Ian Fennelly’s Landscape Sketching Experience

A five-session guided journey into confident, expressive urban sketching

The hardest part of landscape sketching isn’t drawing.

It’s starting.

Because landscapes don’t give you clear instructions. There’s no neat edge to follow, no obvious “first line”, just open space, tangled branches, hedgerows, and a path that disappears before you’ve even decided where to place it.

That’s exactly why this experience focuses on one rural scene, and stays with it long enough for the learning to settle.

A quiet country lane in Burwardsley, Cheshire, dominated by two trees, anchored by the shadow that crosses the path.

Instead of moving quickly from sketch to sketch, you’ll build this scene in five guided stages (composition, outline, colour, tone, and detail), with small exercises inside each stage and constructive critiques of real students work so you always know what to do next, and what to ignore.

By the end, you’ll have a finished sketch you’re proud of and a repeatable way to start the next one with confidence.

Two trees, one path

We don’t jump between lots of landscapes.

We stay right here, in this lane in Burwardsley, on the Sandstone Ridge in Cheshire.

One subject.

Five carefully guided stages.

So you never feel lost, and together we’ll get it right. 

You’ll learn how to build this exact sketch from the ground up:

  • placing the two main trees so they anchor the page
  • mapping the path so the perspective feels natural
  • simplifying the hedgerows so they don’t become “death by detail”
  • layering branches so dark ones sit behind light ones
  • using shadow to connect the whole composition

 

Nothing is assumed. Everything is shown.

Burwardsley village – urban sketch by Ian Fennelly

If You’re a Beginner, Here's What Matters Most

You won’t be asked to “just have a go.” You’ll be guided in small, manageable steps.
#1 Preparation

A pre-sketch turns the blank page into a plan. It helps you catch proportion problems early, and it makes every stage after this feel calmer and more deliberate.

In this preparation module, you’ll learn how to:

  • spot the 3 anchors of the scene (two trees + the lane) so you’re not guessing where to start
  • place the big shapes quickly and accurately before any “proper drawing” begins
  • test light vs dark (especially that shadow across the path) so the composition already feels connected
  • decide what to ignore early so you don’t get pulled into endless branches and ivy

#2 Outline

You’ll begin with pen placement and pencil structure.

Where does the trunk go?
How wide is it?
How far down does the path fall before it curves?

You’ll learn how to:

  • sketch the main trunk without overthinking
  • let branches “take a line for a walk” so they feel natural
  • show the camber of the path as it comes toward you
  • block in the hedgerows without getting stuck in leaves

It’s not about perfection.

It’s about building a safe structure.

#3 Watercolour

This scene is full of greens but we don’t use twenty tubes of paint.

You’ll work with a limited palette: Prussian Blue, Cerulean Blue, Green Gold, Magnesium Brown, Windsor Green and Titanium White

You’ll see exactly how:

  • Prussian Blue and Green Gold create those rich tree tones
  • Cerulean pushes background trees further away
  • Brown and blue mix into a soft grey for the pathway
  • A touch of white calms things down

You’ll even watch the mixing happen before it touches the paper.

No guesswork. No hoping. Just clear decisions.

#4 Tone & Depth

This is where the magic happens.

You’ll use brush pens to:

  • darken the left tree so it contrasts with the lighter one
  • tuck black branches behind lighter ones to create depth
  • suggest ivy without drawing every leaf
  • strengthen the shadow that connects the two trees

You’ll begin to see how layering creates space.

And how a few confident dark marks change everything.

#5 Detail

This is where beginners often panic. They think they need to draw every twig.

You won’t. We’ve already laid down so much in this scene.

Instead, you’ll learn how to:

  • suggest ivy with loose, continuous lines
  • hatch grasses so they feel directional
  • add just enough stones to the path
  • leave white space where it matters

 

Detail becomes selective. Intentional. Calm.

You’ll Also Learn From Other Beginners

At the end of each stage, Ian reviews real student work.

You’ll see:

  • where others went too dark
  • where perspective slipped
  • how small adjustments improved the piece

 

This is incredibly reassuring when you’re starting out.

Because you realise: You’re not the only one figuring it out.

Week 3 critique image from the Urban Sketch Course Landscape Sketching Experience, showing a detailed tree sketch with teal, green, blue, and orange watercolor washes with a red circle annotation highlighting a specific area for critique
Week 2 critique image from the Urban Sketch Course Landscape Sketching Experience, showing a tree sketch with teal, green, blue, and orange watercolor washes with orange arrow annotations highlighting areas for critique feedback

What You’ll Walk Away With

Not just this finished sketch of two trees in a Cheshire lane.

But the confidence to:

  • approach open landscapes without freezing
  • handle branches without stiffness
  • mix greens without fear
  • build a scene in layers

 

And perhaps most importantly…

The quiet satisfaction of finishing something you once thought was “too hard.”

Here’s what other students have achieved taking Ian Fennelly’s Landscape Sketching Experience

A detailed ink and watercolor sketch of bare winter trees with intricate branch patterns, by Urban Sketch Course student Yvonne, showing a countryside scene with soft watercolor washes
Watercolor urban sketch of large bare trees with colorful blue, green, and yellow branches, with a winding path below and wildflowers, by student Joanie C.
Watercolor urban sketch of a large spreading tree with colorful blue, green, and yellow branches against a pale sky, with a rural path and hedgerow, by student Gry H.
Watercolor urban sketch of two large gnarled old trees with spreading bare branches in blue-green tones, with a rural fence and landscape in the background, by student Gretchen A.
Watercolor urban sketch of two trees with colorful teal, blue, and green branches with detailed ink work on the trunk, set against a light background with green foliage, by student Elwing.
Sketchbook page showing a pen and watercolor sketch of tall trees with spreading branches in green and brown tones, with a rural fence and countryside in the background, by student Donna W.
Watercolor urban sketch of a large tree with intricate spreading branches in blue, green, and teal tones with detailed pen work, with a path and rural landscape in the background, by student Debbie M.
Watercolor urban sketch of two intertwined gnarled trees with spreading branches in green, blue, and yellow tones against a pale grey sky, with a path and hedgerow below, by student Claudia S.
Watercolor urban sketch of large trees with bold spreading branches in blue, teal, and green tones with detailed pen work, set along a rural path with hedgerows, by student Catherine K.
Watercolor urban sketch of two large trees framing a path, with dramatic spreading branches in blue, green, and brown tones and detailed pen and ink work, by student Catherina R.
Watercolor urban sketch of trees with vibrant yellow, orange, blue, and green branches with detailed pen and ink work, with a rural path and landscape in the background, by student Carmen B.
Watercolor urban sketch of trees with a green trunk and blue and orange branches, with a winding path and meadow in the background, by student Bruce M.
Watercolor urban sketch of large trees with vibrant green and blue tones and detailed pen and ink branches, with a sunny rural path and farmland fence in the background, by student Amy S.
An ink and watercolor tree sketch by Urban Sketch Course student Vicky H, featuring a tree with green, blue, yellow, and orange watercolor washes and fine dark ink linework depicting the branches and trunk
Watercolor urban sketch of a large tree with teal trunk and spreading branches in green and yellow tones with detailed pen work, with a rural landscape and fence in the background, by student Vera Z.
Watercolor urban sketch of two trees with green and blue trunks and bare spreading branches, painted on grey toned paper with a rural path below, by student Trish E.
An ink and watercolor tree sketch by Urban Sketch Course student Tim C, featuring a tree with contrasting warm brown and cool teal-green watercolor washes and detailed ink linework showing bark texture and branching
Watercolor urban sketch of trees with blue trunks and intricate bare branches with pen and ink detail, with a rural gate and path in the background, by student Suzanne S.
Watercolor urban sketch of tall trees with teal and green trunks and spreading branches, with a bright yellow-green meadow and rural landscape below, by student Suzanne M.
Watercolor urban sketch of three large trees with green and blue trunks framing a rural lane with green meadows and a cottage in the distance, by student Simon H.
Highly detailed pen and watercolor urban sketch of a large tree with green and blue trunk and intricate spreading branches, framing a country path with a gate in the background, by student Ronda G.
Watercolor urban sketch of a large tree with teal and green trunk and spreading branches in yellow, orange, and green tones, with a detailed ink technique and rural landscape, by student Rita V.
Watercolor urban sketch of two large trees with green moss-covered trunks and bare winter branches in pale tones, with a rural path and hedgerow in the background, by student Nita G.
An ink and watercolor tree sketch by Urban Sketch Course student Nicky A, showing a view looking up through a tree canopy with teal, green, and warm gold watercolor washes and fine ink linework depicting branches overhead
Close-up watercolor urban sketch of tree trunks and branches with intricate pen and ink detail showing bark texture, lichens, and organic forms in green and brown tones, by student Monica H.
Watercolor urban sketch of a large tree with blue and teal trunk and spreading branches in orange and blue tones with ornate detail, set against a pale background with green meadow, by student Melissa M.
Photo of a sketchbook showing a pre-sketch pen and watercolor exercise of bare trees with pale blue and grey tones and a rural scene below, by student Lydia H.
Watercolor urban sketch of two large trees with blue and teal trunks and spreading branches with detailed pen work, with a rural fence and green meadow in the background, by student Lilian B.
Watercolor urban sketch of two tall trees with lichen-covered teal trunks and intricate bare branches, framing a rural gate and path, by student Leigh E.
An ink and watercolor tree sketch by Urban Sketch Course student Lauren H, photographed on a table, featuring trees with teal, green, orange, and yellow watercolor washes and expressive ink linework
Watercolor urban sketch of two large trees with blue and teal trunks and spreading branches in green and yellow tones, set beside a rural path and open meadow, by student Kathryn P.
Sketchbook photo showing a vibrant watercolor urban sketch of two dramatic trees with bold red, orange, and purple tones set in a rural landscape, by student Marlies A.
Watercolor urban sketch of two gnarled trees with intertwined green and teal trunks and spreading branches against a pale grey sky, with a rural path below, by student Claudia S.
A second ink and watercolor tree sketch by Urban Sketch Course student Bruce M, featuring two trees with green and blue trunks, orange and yellow foliage, and a countryside path and landscape in the background
A second ink and watercolor tree sketch by Urban Sketch Course student Donna W, photographed in a sketchbook, featuring three large trees with expressive ink linework and green, teal, yellow, and brown watercolor washes over a countryside landscape
An ink and watercolor tree sketch by Urban Sketch Course student Chantal Aelbrecht, featuring two large trees with green and blue trunks and spreading orange-brown branches against a countryside path and hedgerow landscape, labeled Burwardsley 2015

About Your Instructor

Ian Fennelly is an internationally respected urban sketcher, known for his expressive line work and confident use of colour.

But what truly sets him apart is his ability to break a scene down into clear, teachable stages.

He doesn’t just demonstrate – he explains.
He doesn’t just sketch – he shows you how to think.

Whether you’re drawing your very first landscape or refining your technique, Ian’s structured, layered method gives you a repeatable framework you can rely on long after the lesson ends.

Our Reviews

Ready To Sketch a Landcape you're proud of?

If landscapes have been sitting in the “maybe one day” pile because they feel too open and unpredictable, this is a gentle place to begin. This experience was designed to give complete beginners a clear way in, using a single quiet scene: two trees, a country lane, and the shadow that connects them.

Start the Landscape Sketching Experience today, and let this Cheshire lane be the scene that gives you your first finished landscape you’re proud to keep.

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Instant Lifetime Access​

  • 5 full sessions covering pre-sketch, outline, watercolour, tone, and detail
  • Step-by-step demonstrations with Ian guiding you at every stage
  • Smaller practice activities to build skill and confidence
  • Constructive critiques of student work to help you spot and fix common challenges
  • Access to live replays and extra tips shared with Urban Sketch Plus members
  • 24/7 Lifetime Access (it never expires)
  • 30-Day Money Back Guarantee
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Frequently Asked Questions

Ian assumes no prior knowledge or experience. He has designed this experience to enable anybody to start with a blank page, follow-along with his specific methodology, develop new skills and produce a piece of work they will be very pleased with. Of course, if you have a certain level of artistic skill, then the techniques that Ian shares will help you to build upon your existing skills and give you a process that enables you to produce great work, in less time.

This program will help you make rapid progress and ensure you’re on the right track at the start of your sketching journey.

Yes. This is over-the-shoulder learning with Ian Fennelly.

Ian is an experienced and engaging teacher and has broken each workshop down into easy-to-follow stages. Within each of those stages, he takes you through each step in the process while explaining everything he is doing, slowly and methodically.

You have the flexibility to slow down, pause, or speed up each tutorial to match your learning pace. Some students also prefer to watch the videos first and then watch them again and sketch along. The choice is yours!

Plus, with lifetime access, you can revisit the course as many times as you like.

You are learning directly from Ian Fennelly, with a complete start to finish experience that mirrors his in person workshops. You see the full process unfold in real time, including the teaching points that many videos skip. You also get lifetime access so you can continue learning long after the workshop is finished.

There are many differences:

  1. You’re sketching a single scene rather than lots of different scenes.
  2. You will build up your scene over 5 separate stages.
  3. The training is slower paced.
  4. There is more detail and stages to this training experience than there is in a regular online course.
  5. You’ll be able to watch them live recaps to see what questions he answered, feedback was given and tips at every stage of your journey. Importantly, this will ensure you don’t develop any bad habits that could derail your progress for years.
  6. There is built-in accountability. Often life gets in the way of our progress, but when you know you’re turning up the following session it will encourage you to keep going.
Yes. You’ll get access to the recorded critiques for each stage, so you can watch Ian review student work and explain common strengths and easy improvements. Your own sketch won’t be critiqued, instead you can simply watch and learn from others.

Our learning platform is incredibly user-friendly. Each workshop tutorial features step-by-step videos, supplemented with additional guidance and interactive elements to enhance your learning experience. Just navigate through the lessons and play the videos as you proceed.

Yes, you’ll receive lifetime access to the course along with all accompanying downloads and resources. It never expires, allowing you to learn at your own pace, on your schedule, and any device.

Yes. This experience is available worldwide. All lessons are recorded, so there are no time zone issues and no live sessions you need to attend.

- Money-back guarantee -

We’ve poured everything into making what we believe are the best urban sketching courses available. However, if after buying any of our courses you are not 100% thrilled with your investment, just let us know within 30-days and we’ll happily issue you with a full refund. No explanation needed and no hoops to jump through. Signing up to our courses is risk-free.
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