Discover Our Native Rare Breeds & the Art of Equine Photography
Wild Hearts Workshop: Rare Breed Equine Photography & photo-Encaustic Art
WILD HEARTS: A TWO-DAY IMMERSIVE FROM CAMERA TO CANVAS
Rare Breed Equine Photography & The Art of Photo-Encaustic
Join award-winning photographic artist Esther Towler for an extraordinary two-day journey where the lens meets the ancient alchemy of wax.
This is more than a photography workshop; it is a deep dive into the art of storytelling. Over two immersive days, you will document the spirit of Britain’s rarest equine breeds in their natural environment, before stepping into the studio to transform your favorite frame into a luminous, museum-quality artwork.
Using the centuries-old technique of photo-encaustic, you will learn to layer molten beeswax, dammar resin, and hand-applied pigments to create a piece that shimmers with texture, depth, and soul.
A Celebration of Heritage
Each workshop is dedicated to a specific UK Rare Breed. You will not only capture their likeness but learn about their unique history and conservation status—celebrating and preserving these magnificent animals through the medium of fine art.
THIS EXPERIENCE IS PERFECT FOR:
Fine Art Photographers: Those looking to move beyond the digital print and into the world of physical, tactile art.
Curious Artists: Creatives eager to master the historical medium of encaustic painting.
Equine Enthusiasts: Those who wish to honor the horse through a deeply creative, hands-on process.
The Soulful Creator: Anyone seeking a slow, intentional weekend of art-making in a supportive, expert-led environment.
Day one: Equine photography with rare breed horses
Immerse yourself in the soulful world of equine fine art photography. Under Esther’s expert guidance, you will move beyond the technical to capture the true spirit of Britain’s native rare breeds.
Heritage & Heartland: Gain a deep understanding of the rare breed we are documenting. We begin with an intimate talk from a breed expert, sharing the history, characteristics, and conservation story of these magnificent horses.
Artistic Mentorship: Esther will be by your side to share her "Wild Hearts" methodology—teaching you her best practices for creating museum-quality equine artwork tailored to your unique creative voice.
Horses at Liberty: Experience the rare opportunity to photograph these horses at liberty in their natural environment. We focus on capturing the authentic character, instinctual movement, and spirit that definesines the breed.
Curating Your Collection: Under Esther’s direction, you will build a sophisticated portfolio of images. Our focus is on the pillars of fine art: intentional composition, the nuance of light, and the power of visual storytelling.
The Artist’s Lunch: We will gather for a curated picnic—a selection of artisan sandwiches, treats, and refreshments. This is a time to pause, connect with fellow creators, and share the morning’s inspirations.
Culling & The Critical Eye: In the afternoon, we transition to the studio for an image review session. With Esther’s guidance, you will select your "Hero" images—identifying the frames with the strongest emotional resonance and artistic potential to be transformed into encaustic art on Day Two.
Day two: THE PHOTO-ENCAUSTIC STUDIO
Step away from the digital screen and into the sensory world of the studio. Today, we breathe a new, luminous life into your photographs using the natural medium of beeswax.
The Heritage of Wax: We begin with a practical introduction to the encaustic process. Discover the history and the unique properties of working with molten beeswax, dammar resin, and heat to create artworks that shimmer with light and texture.
Building the Foundation: Working with your chosen "Hero" image from Day One, you will begin the tactile process of building your artwork. Learn to prepare your professional birch substrate and embed your photograph within the first translucent layers of wax.
Heat & Fusion: Master the balance of flame and wax under Esther’s expert mentorship. You will use blow-torches to fuse each layer, creating the extraordinary "optical depth" and glass-like finish that is the hallmark of photo-encaustic art.
Texture, Pigment & Depth: Elevate your piece by experimenting with hand-applied oil pigments and incising techniques. This is where you add the "emotive depth" and tactile character that transforms a photograph into a physical, textured original.
The Artist’s Lunch: We gather for a final creative break—a selection of artisan sandwiches, treats, and refreshments. A moment to pause, discuss our progress, and let the morning's layers settle.
The Reveal: Leave the studio with a completed, museum-quality photo-encaustic original. You take home more than a new skill; you take home a physical piece of art that captures the soul of the rare breed horse you photographed.
What’s included
✓
What to bring
Your Camera Kit: A digital camera and your preferred portrait lenses, a 70-200mm is ideal for equine work.
Digital Review Tool: A laptop or tablet for viewing and selecting your "Day One" images.
Outdoor Essentials: Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing for the yard and sturdy footwear (waterproof boots recommended).
Your Creative Spirit: An open mind and a passion for horses!
✓
Two Full Days of Expert Mentorship: Immersive, hands-on tuition with award-winning artist Esther Towler, covering the complete journey from capture to final artwork.
Exclusive Breed Access: A rare opportunity to photograph [Breed Name] horses at liberty in a natural, private setting.
Heritage Insights: A guest talk from a breed expert to deepen your understanding of these magnificent, rare horses.
Professional Image Selection: 1-to-1 guidance during our studio review session to help you identify the "Hero" images with the most artistic potential.
The Full Studio Kit: Use of all specialist photo-encaustic tools, including blow-torches, professional-grade beeswax, dammar resin, and oil pigments.
Premium Substrates: All high-quality birch wood panels and specialist papers are provided. No additional material costs.
The Artist’s Table: A beautiful picnic-style lunch on both days, featuring artisan sandwiches, sweet treats, and a selection of speciality teas and coffees.
Your Finished Original: You will leave with a completed, museum-quality photo-encaustic artwork (typically 10x8" or 12x12"), ready to hang.
Intimate Group Environment: Strictly limited participants to ensure a calm, creative atmosphere and plenty of personal time with Esther.
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.
THE INVESTMENT
Total Workshop Fee: £595 per person
To make this immersive experience accessible, I offer a structured payment plan to spread the cost of your creativity.
Pay in Full: Secure your place with a single payment.
Spread the Cost: A deposit of £100, followed by 5 monthly instalments of £99.
Your investment includes:
Two full days of expert fine-art mentorship.
Exclusive access to photograph rare breed horses at liberty.
A guest talk from a dedicated breed conservation expert.
All professional encaustic materials, tools, and birch substrates.
A curated artist's picnic lunch and refreshments on both days.
Your finished photo-encaustic original to take home and treasure.
Limited to just 6 participants for a true Masterclass experience.
Read the terms and conditions
Testimonial!
Thankyou 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.