Photo-Encaustic Workshop
Photograph Horses · Create Beeswax Art
One-day workshop | £225 | Take home your artwork
One-Day Photo-Encaustic Workshop: From Lens to Beeswax
A hands-on creative journey: photograph horses, create original art.
Join British photographic artist Esther Towler for an immersive one-day workshop where the soul of equine photography meets the ancient alchemy of photo-encaustic.
In this unique experience, you will spend your morning capturing the character of beautiful horses in natural light. In the afternoon, we move into the studio to transform your favourite image into a luminous, textured artwork, layering molten beeswax, dammar resin, and oil pigment to create a one-of-a-kind piece to take home.
Whether you are a seasoned photographer looking for a new creative direction or an artist curious about the medium of wax, this is the perfect introduction to the art of the equine portrait. No prior experience is necessary, just your camera, a sense of curiosity, and a desire to create something extraordinary.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
MORNING: EQUINE PHOTOGRAPHY (2 hours)
9:30 am – 11:30 am We begin at our private Congleton facility, working with a variety of beautiful horses in natural light. This session is about slowing down to capture the character, soul, and quiet stillness of the horse.
You will explore:
The "Quiet" Connection: How to photograph horses to capture genuine emotion and presence.
Composition for Fine Art: Techniques to move beyond the "snapshot" into intentional equine portraiture.
The Painterly Eye: Learning to see light and movement through the lens of a fine artist.
Selection: Identifying which images possess the tonal depth and "soul" required for the encaustic process.
LUNCH BREAK
THE COLLECTIVE LUNCH & REVIEW
11:30am – 12:30pm A chance to rest and reflect. We will gather in the wooden studio to review the morning’s frames and select your "Hero" image for the afternoon.
Refreshments: Artisan tea, coffee, and light refreshments are provided throughout the day.
Lunch: Please bring a packed lunch to enjoy in our studio setting.
AFTERNOON: PHOTO-ENCAUSTIC ART CREATION (4 hours)
12:30 pm – 4:30 pm This is where the transformation begins. In our dedicated studio space, you will discover the ancient magic of photo-encaustic, using heat, flame, and molten beeswax to give your photograph extraordinary depth and luminosity.
The Creative Process:
The Heritage of Wax: A brief introduction to this 2,000-year-old medium.
Layering & Fusion: Learn to prepare your substrate and embed your photograph within layers of molten beeswax and dammar resin.
Working with Fire: Master the use of blow-torches to fuse the wax, creating a glass-like optical depth.
Texture & Pigment: Experiment with adding subtle colour, texture, and mixed-media finishing techniques.
The Result: Under my personal guidance, you will transform your morning’s photograph into a finished 10x8" photo-encaustic original. You will leave the workshop not just with a new skill, but with a physical, museum-quality artwork that captures the untamed spirit of the horse.
What’s included
✓
✓
WHAT'S INCLUDED
✓ Full day of expert tuition A full day of hands-on guidance from British photographic artist Esther Towler, sharing the unique processes featured in the April 2026 BIPP Journal.
✓ The Morning Shoot: A quiet, 90-minute photography session at our private Congleton yard. We will focus on the "Fine Art Portrait"—capturing the character and soul of a selection of beautiful horses.
✓ The Encaustic Studio: 4 hours of immersive studio time. You will learn the ancient technique of layering molten beeswax and dammar resin to transform your photograph into a luminous, textured artwork.
✓ Flame & Fusion: Full use of all specialist encaustic tools, including blow-torches and professional-grade birch wood substrates. All materials are included.
✓ Your Finished Original: You will leave with a completed 10x8" photo-encaustic original created by your own hands, a one-of-a-kind piece of art to take home.
✓ An Intimate Group: Strictly limited to 6 participants to ensure a calm, creative atmosphere and plenty of 1-to-1 support from Esther.
✓ Refreshments: Artisan coffee, speciality teas, and light refreshments provided throughout the day to keep the inspiration flowing.
✓ No experience necessary - suitable for all levels
WHAT TO BRING
Your Camera: Any digital camera and your favourite portrait lens.
A Tablet or Laptop: For a quick review and selection of your "Hero" image from the morning session.
Outdoor Layers: Comfortable clothing for our morning in the yard and a pair of sturdy shoes.
An Open Heart: No prior experience with encaustics or professional photography is required, just your creativity!
Your Investment
£225 per person
Includes: Full day expert tuition, access to photograph horses, all photo-encaustic materials and tools, tea/coffee throughout the day, and your completed artwork to take home.
Group size: Limited to 6 participants for personalised attention
Secure your place with a £100 deposit, with the remaining balance due 14 days before the workshop. Contact hello@esthertowler.com to arrange.
Read the terms and conditions
One to One Mentoring
Individual Mentoring
I also offer one-to-one mentoring for photographers seeking personalised guidance on their work. Sessions include portfolio review, tailored feedback, and support developing your creative practice. Perfect for those wanting more focused, individualised attention. Contact me to discuss.
Testimonial!
Thank you for helping to increase my confidence with photography
“I’ve had such a great experience with Esther!”
“I had such a great experience with Esther, before my workshop she spent lots of time getting to know me and she tailored the day to focus on the aspects of photography that I wanted to explore.
She has been an amazing coach and has given me lots of invaluable advice. I had such an amazing and exciting day where I got to experience an equine shoot, get to grips with the camera and studio and also learned how to create photo-encaustic artwork. Esther’s knowledge and work are aspirational, making me feel welcome.
I came away having had a lovely day, feeling very inspired and motivated to carry on exploring my own photography. I will keep in contact with her and hope to work with her again in the future.
Thank you so much for all of your support and for helping to increase my confidence with photography. I couldn’t recommend Esther enough she is an amazing photographer and such a lovely lady xxx”
ARTIST
MEET Esther
"I don’t just photograph horses; I photograph the spirit of freedom they represent."
With over 20 years dedicated to the equine world and a decade as a fine art photographic artist, Esther Towler’s work is a bridge between the lens and the natural world. From documenting the rare breeds of the British Isles for her book, Wild Hearts, to creating bespoke commissions for international collectors, Esther’s practice is rooted in a deep, quiet connection with her subjects.
Her signature photo-encaustic process is an evolution of this connection. By encapsulating her photography within layers of molten beeswax, dammar resin, and hand-applied pigments, she creates tactile, one-of-a-kind artworks that possess a luminous, ethereal depth.
“I love the alchemy of the studio—the scent of the wax and the way the light refracts through the layers. It gives the photography a new, emotive life that feels more like a memory than a digital file.”
A featured artist in the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) journal, Esther’s work has been exhibited in galleries across the UK. Through her workshops, she invites other photographers to step away from the digital screen and rediscover the joy of creating physical, soulful art with their own hands.