June, en plein air, at Cheesefoot Head

June watercolour painting at Cheesefoot Head, near Winchester.

flowing grasses
Beautiful rolling fields at Cheesefoot Head, near Winchester

We are fortunate to be living close to the South Downs National Park. On Thursday I was out painting with my art classes at beautiful Cheesefoot Head, near Winchester. June en plein air is always a treat but nicer still to be painting with members from my regular lessons. We are so enjoying being able to meet live after months of WhatsApp and Zoom. The weather was good for an English summer – slightly chilly but NO rain!

out painting with Kirstin White
Regular class members painting with Kirstin White at Cheesefoot Head (also known as Matterley Bowl)
artists sketching in a meadow with dog tent
Sharing a chat, whilst sketching, in the chalk grassland of Cheesefoot Head
signage for Cheesefoot Head
A useful sign board at Cheesefoot Head, near Winchester

This outing was for adult students who are currently taking termly lessons with Kirstin White. However, during the summer, Kirstin will be out painting every Thursday.  If you would like to join her painting, you are very welcome to do so.  Informal Summertime Days Outside Watercolour Painting with Kirstin White are £25 per day, or part thereof. Come to any or all of the days outside painting.  Turn up and leave when you wish.  Kirstin will be watercolour painting and will be happy to show and explain what she is doing. There will not be a formal lesson on these summertime days out but there will be some tips and advice. Paintings and sketches from the day will be for sale. The exact location for each session will be provided on receipt of your payment. All being well, with the progress out of lockdown, taught courses will resume on the 1st and 2nd of September in Martyr Worthy and on the following week in Bursledon. 

Informal Summertime Days Outside Watercolour Painting with Kirstin White

dog tent, easel and paintings in a meadow
The end of a happy days painting at Cheesefoot Head on the South Down Way

Kirstin demonstrated to students how thye might want to build an image up in layers. We also looked at two additional ways of approaching the subject before everyone went off to do ther own thing.

English Summer at Cheesefoot Head – a watercolour by Kirstin White
briar rose in hedge
Wild flowers underfoot, pretty pink grasses and a dog roses in the hedgerow. Heaven!
  • scarlet pimpernel and speedwell
  • wild flowers
  • wild grasses

We saw many wildflowers, including some that not one of us could name with any certainty. That is not surprising since the site is an SSSI. For another time, I must install an app to help with the correct identification of interesting plants! Then I will need one for the insects!

  • artists walking through a meadow
  • artists sketching in a meadow
dog running through grass
Wheeeee! Spotty dog, Aero, in full flight.

A short video from Cheesefoot Head proper. Sound on to hear the birds singing! I made a 360 degree rotation on the spot, there are a host of landmarks to pick out. (If you watch carefully and you may also see a silly spotty dog trying to catch flies!)

360 degree rotation at Cheesefoot Head, Winchester. June 2021.
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