Skip to main content
Art

Art

Study an art qualification course to gain a comprehensive understanding of the broad areas of visual art as well as a qualification that will prepare you for further study. It will give you the perfect guided exploration of your skills and help to develop your practical technique.

At WAES, we offer high quality creative arts courses plus:

  • Techniques and courses offered include drawing, life drawing, oil painting and watercolour
  • Short courses for the complete beginners through to advanced qualification courses for experienced artists
  • Spacious dedicated art workshop
  • Ideal for adult learners looking to express themselves through exciting and diverse creative activities

Our Studio at Lisson Grove

Our purpose built art studio allows WAES learners to pursue their passion in the ideal environment alongside like-minded adults, whether it be life drawing, watercolour or portraiture.

Facilities in the art studio include:

Printing press for printing from etchings, drypoints, monotypes and collographs.

Fume cupboard for etching metal plates.

Adjustable easels used for our life drawing, portrait and oil painting classes.

Traditional workshop tables for watercolour, printmaking and painting classes.

Studio materials including drawing equipment, oil paints and mediums, acrylics, watercolours, printing inks, etching tools and a range of papers.

Browse our courses below or contact us for more information.

Accredited Courses
Level 1 NCFE Award in Creative Craft (Painting and Drawing)
Next Start Date: 18/01/2025
Other Dates Available: 1

This Level 1 NCFE award will cover key principles of painting and drawing, including ways of looking and using varied materials. You will learn to explore ideas and techniques and allow you to develop knowledge and understanding of artistic processes. It will teach you skills necessary to progress onto our Level 2 UAL Diploma in art starting in September.

View course details
Level 2 NCFE Award in Creative Craft (Painting and Drawing)
Day(s): Saturday
Time: 09:30 - 16:30
Weeks: 10
Start Date: 26/04/2025
Venue: Lisson Grove Centre
Full Fee: £688
Level: Level 2
Concessions: Yes

This NCFE Level 2 award will expand on the principles of painting and drawing, including new ways of looking and using a wider range of materials. You will explore new ideas and techniques that will extend your knowledge and understanding of artistic processes. It will teach you skills necessary to progress onto our Level 2 UAL Diploma in art starting in September.

View course details
Level 2 UAL Diploma in Art and Design (Art)

The Level 2 Diploma is for those who want to build on their skills and knowledge to further develop and explore their creativity in the area of visual and fine art. You will refine and continue to enhance your skills in a way that will enable you to visually respond in a contemporary format to challenges and issues that motivate you. You will explore a wide range of techniques, continually experimenting with these to push the boundaries of your work to produce highly individual creative responses.

View course details
Level 3 UAL Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication (Art)

The Level 3 Diploma is for those who want to build on their skills and knowledge to further develop and explore their creativity in the area of visual and fine art. You will refine and continue to enhance your skills in a way that will enable you to visually respond in a contemporary format to challenges and issues that motivate you. You will explore a wide range of techniques, continually experimenting with these to push the boundaries of your work to produce highly individual creative responses.

View course details
WAES Courses
Introduction to Watercolour Painting
Day(s): Wednesday
Time: 13:30 - 16:30
Weeks: 5
Start Date: 15/01/2025
Venue: Lisson Grove Centre
Full Fee: £175
Level: Level 1
Concessions: No

This course covers the skills required to create drawings and paintings carried out from observation and through visual enquiry. You will learn how to use art materials and processes and how to organise a pallet.

View course details
Learn the Basics of Drawing
LOW AVAILABILITY
Day(s): Monday
Time: 18:00 - 21:00
Weeks: 4
Start Date: 20/01/2025
Venue: Lisson Grove Centre
Full Fee: £175
Level: Level 1
Concessions: No

Begin your drawing practice with this introduction to drawing that combines essential theory with practical exercises. Explore mark-making using different drawing media, quality of line, shape and measuring, working from observation and your imagination.

View course details
Botanical Drawing
Day(s): Wednesday
Time: 13:30 - 16:30
Weeks: 5
Start Date: 26/02/2025
Venue: Lisson Grove Centre
Full Fee: £175
Level: Level 1
Concessions: No

Discover the pure and relaxing pleasure of capturing the beauty of a plant. Suitable for all levels, this course will give you the basics to create botanical drawings and watercolor paintings. Using a variety of plant specimens you will start by exploring drawing techniques (tonal sketching, composition) and creating an outline.

View course details
Oil Painting for Mixed Levels
Day(s): Monday
Time: 18:00 - 21:00
Weeks: 4
Start Date: 03/03/2025
Venue: Lisson Grove Centre
Full Fee: £205
Level: All Levels
Concessions: No

Exploring the unique qualities of oil paint through the use of different methods and techniques. This course, for mixed ability levels, allows the opportunity to create compositions through visual enquiry and close observation. Learn how to structure a pallet and mix colour values and tones that relate to a subject.

View course details
Foundation in Drawing and Painting

This foundation course will cover key principles of drawing and painting, including ways of looking and using varied materials. You will learn to explore ideas and techniques and allow you to develop knowledge and understanding of artistic processes.

Please note, this is a WAES certified course, and will allow you to progress onto our Level 2 UAL Diploma in Art course.

View course details
Introduction to Printmaking

On this short course, you will learn an introduction to printmaking techniques including monotype, collagraph and linocut. This course is ideal for beginners wanting to learn the basics of these technique and who want to develop their art practise in new directions.

View course details
Printmaking Taster

On this taster session, you will learn to make a monotype print. This is created by rolling ink up or painting onto an acetate surface, then printed by hand pushing the paper on the acrylic sheet with a clean roller. This printmaking technique will give you plenty of ideas for future artwork, handmade postcards and wrapping paper.

View course details
Why study at WAES?
  • Highly qualified and professionally experienced tutors
  • Accessible Central London centres with bespoke facilities and great transport connections
  • A wide range of in-person, online, distance learning and community-based courses
  • Unique work experience opportunities through partnerships
  • Guest speakers offer introductions to career pathways in a variety of sectors
  • Excellent progression to employment, apprenticeships or further learning including university