James McNeill Whistler is celebrated at Tate Britain from May 2026, marking a major moment in revisiting the artist’s revolutionary approach to mood, colour and modern life. To commemorate this landmark exhibition, join Dr Jan Cox as we turn our gaze to the remarkable ways in which Whistler — alongside J.M.W. Turner and Claude Monet — captured the elusive interplay of weather, steam and atmosphere.
Together, these three masters chart a lineage of artistic experimentation that transforms the Thames and other waterways into stages for shifting light and industrial change. The display brings together a wealth of iconic works: Whistler’s poetic Nocturnes, with their veiled horizons and shimmering tonal harmonies; Turner’s dynamic Rain, Steam and Speed, in which modern technology surges through a haze of rain and vapour; and Monet’s luminous Thames series, painted during his London sojourns, where fog becomes a painterly subject in its own right.
This gathering of great pictures reveals how each artist, in his own time and style, reinvented the way we experience atmosphere — not simply as background, but as the living, breathing essence of the scene.
Set in the peaceful Somerset countryside near Wincanton, Holbrook Manor is a graceful Georgian house combining heritage, comfort, and tranquillity. Its elegant architecture and landscaped gardens create a calm, inspiring setting, while cosy bedrooms and freshly prepared home-cooked meals ensure a relaxing stay. Guests can also enjoy complimentary use of the indoor pool, spa bath, sauna, and steam room.
With its serene atmosphere and warm hospitality, Holbrook Manor is the perfect place to learn, connect, and unwind.
The course runs from dinner on the first day (13th July) until lunch on the last day (15th July)
Prices (per-person)
Residential (Single Occupancy - En-suite): £590
Residential (Shared Occupancy - En-suite): £470
Non-resident: £320
We operate a deposit scheme of £150 per-person for all booking types, with the balance due 4 weeks before the course start date.
(We will send a reminder and secure payment link for the balance on the due date)
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Dr Jan D. Cox received a first-class honours degree from Oxford Brookes University, where he was awarded the Jeanne Sheehy Memorial Prize. An MA from Bristol was followed by a PhD at Leeds investigating the impact of Nordic art in Europe in the 1880s. He has delivered conference papers in Britain, Scandinavia, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Germany and Canada.
Click here to find out more about Jan Cox and his other available courses
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Nestled in the Somerset countryside near Wincanton, Holbrook Manor is a charming Georgian house offering comfort, calm, and character — ideal for residential courses and retreats. With elegant rooms, home-cooked meals, and access to the indoor pool, spa bath, sauna, and steam room, it’s the perfect place to learn, relax, and recharge.
The venue has plenty of free parking, accessible course rooms and some accessible bedrooms. There are also a few bedrooms which are dog friendly.
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You can book either as a resident or as a non-resident student for this course.
RESIDENT (Single occupancy)
Each booking includes one place on the course plus bed, breakfast, lunch, dinner and refreshments at break times (tea/coffee etc.) for the duration of the course.RESIDENT (Shared occupancy) [Double or Twin]*
Each booking includes one place on the course plus bed, breakfast, lunch, dinner and refreshments at break times (tea/coffee etc.) for the duration of the course.*Rooms are for 2 people sharing only. Each guest staying must book one of these tickets.
NON-RESIDENT
Includes one place on the course plus lunch and refreshments at break times (tea/coffee etc.) for the duration of the course.
If, as a non-resident student, you wish to join the group for breakfast or dinner on any of the days then this can be arranged and charged separately. Simply send a request, no later than 2 weeks before the course start date, to info@neighbourhoodlearning.com -
Holbrook Manor has 15 enchanting and spacious bedrooms in the manor along with 5 garden rooms with private terraces located within our stunning grounds.
All rooms are en-suite and come with towels included.
The garden rooms are located on the ground floor and suitable for those with access needs. They are also dog friendly.
Rooms are allocated on a first come, first served basis. We will of course always try to accommodate requests where possible!
Check in is from 15:00 on the day of arrival
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Please note: The following timings are just for guidance. Confirmed timings will be released to students nearer the course start date.
DAY ONE
The course will have a first session from 20:00 - 21:00, after dinner on the first day.DAY TWO
The second day will begin from 09:30 and run with lunch and refreshment breaks until 16:30. There will be another after-dinner session from 20:00 - 21:00.DAY THREE
Our final day will run though from 09:30 until 13:00, at which point the course will finish with lunch. -
A pen and paper might be handy if you wish to make notes and an open mind!
