Course Dates:

April 20th—24th, 2026

In this 5 day oil painting retreat, students will learn the technique of pleinair painting—painting the landscape from life, outside—in the picturesque, seaside town of Largs on Scotland’s west coast and the surrounding isles.

       Join Ayrshire Atelier’s co-founder and principal landscape instructor, Lee Craigmile, on this landscape painting course in his native town of Largs and the surrounding isles. In this course Lee will take you to various scenic locations in the area, beginning with stunning views of the Firth of Clyde as seen from Largs’ promenade, then the picturesque and quaint Isle of Cumbrae—just a 15 minute ferry ride from Largs—and finally the Isle of Bute with its iconic views and historic castles.

First, you will learn how to scout for painting locations and what to consider in selecting both a stunning view and a practical location to paint from. He will then teach you alla prima painting technique: how to work up a painting in a single session, aiming immediately for direct colour-values as observed in nature. He will discuss how to approach colour, composition, proportion/drawing, and dealing with an ever-changing light effect due to whether and time of day. In this course students will use sight-size technique to approach the landscape from a visual perspective, whilst also emphasising value-relationships and the handling of a limited palette of colours. 

Book an Upcoming Course

Spots on this course are highly limited in order to create an intimate learning experience and to maximise each student’s time, one-on-one with Lee, so don’t hesitate to book now!

Course Structure

Each day of the course will be divided into two sessions with a lunch break in between. Working directly from life, on location, students will build up their paintings following the unique stages of Lee’s particular method of painting, each step of the process building upon the previous step and culminating in an atmospheric and dynamic landscape painting.

Morning Session (9am - 12pm)

Students will gather at the morning’s allocated meeting point and travel together to the painting location for that day. They will then learn the pleinair painting process by watching an in-depth demonstration by Lee whilst he simultaneously lectures on the various concepts to be covered that day.

What you will learn on this course:

During this class, Lee will guide you through the various stages of establishing an oil painting en pleinair. You will also gain an understanding of core principles and concepts of oil painting generally.

Key Stages & Core Concepts Learned:

• How to organise one’s gear & outdoor painting setup

• How to make observations & take measurements directly from nature using sight-size technique

• How to create a successful, dynamic composition 

• Alla prima painting technique—working a painting from start to finish in a single session

• How to break down a complex scene into a simple series of colour-values using Lee’s unique ‘Levels System’

• Colour Theory and palette organisation

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Required Course Materials List

We recommend you buy all your supplies in advance of the workshop. 

All materials can be purchased on either Jacksonsart.com or Cassart.co.uk or supremepaint.co.uk unless stated otherwise. Most materials below have a specific product link in gold.

However, if you are traveling internationally and are looking to make packing lighter, you can get most of your paints (with the exception of Genuine Naples Yellow), your mineral spirits and basic linseed oil at the Cass Art Store in Glasgow or Edinburgh, which you will most likely be flying into. Otherwise, to buy supplies in advance you will have to do so from an equivalent art supply store in your own country and pack your materials.

Oil Paints:

• 1x 40 ml tube of each of the following Michael Harding colours:

Titanium White, Ivory Black, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellow, Cerulean Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Raw Umber. 

• 1x 40 ml tube of Naples Yellow Light

• 1x 40 ml tube of Vermillion Extra

Brushes:

• Hog hair filbert sizes 0,2,4,6,8. Ideally, two of each. Makes sure you select LONG HANDLE

• Sable round size 1 (LONG HANDLE)

Mediums:

• Gamsol (odourless mineral spirits). For those traveling by plane to the UK, Gamsol will be provided for you if you cannot make it to an art supply shop.

• Chelsea Classical Studios’ Cold-pressed linseed Oil (118 ml)

Supports

• Jacksons’ handmade boards

OR

• Raymar Panels L64C

I recommend students buy two 20 x 30 cm. panels, three 24 x 30cm. panels, and one 30 x 40cm. for their pleinair studies.

Easel & Other Required Items:

• 1x New Wave Pochade Box

• 1x portable tripod

  If you already have a pochade box/tripod set-up by another brand, that is fine. But please, no French Easels or table-top easels!

• 1x Metal palette cup with lid OR small glass jar with lid

• 1x Palette Knife 

• Brush case/holder

• Brush cleaning tin with air-tight lid

• 2x metal clamps

• Masking tape

• Paper towels/kitchen roll

Accommodation & Travel Details

Accommodation in Largs.

Largs is a small and picturesque town, which is easy to navigate. There are number of hotels and B&B’s at a range of prices. Please book as early as possible, as the workshop takes place during peak season. We would recommend the following hotels and B&B’s:

Hotels:

The Brisbane House Hotel, a 4-star hotel in the heart of Largs

The Seamill Hydro, a luxury hotel just 30 minutes’ from Largs via bus.

B&B’s:

St. Leonards Guest House

Haven House B & B

Traveling to Largs

There is a train from Glasgow Central Station to Largs every hour—and it is lovely journey with views that will whet your appetite for pleinair painting! Train tickets can be purchased in the station just prior to boarding, or in advance at www.scotrail.com .

*If flying into Glasgow International airport: you can get a rail-link bus from the airport to Paisley Gilmore Street Station from which you can catch the train to Largs.

*If flying into another UK airport: you will need to get a train to Glasgow Central, where you can then catch the train to Largs.

Everyday Travel to Painting locations

On the first day of the workshop we will all meet at a central location in Largs, which will be clearly outlined in our itinerary (this will be sent out to you via email prior to the start of the workshop). All subsequent painting locations will be travelled to together, either on foot, via bus, or via bus and ferry. All the painting locations will be outlined in our itinerary and will be discussed on the first day of class.

Packing

As the weather in Scotland is highly unpredictable, and can be very chilly and wet even in the summer, we recommend that you pack for your trip as if you were camping. You will want to dress in layers to prepare for any weather, and be sure to bring good, sturdy walking shoes/hiking boots and a waterproof jacket with a hood.

Food and Drink

Largs has an array of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs which will be convenient for lunches and dinners. Our locations on Cumbrae and Bute may be near to a cafe/restaurant, but we would still suggest that you go shopping at one of the local grocery stores (Morrison’s or Tesco’s) at the start of each day, so that you can pack snacks, lunch and water for your time at these painting locations.