Improve your arts & craft skills, or learn some new ones

We’ve got the best modern arts and crafts classes that you can do online or in person at one of our learning venues across England and Scotland. It's never been easier to try your hand at something a little different and discover a new talent.

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Our arts and crafts workshops are perfect if you’re looking to get creative and hands on.

Show your creativity

Take centre stage with one of our performing arts courses, or indulge your photography passion and strike a pose with tips and techniques on how to capture that perfect shot.  

Develop the skills and get crafty with some jewellery making, with no previous experience required. With courses in textiles and sewing, as well as the arts, we really do have something for everyone, and everyone is welcome too.  

Small focused groups

The combination of small class sizes and guidance from expert tutors means that taking part in one of our arts and crafts courses is the perfect place for you to develop your talent, learn a new skill, or start that hobby you’ve always wanted to try.

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Art Practical: Drawing and Painting - Developing Your Artistic Voice

During this friendly and creative course, you will continue to use your sketchbook and art practice as a starting point to develop your work. You will have the chance to gain more confidence in your unique artwork by trying out different materials and techniques to create bigger scale work. You will be able to use the creative experiments carried out in your sketchbooks and on paper to progress your art practice by using your preferred techniques and materials. The many techniques, materials, themes, concepts and artists that influence your artwork will be crystallised into more finished pieces during this course.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 08/01/2025 -
Wed 02/04/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:30pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Exeter Phoenix (Exeter)
Bradninch Place
Gandy Street
Exeter
EX4 3LS
Tutor:
Sarah John
Course code:
Q00016842
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £126.00

Performing Arts & Dance: Managing Stress through Drama

Relax and unwind with this creative drama Course. We will learn how to regain confidence and self esteem through Drama. Creating moments of wellbeing in the day is essential for our emotional and mental health. Telling stories, creating a setting or exploring performance will give the opportunity to work with like minded people in this course, where all are welcome to enjoy exploring narrative and self-expression. This allows people to express themselves and explore different emotions and perspectives through role-playing and improvisation.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 09/01/2025 -
Thu 06/02/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
The Exchange Recovery College (Barnsley)
33 Gawber Road
Barnsley
S75 2AH
Tutor:
Carrie Hanson
Course code:
Q00012743
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

Textiles and Fashion: Textiles for Self Employment

Welcome to the Textiles for Self-Employment Course! This course is for those who want to start a business in textiles and sewing. You will learn how to create and sell your own textile products. We will teach you about choosing fabrics, designing items, and advanced sewing techniques. You will also learn about pricing, marketing, and selling your products. Our experienced tutor will guide you through each step. By the end of the course, you will have the skills and knowledge to start your own textiles business and become self-employed. Join us and turn your passion into a career!
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 13/01/2025 -
Mon 03/02/2025
Times:
12:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Clovelly Centre (Southampton)
60-68 Clovelly Road
Southampton
SO14 0AU
Tutor:
Tracey Sweetman
Course code:
Q00017058
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.20

Art Practical: Art for Wellbeing

Learners will work with the tutor to improve confidence in their ability to develop their artistic skills and creativity within oil painting. You will be developing the skills to create a detailed landscape painting; challenging yourself to try new and different subjects. You will learn using a range of different teaching and learning activities, to include watching and following step by step demonstrations, with one-to-one help and guidance from a friendly and encouraging tutor. You will learn in a safe, welcoming and supportive environment, working together with your fellow learners and the tutor. This course is suitable for a complete beginner but also for those wanting to improve their existing skills in painting. No prior knowledge is needed, just a desire to learn and begin your journey to develop your artistic skills.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 13/01/2025 -
Mon 24/03/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Hull Quaker Meeting House (HULL)
2-10 Bean Street
HULL
HU3 2PR
Tutor:
Julie Smith
Course code:
Q00017860
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

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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  • Attend our members’ annual conference.

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Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
WEA Membership

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, watercolor, 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

Art Practical: Drawing and Watercolour Techniques with Art History References: Spring Themes

This course will help you develop further watercolour techniques interrelated with drawing skills, and in connection with inspiring examples in art history. It will help you learn classical techniques in a subtle way, by relating them to examples by various masters of drawing and watercolour (such as Dürer, Turner or Cezanne) and contemporary artists (such as David Hockney or Anselm Kiefer). If you would like to have a fresh view of watercolour painting and drawing, and learn how to achieve expressivity by carefully combining techniques such as glazing, graded wash or cross-hatching, this course will offer you an overview and will inspire personal artworks of great subtlety and sensitivity It will also encourage you to create your own original artworks based on the techniques learned and it will bring a fresh perspective on known techniques and styles, if you have already practised them in your own paintings. You will need to bring your own materials, paints and paper along for this course. The tutor will let you know what to bring
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 12/03/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
St John's United Reformed Church (New Ba
Corner of Somerset Road & Mowb
New Barnet
EN5 1RH
Tutor:
Emanuela-Alina Baloiu
Course code:
Q00017383
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £80.00

Textiles and Fashion: Machine Sewing For Improvers with Style

Many of us live in style. This course is specially designed for them. On this course you will not only learn to construct interesting projects but use them practically. While creating these lovely projects you can meet like-minded people in the group. This course will help you to concentrate and enjoy the moment while creating projects that are useful, creative and sustainable.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 05/03/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Kauser Nabeel
Course code:
Q00012300
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £51.80