to see you. If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact me on: sr.esther@turveyabbey.org.uk or tel. 01234 882 308 (and leave a message if you don’t get an answer!)

Look forward to seeing you!

Sister Esther

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Peter Murphy

Two five-day icon painting courses have been scheduled with professional icon painter Peter Murphy at St Peter’s Church (St Peter’s Centre for Sacred Arts) Canterbury for 2019. Each course will have a choice of specific classic Byzantine or Romanesque  icon as its subject, and over the course of the week students will learn to gild and paint on a specially prepared wooden panel using traditional medieval techniques and materials. This will include ‘water gilding’, with 24 ct loose gold leaf over clay bole for backgrounds and halos, and how to use egg tempera paint made fresh each day from free range egg yolks and natural pigments, to model robes, figures etc.

One-week courses at St Peter’s Canterbury in 2019

Course 1 Byzantine Icon of the Mother of God Glycophilousa ( Sweet Loving Tenderness). August  12th to 16th 2019

Course 2 A unique opportunity to paint an icon of Christ Pantocrator in the Anglo Byzantine or ‘Romanesque ‘ style, using the ‘damp fold’ technique of highlighting.  16th to 20th September. 2019 .  All Materials, including gold leaf, gessoed Serbian Lime Wood panel and pigments are included in the £295 course fee. Contact John Shirland   e-mail, shirlands@talktalk.net Telephone 01227769586

Other Courses with Peter Murphy for 2019

Burrswood Centre for Health and Wellbeing

Bird in Hand Lane , Groombridge, Tumbridge Wells TN3 9PY +44(0)1892863637

One Week Icon Painting Retreat.

Subject, The Mother of God of Sweet Loving Tenderness

Monday 25th February to Friday 1st March.

Launde Abbey Christian Retreat and Conference Centre

East Norton, Leicestershire LE7 9XB

01572717254

One Week Icon Painting Retreat

Monday 11th to Friday 15th March.

 

Jesu Hjerte Kirke

Stenosgade 4 A Copenhagen V Denmark

email sel@dadlnet.dk

One Week Drawing for Iconographers Workshop.

dates, Monday 25th to Friday 29th March.

 

West Dean College , The Edward James Foundation, West Dean, Nr Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0QZ

telephone +44 (0) 1243811301  e-mail bookingsoffice@westdean.org.uk

Three-day workshop in Byzantine Drawing for Iconographers.

Sunday 14th (evening) to Wednesday 17th April

 

Hereford Cathedral

One-week icon painting retreat in College Hall in the Cathedral Cloisters

email rosemary.firman@herefordcathedral.org  telephone 01432374225

Monday July 22nd to Friday July 26th

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Icon Painting courses in 2019 led by the Revd Christopher Perrins.

In 2019 there will be two courses. The first will be from Monday 29 th April to Friday 3 rd May at Foxhill House in Cheshire, and the second will be at Rydal Hall in the Lake District from Monday 25 th to Friday 29 th November.

Both courses are aimed at beginners, but those with more experience are very welcome. Each person will paint an icon of about A4 size using traditional techniques of egg tempera on a gessoed board, using the proplasmos technique, with gold leaf for the background. For those painting their first icon the model will be the head and shoulders of ‘Christ Pantocrator’. For those who have already painted this icon, the model will be ‘The Vladimir Mother of God’ (or a similar icon of Our Lady). Those who have previously completed both of these may paint an icon of their own choice.

The courses will commence with refreshments at 10.00pm on the Monday and will conclude at 4.00pm with refreshments on the Friday. The costs include all materials, meals and accommodation (full board).

For more information and to make a booking for the Foxhill House course (cost £490), please contact: Foxhill House and Woodlands, Tarvin Road, Frodsham, Cheshire, WA6 6XB; Telephone: 01928 733 777; Email: foxhill@chester.anglican.org

For more information and to make a booking for the Rydal Hall course (cost £550) please contact: the Bookings Team, Rydal Hall, Rydal, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9LX; Telephone: 015394 32050; Email: mail@rydalhall.org

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Icon Painting Courses held in Eire in 2019

Theodoros Papadopoulos

Two workshops will be held this year in Knock. The main six day icon painting workshop and a separate optional two-day water gilding workshop. Water gilding is a highly skilled technique used for the gilding of icons.  This is a great opportunity to learn this unique and traditional technique.

Icon Painting Workshop
October 2-8, 2019

Knock, Ireland
Alexian Brothers Monastery

Join us on this six-day intensive course where we will captivate you in the art of the Byzantium painting technique. During the course we’ll write (paint) the icon of Archangel St. Michael .
This  “ Archangel Michael ” icon will come alive before you as the visiting master iconographer and expert instructor, Theodoros Papadopoulos, guides you, step by step, through the ancient techniques of Byzantine Iconography.
Whether you are absolutely beginner or an advanced artist, this workshop offers an opportunity to learn and refine your techniques in this sacred art.
The techniques of painting will be taught in a clear and concrete way enabling the students to easily apply these techniques.
The size of the icon is 34X25 cm.
The schedule.
The schedule of courses runs daily from 9 am until 4:30 pm.
Nevertheless, there is a possibility, if needed and depending on the progress of the courses, to extend the schedule by one and a half hours every day throughout the workshop and finish each day at 6:00 pm.
Therefore, please arrange your schedule so that if necessary to be able to stay until 6:00 pm.
Sunday October 6th is a day off for the students, however depending on the progress of the course we may work a few hours on Sunday if needed.
Location.
Alexian Brothers Monastery
Churchfield
Knock
Co. Mayo
Eircode: F12 PK73
Course fee: €450. The price includes all materials including boards, pigments, brushes, etc.

Registration is required and course space is limited. Please register early to guarantee your spot.
A non-refundable deposit of €180 is required to reserve a place in this workshop.
The remaining balance is due upon arrival on October 2, 2019. Please visit my website https://theodoreicons.com/knock to book your place

If you have trouble making payment using the button on my website, or if prefer another payment method, please contact me at:  theodoreicons@gmail.com

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Water Gilding Workshop
September 30- October 1, 2019
Knock, Ireland
Alexian Brothers Monastery

This is a separate optional two-day gilding workshop.  Water gilding is a traditional and highly skilled technique used for the gilding of icons. During this workshop students will learn all the stages of water gilding technique using 23 carat gold leaf. Beginning with the preparation of the board which is done by applying linen then covering with many layers of gesso. The last stage of the process is applying the clay bole and finally burnishing the gold with an agate stone which results in gold that is smooth and shines like a mirror, obtaining a brilliant and very impressive effect.
Those students who participate in the water gilding workshop will practice the water gilding on the halo of the Archangel Michael icon, which is the icon that will be completed in the icon painting workshop immediately following the water gilding workshop.
Each student will practice the water gilding with any needed assistance given by the instructor, Theodoros Papadopoulos.
Course space for the water gilding workshop is limited. Please register early to guarantee your spot.
Instructor: Theodoros Papadopoulos
Location
Alexian Brothers Monastery
Churchfield
Knock
Co. Mayo
Eircode: F12 PK73
Course fee: €250. The price includes all materials that will be used by the students.
Students participating in both icon painting (October 2-8 ) and water gilding workshop will pay only €190 for the gilding workshop.

Registration is required and course space is limited. Please register early to guarantee your spot.
A non-refundable deposit of €80 is required to reserve a place in this workshop. Please visit my website at https://theodoreicons.com/knock to book your place.
The remaining balance is due upon arrival on September 30, 2019.
If you are interested in signing up, please make the deposit of €80

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