The success of a painting is often determined not by asking questions such as "Does it look like a tree?" but, "How much authority does the work have? How much energy is there? How much imagination? Does the work move me?"

Authority, energy, imagination, the ability to move - these do not come about by careful following of a set of rules and agonised attempts to 'get it right', but by the development of a free spirit and a brave heart.

How can we do this? My answer is to have fun, to paint from the heart, and to use our subject matter as a starting point from which to explore the rich world of the imagination. I believe that we can relate to ourselves, our environment, and our painting in deep and excitingly new ways. When we open ourselves up to this we discover what it is to feel that our creativity is "Not I, but the wind that blows through me."

During my courses I encourage people to delight in the process of becoming, of treating life as a journey, of following our own particular light, and our painting aims to share this spirit of adventure

Guests leave with memories not only of their work in the studio but also of glimpsing herds of deer on early morning walks, collecting bark, berries and seed heads or early primroses in the garden and grounds, tucking into carrot cake or flapjacks for farmhouse tea, and gathering round the fireside of an evening.

I am always deeply moved when I am made aware how much it means to some of our students to come here. So many people have wellsprings of creativity within themselves of which they have no inkling, and it is a great joy to watch students discover their true voices. They seem to blossom, and some have described their experience as 'life-changing'.

Rosie Britton

Rosie holds a Diploma in Imagework from the Skyros Institute, and has made a special study of how the use of Imagework can help the artist to develop his or her creativity.

Dina Gloubermann, co-founder of the Skyros Institute, and author of "Life Choices & Life Changes Through Imagework"* has asked Rosie to write a book on this, which she is currently researching.