4 Night Painting with Acrylic & Mixed Media in the South Downs

Suitable for those with some experience of acrylic painting, this creative holiday focuses on using bright and vibrant acrylics with mixed media. Led by expert tutors, you’ll develop create several paintings each day. While most sessions take place inside the house, there will be opportunity to head outdoors if the sun is shining.

What you’ll love

Learning how to use acrylic paints in combination with other media
Taking advice and guidance from an expert tutor
Expressing yourself through art and creating artworks
Gaining confidence by using various techniques
Working in small groups of 15 people or fewer

What’s included

Expert tuition
Loan of wooden A3 art boards
Comfortable en-suite accommodation in our country house
Cream tea on arrival day
Cooked or continental breakfast every morning
Daily packed lunches
Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
Easy-to-follow routes, maps, and information available in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently

Trip Notes

Easy to download as a PDF, our trip notes provide detailed information for every holiday. Please click below to find the trip notes for your departure date.

All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.

Day 1: Arrival Day

You're welcome to check in from 4pm onwards.

Day 2 - 4: Your Art Sessions

There will be full days practising your chosen discipline with breaks throughout the day for a cup of tea (or two!) and lunch. Most tuition and practice will take place inside the house, but if the sun is out, we may head into the grounds to take advantage of some fresh air.

In the evenings, you can relax in the house lounges and bar, socialise with other guests or take part in a wide range of house activities.

Day 5: Departure Day

Depart after a leisurely breakfast. We’ll leave with new techniques and knowledge together with inspiration to continue painting in acrylics!

Abingworth Hall

Country living just got cosier at this former farmhouse. Abingworth Hall is just a skip away from the village of Thakeham at the foot of the South Downs – a landscape of ancient woodland, hidden valleys, chalky cliffs, and high-backed hills so deserving of its national park status finally bestowed in 2010. While the views from the doorstep are as wow-worthy as you’d expect, the walking opportunities around the sightseeing greats such as Devil’s Dyke, Seven Sisters Country Park, Kingley Vale, Parham House, and the Clayton Windmills (known locally as Jack and Jill) are equally standout. You’ll also be within easy driving distance of several historic towns and cities, most fabulously Arundel, Chichester, and Brighton.

Rooms

Designed with your comfort in mind, Abingworth Hall has 27 well-appointed guest rooms available in two categories: Classic and Premium.

Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV.

Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers, and comfortable mattresses.

We love: The Premium Rooms for views of the impossibly pretty surrounds.

The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.

Check in & check out
You are welcome to check in from 4:00pm at the earliest. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team.

On the day of departure, we kindly ask all guests to check out by 10:00am. You’ll be asked to settle your bill prior to leaving. You may, of course, make a charitable donation to our HF Holidays Pathways Fund if you wish. Please note that we only accept card payments.

Room supplements

Premium single	Premium double/twin	Choose your room
£20 pppn	£20 pppn	£30 per room

About your stay

A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out).

Evening entertainment
While evening entertainment varies from house to house, the HF Holidays Big Pub Quiz held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays Leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided walking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.

Walks talks
Our HF Holidays Leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s walking delights (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.

The walking day
Prior to setting off on walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house.

Food & drink

Led by experienced chefs, we serve a wide range of dishes made with fresh and seasonal ingredients. We always aim to source the best produce available and use home-grown herbs and vegetables from our own gardens whenever possible. Additionally, we have a licensed bar with beers, soft drinks, and a superb selection of spirits. Full-board comes as standard and includes a cream tea on arrival and a hearty breakfast on departure day.

HF Holidays understands the importance of managing allergens effectively to ensure food is safe for guests with food allergies. Whilst we are always able to confidently inform guests which allergens are present in our ingredients and dishes, we are unable to guarantee absolute freedom from the 14 main allergens in our kitchens. Vegetarian and vegan menu choices are available. If you have allergies, food intolerances, or any special dietary requirements, please inform our reservation team at the time of booking.

Accessibility

For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Abingworth Hall

Getting to Abingworth Hall

Find out more about this location including travel details and room types.

More Information

Essential information

Below is a list of suggested equipment for your Painting with Acrylics & Mixed Media holiday:

Paints

A set of acrylic paints in a variety of colours - good brands are Daler Rowney (System 3) and Windsor & Newton (Galeria)
Colours: black, purple, red, orange, yellow, titanium, white, green, blue and brown
For a palette, simply use foil, wrapped around some cardboard

[Optional: fluorescent pink and orange as an accent colour at times.]

Surfaces

Canvas boards or canvas – approx. 10”x12”. It’s wise not to go larger than 12”x16”.
You may like to bring a circular board as something a little different!

The tutor will be using 1 circular board, 4-5 rectangular boards 10”x12” and one 12”x16”

Brushes

A palette knife
A wash brush with a square edge
A fine-tipped brush

[Any other additional brushes are a bonus!]

Pen

You need a good quality black ink pen or biro. The tutor uses a uni-ball eye micro ub-150 rollerball pen – in black.

Bits n’ Pieces

Hairdryer – absolutely essential!
A little tissue paper – any light colour
An old brush for using the PVA glue
Kitchen scourers
Kitchen towel
Baby wipes for cleaning yourself, and/or apron/old clothing
Small mount tape or sellotape

What the Tutor will Bring

Scissors
Jam jars for water
Cardboard to wrap your aluminium foil around for the palette
PVA glue
Cardboard/watercolour paper for some trees
White gesso and salt
Plastic plate to draw around
A few paints, pens and canvas boards available for purchase in case something gets left behind

Abingworth Hall Calendar

Guided Walking
Self-Guided Walking
Special Interests
Unavailable to Book

Yvonne Darby

Having worked as a professional artist for 25 years, Yvonne has a wealth of experience in painting, drawing, and textile art. Add to that a successful career in adult education, and Yvonne has the all the skills required to provide a supportive learning environment in which her students can thrive. As an HF Holidays tutor, she loves nothing more than passing on her knowledge so that others can embark on their own personal art journey.

Guest reviews

All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.

Non-member fee: £30 per person.

All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.