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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Art Practical: Acrylic: Drawing and Painting

In this comprehensive course, you will dive into the captivating world of acrylic painting. Over the duration of the course, you will be guided through a journey that encompasses fundamental drawing and painting skills. You will develop the ability to recalland apply various drawing and painting techniques with a specific emphasis on the versatility of acrylics. Gain an in depth understanding of these techniques, enabling you to expertly compare, contrast, and evaluate their effectiveness in your acrylic artwork. At the end of the course, you will put your skills to the test as you independently craft a final outcome in the medium of acrylics.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 17/10/2024 -
Thu 14/11/2024
Times:
4:00pm - 6:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Abbie Cairns
Course code:
Q00017694
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Art Practical: Exploring Drawing

Develop your skills to draw with confidence in line, tone and form and create art inspired by objects around you.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 06/11/2024 -
Wed 11/12/2024
Times:
9:00am - 10:30am
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Abi Kremer
Course code:
Q00010184
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.30

Art Practical: Abstract Art

Develop painting techniques inspired by historical and contemporary abstract artists.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 06/11/2024 -
Wed 11/12/2024
Times:
11:00am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Abi Kremer
Course code:
Q00010186
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.30

Art Practical: Abstracting Autumn Landscapes

Develop painting skills and colour mixing, inspired by the autumn landscapes around you.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 06/11/2024 -
Wed 11/12/2024
Times:
3:00pm - 4:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Abi Kremer
Course code:
Q00010187
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
6 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.30

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),
  • Receive our Highway magazine and access back issues,
  • Attend our members’ annual conference.

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Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Art Practical: Learn to Draw Portraits

For many prospective art students, the thought of learning to draw a portrait is quite daunting, in fact some would say it is their nemesis! However, challenging yourself to confront this can be incredibly rewarding. The first time you achieve something akin to a real, convincing likeness is quite thrilling, and rest assured, it is a taught skill. This course is structured so you will learn skills of proportion, perspective, line, tone, and colour and be able to clearly analyse requirements for the task. This course is for complete beginners and those looking to improve their skills and develop their own style.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 19/02/2025
Times:
9:00am - 10:30am
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Abi Kremer
Course code:
Q00013174
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.30

Art Practical: Introduction to Abstract Art

Learning about Abstract Art is fascinating and rewarding. This course covers its evolution from 19th-century pioneers like JMW Turner to movements such as Impressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Modernism, and up to the 21st century. It also highlights lesser-known female artists who have been overlooked by the art world. Each lesson starts with an interactive visual presentation featuring these examples. You’ll learn and practice using various drawing and painting materials, including inks, chalk, oil pastels, watercolour, acrylic, collage, and mixed media. This course is suitable for complete beginners and those wanting to improve their skills and develop their own style.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 19/02/2025
Times:
11:00am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Abi Kremer
Course code:
Q00013199
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.30

Art Practical: Abstracting Winter Landscapes

Learning about Abstract Landscape Art is a fascinating and rewarding topic; it tracks an evolving story looking at different ages, from 19th Century innovators such as JMW Turner, through to Impressionism, Cubism, Futurism and Modernism in general, right up to the 21st Century. This course will also introduce you to some lesser known female artists who have been formerly neglected by the art establishment. Inspired by these examples, shown at the beginning of each lesson in an interactive visual presentation, we will develop skills in a range of drawing and painting media, including drawing inks, chalk and oil pastels, watercolour, acrylic, collage and mixed media. This course is for complete beginners and those looking to improve their skills and develop their own style.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 19/02/2025
Times:
3:00pm - 4:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Abi Kremer
Course code:
Q00013201
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.30

Art Practical: Drawing and Introduction to Painting for the Terrified

Would you like to draw and paint but think you can't? Do you lack confidence in beginning your artistic journey? This course is suitable for anyone who wants to have a go but doesn't know where to start. Working with our experienced and friendly tutor you will explore the fundamentals of drawing and basic painting techniques. This is a beginners course where no prior experience is needed. Each week we will take a step by step approach to exploring the fundamentals of drawing, building up to experimenting with some basic techniques, that will pave a way into painting.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 19/03/2025
Times:
2:15pm - 4:15pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Karen Davies
Course code:
Q00012874
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

Practical Art: Watercolours for Complete Beginners (Part 2)

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:
Thu 16/01/2025 -
Thu 27/03/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Deborah Crofts
Course code:
Q00017575
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Art Appreciation: From Snow to Blossom

An introduction to practical drawing and watercolour covering landscape and natural forms, changing through the seasons. Working with a variety of drawing materials and watercolours, we will look at artists who work with a range of techniques and create art inspired by or in the style of an artist or a particular art movement. This course is taught online. You will need to get your own art materials for this course and participate in the sessions by creating practical artwork, upload your artwork and discuss with other learners. A list of art materials needed will be on your Canvas course. This is a 10 Session course.
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Course Information

Dates:
Fri 17/01/2025 -
Fri 28/03/2025
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Joy Girvin
Course code:
Q00017661
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00