Turn a colourful arrangement of sweets into an expressive oil painting in this hands-on workshop inspired by the ideas and techniques of Impressionism.

Working from a specially arranged still life of colourful sweets, you’ll paint directly from observation while exploring how light, colour and brushwork can bring everyday objects to life.

Look closely at bright wrappers, shiny surfaces, reflections and highlights, then experiment with visible brushstrokes and touches of colour to create a lively painting without focusing on fine detail or photographic realism.

What to expect

The session will begin with a short introduction to Impressionism, followed by a demonstration showing how to choose a composition, simplify the arrangement and begin building the painting through shapes and areas of colour.

You’ll then create your own sweet still life in oils, with individual guidance throughout.

You’ll leave with your own colourful Impressionist-inspired oil painting and a deeper understanding of how colour, light and expressive brushwork can transform an everyday subject.

Good to know

Basic materials provided. Food and drink is also available for purchase throughout the session from our cafés.

This workshop is suitable for ages 16+ and is suitable for beginners as well as those with some experience of oil painting.

What is Impressionism?

Impressionism is an approach to painting that focuses on capturing light, colour and atmosphere rather than creating a perfectly detailed or realistic image.

Impressionist artists often used visible brushstrokes and placed touches of colour next to each other rather than blending everything smoothly.

In this workshop, you’ll explore these ideas through a still life of sweets, looking at how reflections, highlights and changing colours can be captured with expressive marks.

About your tutor

Denisa Mansfield is an artist whose work explores expressive colour, movement, and emotion through the language of Impressionism and abstraction.

She works primarily in oils, with a focus on how traditional methods can be reinterpreted in contemporary ways. Her practice celebrates curiosity, creative risk-taking, and the joy of discovery through paint.