Sunflowers: From Playful Sketches to a Vibrant Van Gogh–Inspired Painting
The beautiful world of sunflowers explored through sketch, colour and paint — at The Colour Factory with Jenny Muncaster and Rachael Alexander
Why Sunflowers Make Such a Compelling Subject
There is something about sunflowers in summer that has captivated artists for centuries. Their scale, their boldness, the way they turn toward the light — they demand to be painted. And perhaps no artist understood this better than Vincent van Gogh, whose sunflower series remains one of the most celebrated and emotionally charged bodies of work in art history. For artists Jenny Muncaster and Rachael Alexander, sunflowers offer the perfect starting point for exploring the beauty, energy, and colour of the season — combining two complementary approaches to create something truly expressive and individual.
From Sketch to Canvas — A two-stage creative process
What makes this creative exploration particularly interesting is its two-stage approach: beginning with loose, observational sketching before moving into bold canvas painting. Each stage informs and enriches the other. Stage One: Expressive Mixed Media Sketching with Jenny Muncaster Jenny Muncaster's vibrant approach to colour and expressive mark-making helps to capture the character and movement of sunflowers through loose, playful mixed-media sketches. The focus is on observing the subject with fresh eyes and creating lively studies full of personality and energy.
Stage Two: Van Gogh-inspired canvas painting with Rachael Alexander
In the second stage, those sketches become the foundation for a small canvas painting inspired by Van Gogh's iconic sunflower works. Rachael Alexander's process focuses on expressive brushwork, dynamic colour relationships, and creating a sense of movement and vitality within the painting - transforming observational studies into something bold and alive.
The Power of Creative Collaboration
Between us, myself and Rachael bring more than 30 years of professional artistic experience, with paintings commissioned for prestigious clients including The Shard, Royal Caribbean, Four Seasons Hotels, and luxury venues around the world.
→ Find out more about Rachael Alexander
Who is this approach for?
Whether you're a beginner looking to build confidence or an experienced artist seeking fresh inspiration, this two-stage process, from playful sketch to vibrant Van Gogh-inspired painting, offers something genuinely new. It's a rare opportunity to explore two exceptional artistic approaches in a single, enjoyable creative day.
Experience this for yourself, join Jenny and Rachael this summer!
Jenny and Rachael are bringing this creative process to life as a one-day workshop at The Colour Factory Studios, Winchester. Places are limited.
Saturday 8th August OR Sunday 9th August 2026 • 10am–4pm
The Colour Factory Studios, Winchester
£100 per person
