Brighten up dark nights with a light stick and a camera

Pioneered and perfected by Picasso, painting with light is a form of art anyone with a light stick and a camera can have a go at – often with startling results.

The dark nights are looming, but rather than lament the arrival of winter, a photography teacher in North Devon is encouraging people of all ages and abilities to have a go at experimenting with light and imagery.

Dave Green is running a series of photography workshops during October and November to celebrate the start of the dark winter nights. Beginning on Sunday, October 28 – the day the clocks change – Dave is staging an outdoor, nighttime tutorial.

"I'm going to celebrate the start of the dark winter nights on Westward Ho! beach," he said. "There should be natural light from an almost full moon and I will provide torches with coloured lights, flash lights and flames. You will just need to bring your camera with a fully charged battery. A tripod would also be very useful, but some of these will be provided."

Dave, who has a wealth of experience and runs a range of workshops throughout the year, said the event will help amateur photographers to get the best out of their digital camera and have fun at the same time. It will start with a round-the-table chat in a pub, with an introduction to night photography and techniques.

The session, called simply Painting With Light, is at Westward Ho! next Sunday from 6.30pm to 9pm. It costs £25, but Dave said camera-less friends can go along for free if they are happy to be torch bearers and do not mind dancing around with a light source.

His other workshops include an introduction to digital photography, sea caves, shipwrecks and the rocky shore, photographing your own artwork, learning Photoshop, and black and white photography. For more details, visit www.greengallery.co.uk or call 07530 508681.

Other events this week

BARNSTAPLE

Queen's Theatre: Seth Lakeman in concert on Wednesday. Details 01271 32 42 42.

Roundswell Community Centre, Gratton Way: Barnstaple Keyboard and Light Music Club present Ian House from Bath. Admission £5, members £2. Tuesday 7.45pm.

BEER

Congregational Church: Annual Harvest of the Sea service. Sunday 6pm for 6.30pm. Followed by supper. All welcome.

BLACK TORRINGTON

Village Hall: Craft and tabletop sale. Saturday, 10am-noon.

BODMIN

St Petrocs Church: Musical evening with Bodmin Musical Theatre Company and guest choir Roscarrock Revival Choir, soloist Sarah Cowling. £5 including refreshments. Saturday 7.30pm.

M & Co, Fore Street: Fashion show in aid of the lighting fund for St Petrocs Church, Bodmin. Friday 7pm.

BOVEY TRACEY

Methodist Churuch Hall: Charity Christmas card fair and coffee morning Saturday from 10am-12noon. Variety of charities being represented.

BRIXHAM

Berry Head Hotel: Antiques valuation day in aid of Dart Sailability. Valuers Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood. Thursday 11am-3.30pm. Details 01803 842121. £5 for three items.

BUGLE

Village Hall: Bingo, Monday 7.30pm.

CAWSAND

Congregational Church: Harvest of the Sea service. The maker with Rame Male Voice Choir will be singing under their leader, Jonathan Delbridge, and our speaker, Supt Keith Dickson of the Fishermen's Mission, Newlyn. Refreshments after. Sunday 3pm.

CHAGFORD

Endecott House: Mid Devon Craft Guild monthly craft fair. Friday 9am-4pm. Free admission.

EXMOUTH

Holy Trinity Church: Bible Sunday United led by Revd James Hutchings. Sunday 6.30pm.

Withycombe Methodist Church Hall: Exmouth Folk Dance Club with Rosie Shaw and Jigs for Gigs. Thursday 8pm.

EXETER

Westpoint: The Exeter Kit Car Show, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm.

New Theatre: Changing Times with The Salem Players. Tickets £6. Friday 7.30pm.

GOONHAVERN

Village Hall: Goonhavern & District Old Cornwall Society meeting. Friday 7.30pm.

GREAT TORRINGTON

The Plough Arts Centre: Django a la Creole. Saturday 8pm.

HAYLE

Daycare Centre: Hayle Flower Club demonstration by Joi and Louise from the Clowance nurseries. Title: All Things Autumnal. No competition. Wednesday 7.30pm. Wheelchair friendly. New members and visitors welcome.

KEA CHURCH (between Truro & Playing Place)

Church: Music for Remembrance Concert by Cornwall Chamber Choir Celtic Voices. Saturday 7.30pm. Admission £6.

LAUNCESTON

Coombeshead, Lewannick: Children's creative weekend. Sat-Sun 10am-4pm. Free admission. Details 01566 782062.

Eagle House Hotel: Launceston Electronic Organ Club with Elizabeth Harrison from Chipping. Admission £5 for members, non-members welcome £6. Wheelchair access available. Tuesday 7.30pm.

LEWANNICK

Coombeshead Farm: Lewannick Family Dog Show, Sunday from 12pm.

LISKEARD

Stuart House: Exhibition of work by the Liskeard Group of the Westcountry Embroiderers, including a rich variety of textile art. Wed, Thurs, Fri – open 10.30am-3.30pm.

MELDON

Village Hall: Okehampton Sequence Dance Club. £1.50 per person. Beginners welcome. Wednesday 8-10.30pm.

NEWQUAY

Bay Hotel: Newquay Pentire Probus Club Lunch. Guest Speaker – Colin Cambell from WaveHub. Wednesday 11.30 am for 12noon lunch.

NEWTON ABBOT

Courtenay CentreL Rebel Country with Darren Busby. Admission £6. Friday 8pm-11pm.

PAIGNTON

St Andrews Church, Sands Road: The Paignton Branch of the Royal British legion are holding their 2012 Poppy Appeal Launch. Night of music and songs, raffle, parade of standards, etc. Tickets from the Torbay Bookshop or 01803 842216. Friday 7.30pm.

PAR

Gott Hall: Join the Elderberries for their fundraiser for 'WaterAid' – tea and cake, bring and buy, raffle. Wednesday 2pm.

PAR GREEN

The Gott Hall: Par Old Cornwall Society meets with refreshments and a chance to view the library books. Talk by Marilyn and Ian Thompson on Cornish roads. Facilities for wheelchairs. New members welcome. Saturday 7pm.

The Gott Hall: Coffee and Craft: scrapbooking, knitting, crochet, etc. Friday 10.15-12.30pm. New members welcome.

PLYMOUTH

Emmanuel Church Annex: Coffee morning with a cake stall in support of New Hope. All invited. Saturday 10.30am-noon.

Theatre Royal: Seth Lakeman in concert on Saturday .

St Edwards Church Hall, Home Park Ave: Plymouth Railway Circle Reflections on Steam, slideshow by John Gulliver featuring British and European steam. £1 members, £2 visitors. Mon 7.30pm.

PORTHLEVEN

Public Hall: Porthleven Old Cornwall Society, the return visit of 'Derry', Dr Arnold Derrington DFC PhD of Pendeen. All are welcome. Tuesday 2.30pm.

RILLA MILL

Village Hall: Whist drive, Tuesday 7.30pm.

REDRUTH

The Murdoch Room, YMCA: Cruse Bereavement Care Meeting of Bude Friendship Group. Friday 5-7pm. Ring Roger 01209 214095 before attending the group for the first time.

ST AUSTELL

Wheal Martyn, Carthew: Park and museum open daily from 10am-5pm (last admission 3.30pm). China Clay museum, walks, children challenge trail, off-road cycle trails, etc.

ST BURYAN

Village Hall: Farmers market Saturday 9.30am-12.30pm.

ST ENDELLION

Church: Study day by Professor Paul Fiddes. Saturday 10am-3.15pm. Installation of new prebendaries on Sunday, 11am.

TEIGNMOUTH

Carlton Theatre: Magic: A Kind of Queen – a tribute to Queen. Sunday.

THURLESTONE

The Thurlestone Hotel: National Trust South Hams Centre coffee morning. Entrance £3. New members welcome. Thursday 10.30am.

TOPSHAM

Matthews Hall: Comedy Night for one night only. Friday 7.30pm. Tickets £10.

TORQUAY

Princess Theatre: Charlie Landsborough, Sunday 7.30pm.

Town Hall: Christmas and gift fair. Charities £8, others £10 a table. Saturday.

TOTNES

Methodist Church, Fore Street: South Hams Friends of the Earth welcome everyone interested in bees to their AGM, with speaker Phil Chandler. Doors open Tuesday 7pm. Entry is open to all. Donations welcome on the door. Details 01803 865182.

Birdwood House, High Street: Exhibition of paintings by Mr Adrian Baker and Madame Polanco. 10.30-5pm. Mon til Oct 27.

TRURO

Cathedral: One World Week exhibition featuring local groups and organisations. Free. 10am-5pm. Sunday until Oct 28. Saturday Ingleheart Community Choirs informal lunchtime concert. Free. 1pm.

Hall for Cornwall: Some Like It Hip Hop. Tues and Wednesday 7.30pm, matinee Wed 2.30pm; Charlie Landsborough Thursday 7.30pm; Seth Lakeman Friday 7.30pm; Fascinating Aida Saturday 7.30pm.

Hall for Cornwall: Truro Country Market. Tuesday 9.15-3pm.

UFFCULME

Coldharbour Mill: Steam Up, engines in steam 11am-4pm. Model railway and dolls exhibition etc. Sunday.