Flatford Mill Painting Course Group of Artists by British Painter John Steane

Title: Flatford Mill Painting Course Group of Artists by British Painter John Steane
by John Steane (b.1931)
Size: 14.75 inches (height) x 14.75 inches (width)
watercolor painting on paper, unframed
condition: Good, with minor edge wear
Provenance: from a large private collection of this artists work, Oxford, England

Description:
In this lively and characterful watercolour, British artist John Steane (b.1931) captures a group of students attending a painting course at Flatford Mill in 2013. Positioned along a grassy bank, the figures are shown at easels, seated on folding stools, or simply observing the landscape ahead, with sketchpads, brushes, and sunhats dotting the scene. The energy and camaraderie of a shared creative pursuit are beautifully conveyed through Steane’s confident linework and vibrant washes.

Flatford Mill, located in the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Suffolk, is famous for its connection to the artist John Constable, who painted many of his best-known works in the surrounding countryside. Today, the mill is home to a Field Studies Council centre and continues to inspire generations of artists through residential painting and nature courses.

This piece celebrates both artistic community and the English landscape tradition. The dynamic sky and suggestion of distant trees and sailboats reinforce the location’s pastoral charm. Steane’s sensitivity to gesture and movement captures not only a place, but a moment—making it a rare documentation of a creative gathering in a historically significant site.

Ideal for collectors interested in plein air painting, artistic process, or British art education, this watercolour brings warmth and story to any setting.