Appreciate art through learning

Our Art History courses will give you a deeper understanding of what you're looking at. When it comes to art, everyone's has their own opinion on which artist is better than the other, and what their most famous work signifies.

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Through exploring the world of art history, you'll be learning about why pieces are made in the first place and what the pieces mean. You will also examine how that’s changed over a period of time, as well as the impact it’s had on society. 

You’ll be taught about many of the aspects from the art creation process, such as the materials used in artworks, and how different kinds of artists contribute differently in expressing their ideas through freehand drawing or digital media. 

Whether you're a seasoned art appreciator or a newbie, there's something here for everyone. From exploring art painted by Salvador Dali or learning all about the history of Nordic Art from the Viking era, we have a selection of online and in-person art history courses from different decades to choose from.  

Attend an Art History course near you  

Whether you choose to learn from the comfort of your own home, or opt for a space in your local community, you’ll be taught by a talented tutor who is an expert in their field. 

The support you’ll receive on our Art History courses

Your tutor will encourage you to develop an understanding of Art History that goes beyond what's on the surface, motivating you to truly immerse yourself in the subject. It’s our learning experience that sets us apart too, with an encouraging environment that ensures you attend each session with the excitement to learn.   

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Art Appreciation: Nordic Art: From the Vikings to Edvard Munch

This course will focus on a geographical area that may be intriguing for many of us: the North of Europe. Lately, in films and TV series, novels, and design, the Nordic touch has been quite popular. What about the visual arts? If you would like to know more about the history of Nordic art, this course is for you! In this course, you will learn about artists from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. We will cover Viking objects, Norwegian stave churches, Danish and Swedish medieval church frescoes, Finish national romantic painting and the Skagen painters. We will also study the art and craft of the Sami people.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 22/04/2025 -
Tue 08/07/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Richmond Library Annex (Richmond)
Quadrant Road
Richmond
TW9 1DH
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00021301
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

Art Appreciation: Art in Australia: Past and Present

This course offers an in-depth exploration of the rich and diverse artistic traditions of Australia, spanning thousands of years. You will discover the country’s fascinating artistic heritage, from ancient Aboriginal rock art—dating back over 28,000 years—to contemporary works that reflect the cultural evolution of the region. We will examine both Indigenous artistic traditions (such as bark painting) and the European influences that arrived with colonisation (such as Impressionist landscape painting), analysing how these styles interact and shape Australian art today. This course provides an engaging and thought-provoking introduction. Join us for a journey through Australia's unique artistic landscape! No previous knowledge required.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 24/04/2025 -
Thu 22/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Ripley Arts Centre (Bromley)
24 Sundridge Avenue
Bromley
BR1 2PX
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00021428
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £47.00

Art Appreciation: Modern British Art: From the Newlyn School to World War Two.

In this online course, we will focus on a century of artistic creation in Britain. From the artists in Cornwall to the war artists during the Second World War, we will study a varied mix of artists and art movements. We will proceed chronologically, but will keep in mind several transversal themes, especially that of the dialogue with artistic centres abroad. In doing so, we will wonder whether modern British art followed a similar path as elsewhere or if some singular traits can be identified. Come and join us online to extend your knowledge of art with the guidance of tutor Caroline Levisse.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 24/04/2025 -
Thu 10/07/2025
Times:
1:15pm - 3:15pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00021439
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £81.40

Art Appreciation: The Art of Pompeii

In this course, we will explore the art that has been uncovered and continues to be uncovered in Pompeii. We will explore both the variety of frescoes and mosaics that may be seen there. Not only will we analyse and discover individual frescoes and mosaics, we will also discuss the lives of Pompeii’s inhabitants and the beliefs and culture which gave rise to them, exploring who art and culture defined these people and their being. There will be scope for lively discussions of the images, and advice given on further reading to enrich your understanding of this fascinating historical moment, arrested by Vesuvio’s eruption.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 24/04/2025 -
Thu 15/05/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00021473
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

The Emergence of Modern Art in Europe (1850 -1885): From Millet and Courbet to the Impressionists.

This 10-week course traces the radical changes in European art from 1850 to the mid-1880s. Beginning with Millet and Courbet’s realist challenge to academic traditions, we’ll explore how artists like Manet, Monet, and Degas revolutionised painting through new techniques, subjects, and compositions. As they did so, they often shocked the audience. Examining the social, political, and technological changes that fuelled these movements, we’ll uncover how modern art emerged in response to things such as modern urbanism, the development of the press, fashion and shopping, but also the invention of photography and commercialisation of the paint tube.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 25/04/2025 -
Fri 04/07/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00021311
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Art Practical: Find Your Own Painting Style - Intermediate

This course gives students - form improvers to intermediate - the opportunity to explore different painting approaches, techniques and subjects and find their own style. Our highly experienced tutor, who is a practicing artist, provides practical and supportive advice on colour mixing, composition and tonal variation, encouraging students to explore their own personal enthusiasms to make individual and highly original paintings. Photographs and other sources will be provided but students may use their own photos and objects. Step-by-step demonstrations help students learn the skills and techniques necessary to be able to paint more confidently.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 25/04/2025 -
Fri 04/07/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
St Michaels Hall (Chichester)
Summersdale Road
Chichester
PO19 6PN
Tutor:
Frank Ferrie
Course code:
Q00017763
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
5 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

Art Appreciation: Japonism: The Influence of Japanese Arts on Modern Art.

Explore the captivating influence of Japanese arts on European modern art in the second half of the 19th century in this 3-hour session. We’ll dive into how Japanese aesthetics and culture reshaped European art in the late 19th century, inspiring artists like Whistler, Van Gogh, Monet, Cassatt, and Redon. Through ukiyo-e prints, minimalism, and asymmetry, Japan’s artistic elements transformed Western approaches to composition, colour, and subject matter. The session aims to deepen your understanding of what “Japanism” was, when and how it happened, and the ways it impacted movements such as Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Art Nouveau. Perfect for art enthusiasts eager to trace the roots of cross-cultural exchanges that forever changed the trajectory of modern art.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 28/04/2025 -
Mon 28/04/2025
Times:
9:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00021342
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £11.10

Art and Music Studies: Anniversaries and Exhibitions

The course aims to encourage learners to attend art exhibitions and/or musical events with a greater background knowledge in order to enhance appreciation. If actual attendance is not possible, to undertake independent research and hence, enjoy a more active and cultural lifestyle. The class also offers an opportunity for learners to interact socially with like- minded people in intellectual pursuits. It also encourages learners to acquire critical and analytical skills through debate and discussion. The course covers all styles and periods from the Renaissance to the present day. It is multi media to accommodate diverse learning styles and preferences. It is suitable for beginners and connoisseurs alike.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 29/04/2025 -
Tue 10/06/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Ripley Arts Centre (Bromley)
24 Sundridge Avenue
Bromley
BR1 2PX
Tutor:
Andrew Rothwell
Course code:
Q00021629
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Art Appreciation: The Invention of Photography and it's Impact on Early Modern Painting

In this thought-provoking session, we will look at the links that can be drawn between the invention of photography around 1839 and the emergence of modern painting that a decade later. We will consider how painters used photographs, and how they felt challenged by this new type of images. You will learn about the invention of photography, around the inventions of Niepce, Daguerre and Talbot. We will examine early photographs by Nadar, Le Gray and many unknown photographers. Many paintings will also be studied, by artists such as Delacroix, Degas, Monet, Renoir, and Caillebotte.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 09/05/2025 -
Fri 09/05/2025
Times:
9:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00021436
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £11.10

Art Appreciation:Five Centuries of Women Sculptors

American art historian Linda Nochlin in 1971 posed the question as to “Why have there been no great women artists?”. Since then the field of art history has increased its focus on women artists. Yet women sculptors have been the most overlooked, overshadowed by their male counterparts, and under-represented in sculptural histories. This course will write them back into art history by focusing on the talented and accomplished women sculptors from the 17th Century to their transition through the centuries into the installation artists of the 21st Century.

Course Information

Dates:
Sun 11/05/2025 -
Sun 15/06/2025
Times:
11:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jolanta Jagiello
Course code:
Q00017477
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40