Choose from a variety of creative art courses

Explore your creativity through painting and drawing and choose from a variety of creative art classes. With a huge range of subjects to learn from, you can choose from online or in-person options.

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Our creative arts courses will get you working with pastels and pencils, exploring fine art and even get you out and about discovering new galleries in your spare time. 

Paints to pastels

Delivered by experienced art tutors, why not try getting creative with clay, or getting hands-on painting your very own masterpiece. 

If you’re interested in drawing, you won’t be disappointed either. Collage making, oil painting, pastel painting and printing are just some of the subjects that have proved popular in recent years.  

Many of our arts courses are delivered for different levels of experience too, so whether you’re a beginner or a little more advanced, you’ll be able to choose the art course that’s right for you. 

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Craft: Exploring Modern Calligraphy - Unlocking Creativity

Embark on a creative journey with our Modern Calligraphy course. Open to all skill levels, this experience invites you to explore the art of contemporary lettering. The course is tailored to build upon basic skills, enhancing your proficiency and understanding of this captivating craft. Focused on accessible tools and straight forward techniques, students will refine their abilities in expressive letterforms. Whether you're a novice or you want to explore more, join us to deepen your connection with modern calligraphy. With an emphasis on hands-on learning, you'll leave equipped with the knowledge and skills to create stunning, personalized artworks using easily available equipment and simple yet effective techniques.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 02/05/2024 -
Thu 25/07/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Fiona Mitchell
Course code:
Q00009851
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £66.60

Art Practical: Introduction to Mosaics

Introduction to Mosaics" offers a comprehensive exploration of mosaic artistry in a condensed 4-hour course. Students delve into the techniques, and materials of mosaic creation. From ancient origins to contemporary applications, participants learn fundamental principles of design, colour theory, and composition. Hands-on instruction guides learners through the process of selecting, cutting, and arranging tesserae to form cohesive designs. Practical demonstrations cover various mosaic styles, including traditional and modern approaches. By the course's end, students gain the confidence and skills needed to embark on their mosaic projects, fostering creativity and appreciation for this timeless art form. This course is suitable for beginners.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 02/05/2024 -
Thu 02/05/2024
Times:
9:30am - 1:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Clovelly Centre (Southampton)
60-68 Clovelly Road
Southampton
SO14 0AU
Tutor:
Fiona Mackie
Course code:
Q00014933
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £16.80

Craft: Summer Crafts

This course will be delivered through a combination of hands-on crafting sessions, demonstrations, discussions, and showcases. Participants will have access to a variety of crafting materials, tools, and resources to support their creative projects. Assignments will include both structured projects and open-ended explorations to encourage creativity and experimentation. Projects will be designed with a summer theme and these can be adapted to suit other seasons. Participants will be using a variety of resources including crafting with paper, paints and fabrics. Instructors with expertise in specific crafting techniques to give you a greater understanding of creating colourful craft pieces.
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Course Information

Dates:
Fri 03/05/2024 -
Fri 19/07/2024
Times:
12:30pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Glebe Methodist Church (Washington)
Fatfield Road
Glebe
Washington
NE38 7DE
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00014590
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £75.60

Craft: Seasonal Painting and Drawing

This course will be delivered through a combination of studio sessions, demonstrations, discussions, outdoor sketching excursions (weather permitting), and critiques. Participants will have access to painting and drawing materials, tools, and studio space for creating artworks. Assignments will include both structured exercises to build technical skills and independent projects to encourage creative exploration. This course celebrates the beauty and diversity of the seasons through painting and drawing. Participants will explore the unique characteristics of each season—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—and learn how to capture their essence on canvas and paper.
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Course Information

Dates:
Fri 03/05/2024 -
Fri 19/07/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Glebe Methodist Church (Washington)
Fatfield Road
Glebe
Washington
NE38 7DE
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00014755
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £75.60

WEA Membership

For just £15 a year, you can:

  • Join our popular, award-winning weekly lecture series,
  • Access an archive of over 100 past lectures,
  • Get priority online and phone booking for autumn courses (England only),
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Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
WEA Membership

Art Practical: Summer Themed Watercolours for Complete Beginners

Do you want to learn the basics of watercolours? Have you tried before and given up in frustration? Why not join this course for support and encouragement? Watercolour, simply put, is water mixed with pigment which is then applied to paper. But painting with watercolours is something entirely different. It can be complex, confusing, and fun at the same time. While not a medium to be controlled or manipulated, part of the very beauty of working with watercolours is learning to let go! Come and join us to find out more.
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Course Information

Dates:
Fri 03/05/2024 -
Fri 14/06/2024
Times:
11:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Deborah Crofts
Course code:
Q00015073
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
5 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

Art Practical: Art for All - Summer

This is a practical art course where you will explore a range of art materials to create personal drawings and paintings. Grab your sketch pad, pencils or charcoal and join this friendly art class, where you'll learn basic techniques. You don't have to be an accomplished artist to join this group, this class is for everyone regardless of ability. Your tutor will explain different art techniques and give you the encouragement you need to find your inner artist.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 09/05/2024 -
Thu 30/05/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:30pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Four Courts Community Centre (St. Leonar
Sydney Close
St. Leonards-on-Sea
TN38 9DD
Tutor:
Beverley Sell
Course code:
Q00009456
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
4 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

Art Practical: Gel Print Painting: Advanced

Gel printing is colourful, exciting and highly addictive! It is a modern way of making prints without a press. Gel printing is a fast and easy way to make collage fodder. This 2.5 hour online workshop session for those who have some prior knowledge of gel printing will introduce further techniques and can lead to some finished prints that can be framed or used to make greetings cards. We will be using simple materials that are easily accessible to create masks and stencils and produce layered, more complex prints. Come along and join us for this exciting creative session.
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Course Information

Dates:
Fri 10/05/2024 -
Fri 10/05/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Roz Beeson
Course code:
Q00014409
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £9.25

Art Practical: Painting and Drawing

This course follows on from Painting and Drawing 2. It enables further development of your skills in observational drawing through mark making and applying colour theory in painting. The focus is on ways of seeing, perceiving and expressing emotions creatively. Gallery visits are used to observe and discuss contemporary and historical artwork. Weekly practical sessions where you will explore and experiment on developing your own style and approach to your chosen themes or subjects. This course will enable you to build your confidence in drawing and paint handling skills. This is developed through practical drawing and painting focussed modules in different practical techniques. It seeks to offer you an opportunity to identify exactly which subjects interest you and make you want to draw and paint.
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Course Information

Dates:
Fri 10/05/2024 -
Fri 12/07/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Age UK Lincoln (Lincoln)
Park Street
Lincoln
LN1 1UQ
Tutor:
Lois Pittman
Course code:
Q00013436
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

Art Practical: Summer Themed Watercolours for Intermediate Level

Have you learnt the basics of painting in watercolours and are looking for fresh ideas? Why not join this course, explore your own creativity and find new inspiration? Do you want to learn different methods for painting flowers, trees and other seasonal Summer scenes? This six week Summer themed course aims to provide lots of ideas and techniques for working spontaneously and expressively. You will have the opportunity to explore a variety of approaches to painting as well as sharing ideas and taking part in weekly discussions about your artworks with the tutor and other students on the course.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 13/05/2024 -
Mon 24/06/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Deborah Crofts
Course code:
Q00015081
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
1 place remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

Art Practical: Ways into Watercolour - Experiments with Collage and Texture

This course will help you develop a more experimental approach to working with watercolour; specifically, how to create different textures and explore personal ways in making images. It will follow on from previous courses but can be enjoyed as a single course for both beginners and those with more experience. We will be adding things like pigment placers, playing with additives, building interesting shapes using collage, and ways of mixing wax media with watercolour to create imaginative and spontaneous imagery. Although subject matter will be provided, you will be encouraged to use a range of resources (digital, from magazines, from your own sketches) as motifs and ideas for the artwork.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 13/05/2024 -
Mon 22/07/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Millman Street Resource Centre (London)
50 Millman Street
London
WC1N 3EW
Tutor:
Debra Collis
Course code:
Q00015259
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.20