WEA courses

Our creative arts courses will get you working with pastels and charcoals, exploring what creative pieces you can achieve. In this course develop your own style of drawing in this welcoming safe space. This class will encourage you to challenge your skills and build on your love of art. Bring your favourite materials or use the resources provided and express yourself in this friendly and warm setting. This tutor has years of art experience and is very popular with out learners. The venue offers a friendly atmosphere and even a free lunch prior to the course beginning.

Numerous studies have shown that creative activities, such as art, writing and music, can help reduce and even prevent stress. You may find that, after a stressful day, enjoying a hobby can help you to de-stress and even give you an energy boost. This friendly course will help you that being creative may also reduce feelings of anxiety and depression and can help you to express or manage your emotions in a positive and productive way. Especially when those feelings are difficult to put into words. This course will provide you with the opportunity to explore new and uplifting creative activities, and also give you the chance to socialise and connect with others who share the same interest. If you like the idea of making art in a calm and friendly environment, whilst also taking part in group activities and meeting new people, this is the right course for you!

Learn to draw a realistic portrait of the human face from a photograph. This full day workshop is designed for complete beginners but also caters for those with some drawing experience who wish to develop their skills further. You will draw from a photograph and learn how to build a likeness from broad shapes through to more refined features using a chalk and charcoal. This workshop is an excellent first step before you begin to draw from a live model. You will be guided and supported throughout the day and the techniques that you learn during the workshop will equip you to create your own portrait drawings at home.

Join us for a creative Card Making course at Parkstone Connect, a vibrant day centre dedicated to adults with learning difficulties. Our welcoming environment fosters creativity and fun. Participants will explore a variety of card-making techniques, including stamping, embossing, and die-cutting, to craft beautiful, personalized cards. Led by experienced tutors, the course provides all materials and offers step-by-step guidance, ensuring everyone can enjoy the process and create stunning cards to share with loved ones. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or a complete beginner, our supportive community is here to help you unleash your artistic potential.

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.

This 5 week course delves into the works of five local artists featuring Arthur Lett-Haines, Jennifer Andrews, Anthony Atkinson, Charles Bartlett and Malcolm H. Carter. 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 notice significant local artists describe their artistic methods, spot similarities and differences amongst local artists, deconstruct essential components of artworks and select a preferred piece based on personal opinion.

This Mosaic course is designed to introduce you to new craft skills and help you develop a new craft, whilst designing different images and relaxing, enjoying, being creative with others.

This course is designed for learners who would like to develop their own individual style and direction when exploring portrait skills. Starting with the anatomy of the head, you will be guided through the basic steps and techniques when studying a character. Using Photography, you will then go on to learn about directing and how to confidently capture a head and shoulder portrait. This could then be used to either draw from or manipulate, using mixed media, for example painting onto its surface or collaging.

Get involved with this mosaic course which is designed to introduce you to new skills and help you develop a new craft, whilst designing different images and relaxing, enjoying, being creative with others.

This course in art appreciation provides close attentions to particular works of art from two important artists, Leonardo da Vinci and Albrecht Dürer, working in Europe in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The focus will be upon specific paintings, drawings and prints in relation to their concept of beauty. The course will present a range of work by both artists and each week will select one work for a Close View and detailed attention. Particular attentions will be given to Dürer’s painting in Venice and to his woodcuts and engravings; to Leonardo’s drawings and to his work in Milan.