WEA courses

How art has been employed by belligerent countries in the First and Second World Wars, but also to represent war, often patriotically, over many centuries. We’ll look at a range of different examples from western countries to show the different approaches to art depicting war and its effects and how sometimes this has been directed by governments, not always simply for propaganda purposes.

This 5 week course delves into the works of 5 street artists, including Banksy, Blek Le Rat, JR, Blu and Os Gemeos. Each week explores key art concepts including colour and composition through samples of their work. You will engage in group discussions, take notes and recall information. By the end of the course, you will be able to name significant street artists, describe their artistic methods, spot similarities and differences among their work desconstruct essential components of artworks and select a preferred piece based on personal opinion.

Discover the art of precision and creativity in our Sewing for Business Course. Dive into the fundamentals of machine sewing, mastering essential techniques and garment construction. From threading the needle to embellishing, you'll gain hands-on experience and the confidence to bring your design ideas to life. In parallel, embark on a beginner business journey, learning the basics of entrepreneurship for a sewing venture. Explore market trends, pricing strategies, and customer engagement to turn your passion into a profitable enterprise. Join us for a transformative learning experience that blends craftsmanship with entrepreneurial acumen, equipping you for success in the world of sewing and business.

Does a life inform one’s art? Does it follow that a passionate, violent nature will inevitably create dramatic, even dark, artworks? The life of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was full of drama and passion and it could be argued that his art mirrored his life. Although sometimes deeply disturbing, Caravaggio’s paintings demonstrate an understanding of realism and also of faith. This course will analyse both the art and the man, exploring these questions and getting closer to the meaning in Caravaggio’s works. There will be practical analysis of the works in question, resulting in a thorough examination of the artist’s oeuvre.

In this 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, such as Paris and New York. Doing so, we will wonder whether modern British art followed a similar path as elsewhere or if some singular traits can be identified.

To take students beyond introductory courses in art and begin to develop their skills. This course is accessible to beginners, but it also provides an ideal stepping stone towards more advanced learning in art.

This course will examine how different countries and cultures use pattern as a form of decoration whilst exploring a variety of art making techniques and media. You will be invited to find out about different countries, uncovering how decoration has become a distinctive part of their culture, rituals and presentation. You will have the opportunity to experiment with symmetry, symbolism and colour and learn about the meaning and importance of different decorative traditions, including the making and decorating of your own Mexican sugar skull, Indian Mandala plate and Chinese Ming vase pattern

In this course, we will focus on an extraordinary artist, well-loved from today’s public: Vincent van Gogh. You will learn about his Dutch origins, his interests and friendships while in Paris, the dreams he nurtured in Arles, and, his last months in Auvers-sur-Oise. As we study the main phases in his life, we will study key examples of his paintings and drawings to better understand his artistic identity. What was the purpose of painting for him? Why did he paint with bright colours and thick brushstrokes? We will seek to understand van Gogh’s art not simply in light of his own mindset, but also in light of the wider cultural context he was part of.

The Victorian years saw unprecedented industrialisation which changed the face of Britain but also attitudes. Industrial developments were perceived as both positive and negative, but the countryside was viewed as a tradition, community and continuity. Yet images of the country, as well as the town, reveal the complexity of a society adapting to the modern world. Depiction of idyllic country scenes and grimy urban life reveal deep tension in Victorian society. This course will reveal that complexity and the contradictions which characterised the years 1837 to 1901 by examining paintings, engravings, photographs cartoons and the literature of the period.

This new course is a great introduction to embroidering on felt fabric and has been designed for beginner and improver level hand stitchers. The online course provides you with simple digital tools to help your learning, the class environment is a friendly with enthusiastic learners that you can share your work and stitching passion with. Learning to stitch on felt is a great alternative to using the ordinary cotton fabrics and Aida normally used for embroidery stitching.The sessions will begin with the focus on learning several hand embroidery stitches and introduce themes such as how to layer and combine simple stitches to create different patterns. As the course progresses you will also learn how to make a needlebook and small pincushion out of felt pieces, both of which are ideal for practising your new found or improved level of stitching on. This course is funded by the Education Skills and Funding Agency.