Cotswolds Stone Bridge and Cottages Paint by Numbers

Cotswolds Stone Bridge and Cottages Paint by Numbers

A stone arch bridge spans a slow brook in the foreground, its reflection broken by gentle ripples. Behind it, a row of honey-coloured stone cottages follows a curving paved lane, tall chimneys standing against a clear spring sky. White blossom opens among the green foliage on both banks, and wooded hills fade into muted greens and greys further back.

The scene sits at intermediate level. Most of the canvas is medium areas you can cover with the medium brush, and the fine work is saved for chimneys, window frames and blossom. Allow around 12 to 30 hours from the first stretch of sky to the last window frame, depending on the size you pick, from 15x15 cm up to 70x80 cm.

Honey gold against slate grey and spring green holds up in a hallway or on a kitchen wall with daylight on it. As a gift it suits someone who has walked these lanes and will recognise the arch and the cottage chimneys. It is one of the scenes in our English countryside paint by numbers collection.

Tips for painting this design

Paint the sky first with the wide brush, keeping the blue even and softening the clouds where they meet it. Lay in the hills next with the lighter greens so they sit behind the village. Work down through the brook in horizontal strokes, so the reflection follows the water rather than the bank. Take the medium brush to the cottages and bridge stonework, the fine brush to chimneys and window frames. The honey golds, slate greys and greens sit close in tone here, which is where a 36 or 48 colour set separates stone from shadow with less mixing. Leave the bridge and the cottage walls until the surrounding colour is dry.

If you would rather paint open country, our landscape paint by numbers range covers hills, valleys and mountain paths.

Sizes, colours and painting time

The design comes in 15x15 to 70x80 cm (12 sizes). You choose a 24, 36 or 48 colour kit, on rolled canvas, with or without a wooden frame to assemble. Allow around 12 to 30 h depending on the size.

What's in the kit

• Canvas:printed linen canvas with the stone bridge, cottages, brook and wooded hills outlined and numbered.
• Paint:24, 36 or 48 numbered acrylic pots, ready to use, covering honey gold, sky blue, leaf green, blossom white and slate grey.
• Brushes:three brushes, fine for chimneys and window frames, medium for cottages and stonework, wide for sky and hills.
• Guide:a paper guide showing the finished picture and the numbered colour plan.
• Optional:a wooden frame to assemble, which keeps the bridge and the brook level when you hang the canvas.

Living roomChild's bedroomHallwayBedroomHome office

Without frame

The canvas arrives rolled in a tube. You paint it flat and frame it afterwards if you wish.

With frame

Wooden stretcher bars to assemble stretch the canvas. You paint on a taut surface and hang the picture on the wall.