Learn how to paint in watercolour online or in person and book a place on a workshop or beginners course

Based in a studio on the Yorkshire coast close to Bempton Cliffs, Richard is well-known locally for his gallery, tearooms and Rockville holiday cottages. But the decision to launch a YouTube channel just over a year ago has taken the family business in an exciting new direction, gaining followers – and students – from far and wide.

His YouTube demonstrations and online courses are now attracting international interest with people of all ages and abilities keen to follow his down-to-earth guidance and encouragement.

Reaching new audiences far and wide

After a steady start, the channel has gained an impressive 12,300 subscribers in just 13 months which Richard described as “pleasantly surprising.” Equally pleasant no doubt is the growing number of people signing up for his free watercolour guide and newsletter. Not only has the number now reached around 4,000 but his readers hail from an astonishing 56 countries including Greece, Iceland, Chile, Japan and Swaziland, to name just a few.

“I’ve been painting for about 40 years and teaching for 20 so I do have quite a lot of experience but we didn’t really know what to expect with the YouTube channel,” explained Richard. “It was quite a hard slog to start with but it’s very exciting to see it take off and gain followers, especially from so many parts of the world.”

Helping people to discover their potential

Supported by wife Claire and son Alex, Richard is happily engaging with a considerably wider audience while firmly crediting tech-savvy Alex for the efficient editing of his online demos. He’s also embracing the chance to introduce more people to the dynamic medium of watercolour, which he describes as having a life of its own that needs to be conducted in the direction that it wants to go.

With an infectious enthusiasm for his art, Richard takes great pleasure in guiding people through the basics and helping to unlock their creativity.

“Anyone at any age can be creative,” he believes. “It’s all about learning the mechanics, getting a feel for it and gradually growing in confidence. Confidence leads to enthusiasm and then people want to keep at it and become more and more competent.,” he explained. “Above all, enjoyment is key.”

Choose from online or in-person courses

And, if subscriber numbers are anything to go by, then enjoyment seems to be a distinct component of Richard’s teaching and demonstrations.

He offers a variety of watercolour courses, with online and in-person options, including a six-week beginners course as well as highly popular one-day workshops.

The beginners course teaches the foundations of watercolour-painting, taking learners through each stage of the process step by step. It covers skills including how to capture light and shadow, control colour washes, develop compositions and use different brush techniques. By the end, students can expect to have a clear understanding of watercolour along with a well-deserved sense of achievement and a collection of display-worthy paintings.

Be inspired by the Yorkshire coast

With a whole host of beauty spots just a short distance from the Richard Burton Art Centre, people enrolling for a one-day, `on location’ workshop can expect to be inspired by such scenic places as Flamborough, Filey beach, Bridlington Harbour or Sewerby Hall. Add to that a pre-painting cuppa in the tearooms and a buffet lunch later, and the offer looks appealing from every angle. The next workshop takes place in April and early booking is advised.

For further details, including dates, prices and format, take a look at the newly-revamped website. Alternatively, you can email [email protected], phone 01262 850296/ 07719 705113 or complete the online contact form.

You can also visit the online shop to purchase Richard’s paintings or stock up on course materials.