Francis has built an international reputation for his landscape paintings, portraits as well as his finely structured compositions of trees and flowers, he teaches drawing at the Ruskin School of Art in Oxford.

The day will start with a brief slide show from Francis looking at paintings of flowers by a number of artists including Van Gogh, O'Keefe, Morandi, and Blackadder. We will then make flower arrangements from the summer abundance of the Plant Library, and then start painting.

Francis will guide you through the process of setting the pallete, laying in the composition and then building a coherent painting. You could work inside from a vase of flowers or outside in the garden itself. It will be great fun.

Easels and solvents will be provided but otherwise please bring canvas, paints, brushes, palette knives and palettes. We will send you a list of things you might bring along with you nearer the time.

All money raised from ticket sales will go directly to the Serge Hill Project which is a not for profit CIC (Community Interest Company).