Northumberland Workshop Sat 11th & Sunday 12th 2026
SEA Northumberland weekend 2026: Details:
Saturday 11th July/Sunday12th July
Organiser: Anthea Wood. Tutor: Malcolm Coward HSEA
Cost: Members £70 per day or £130 both days (Non Members welcome £80 per day or £140 for both)
Location: Day 1 – Nick Orpwood Racing & Emily Orpwood Eventing, Bowmont Hill Farm, Mindrum TD12 4QW
Day 2 – Hay Heavy Horse Farm, Hay Farm, Ford & Etal Estate, Crookham, Northumberland, TD12 4TR
About the workshops: To book and pay please scroll down to the form at the bottom of the page
We are delighted to announce a return to our Northumberland SEA workshop for 2026. Set in the heart of rural Northumberland, we invite you to take part in a two day workshop painting a range of horse breeds and types, including mares and foals, racing thoroughbreds, eventers and heavy horses. This is a fantastic opportunity to paint very different horse breeds on consecutive days under the expert tutelage of Malcolm Coward, Honorary SEA.
Whatever your level of painting, this is a great opportunity to compare the challenges of painting horses of different physiques in a safe and encouraging environment.
Hosting Venues:
Nick Orpwood Racing – Day 1: Bowmont Hill is home to Nick Orpwood Racing and Emily Orpwood Eventing. The day will start with an introduction from our Tutor Malcolm Coward HSEA at 10:30 am start and we will finish the workshop at approximately 2:30pm leaving time to explore the beautiful area (recommendations below). There will be mares with foal at foot as well as a selection of Eventers / Thoroughbreds. Tea, coffee and cake provided. Please bring a packed lunch.
Hay Farm Heavy Horses – Day 2: Part of the beautiful Ford and Etal estate; home to the largest herd of rare breed Clydesdale Heavy Horses within the North of England. The day will start with an introduction from our Tutor Malcolm Coward HSEA at 10:30 am. You will have the opportunity to paint several heavy horses and also any farm animals or horse drawn vehicles of your choosing.
Booking details:
All levels of painter/artist are welcome. Artists must bring their own preferred materials; we have previously had artists sketching in charcoal, pencil & pastel or painting in watercolour or oil; we have even had sculptors bringing clay! There are limited places available and places are allocated on a first come, first serve basis. Payment is required at the time of booking. All participants must read and sign the risk assessment that will be provided at the beginning of each day.
Itinerary
Day 1: Nick Orpwood Racing / Emily Orpwood Eventing
Date: Saturday 11th July Location: : Bowmont Hill Farm, Mindrum TD12 4QW
Start time: Arrive at 10:15 am for a 10:30 start
Finish time: 2:30pm
Refreshments: Light refreshments provided. Lunch not included. Please bring a picnic lunch
Materials: Artists must bring their own materials and painting surfaces
Weather: An undercover area is available in the event of inclement weather, but please bring layers, a peaked cap, sunscreen as appropriate.
Format of the day: Horses will be stood up for painting throughout the day; we expect to also have a mare with foal at foot (resting in an open loose box).
Day 2: Hay Heavy Horse Farm
Date: Saturday 11th July Location: Hay Farm, Ford & Etal Estate, Crookham, Northumberland, TD12 4TR
Start time: Arrive at 10:15 for a 10:30 start
Finish time: 3pm
Refreshments: Light refreshments provided. Lunch not included. Hay Farm has an excellent Farm Café which we recommend. Strictly no picnics on site please.
Materials: Artists must bring their own materials and painting surfaces
Weather: An undercover area is available in the event of inclement weather, but please bring layers, a peaked cap, sunscreen as appropriate.
Format of the day: A heavy horse will be stood up for painting; there will also be the option to paint any horses found stabled or grazing as well as farm animals and horse drawn vehicles.
Accommodation suggestions:
Emily Orpwood runs holiday cottages at Bowmont Hill Farm:
https://www.theholidaycottages.co.uk/northumberland/18068/no_2_bowmont_cottage
Hay Farmhouse has BnB accommodation:
Hethpool House is beautiful and midway between the painting venues:
https://www.hethpoolhouse.co.uk/
Yearle House provides a range of bnb / self catering options to suit – dogs welcome and is 5 minute drive from the twon of Wooler
https://www.yearlehouse.co.uk/
If you want to stay somewhere with walking distance to amenities, check out the various accommodation and air bnb options in the local town of Wooler
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/wooler-united-kingdom/stays
The Local Area:
Hethpool Lin waterfall (College Valley): what three words location: ///sleepers.spoons.newsreel
(17 mins by car from Nick Orpwood)
Routin Linn waterfall (near Ford) Parking/Layby at What three words: ///illinformed.cropping.guilty
(13 mins from Hay Heavy Horse Farm)
Lindisfarne Castle and Nature Reserve on Holy Island : https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/lindisfarne-castle
***Please check tide times before setting out!***
(42 minutes car drive from Nick Orpwood Racing)
Ad Gefrin Whisky Distillery in the town of Wooler; Anglo saxon museum and Whisky Distillery
https://adgefrin.co.uk/ – a new whisky distillery
(25 minutes by car from Nick Orpwood / 15 mins from Hay Heavy Horse Farm)
Berwick upon Tweed: Elizabethan town walls: Berwick’s Elizabethan Walls are the only example of bastioned town walls in Britain and one of the best preserved examples in Europe. The ramparts are open all year round – entry is free. You can walk a long way around the walls, viewing the town and coastline as you go.
(25 mins by car from Nick Orpwood)
