Contemporary watercolour painting projects
Choose a starting date
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 03 Jun 2025End Date: 15 Jul 2025Tue (Evening): 18:00 - 21:00In PersonLocation: Keeley StreetDuration: 7 sessions (over -7 weeks)Course Code: VH346Tutors: Anne-Marie FosterFull fee £319.00 Senior fee £255.00 Concession £207.00
- Start Date: 12 Jul 2025End Date: 09 Aug 2025Sat (Daytime): 10:30 - 16:30In PersonLocation: Keeley StreetDuration: 5 sessions (over -5 weeks)Course Code: VM311Tutors: Sisetta ZapponeFull fee £369.00 Senior fee £295.00 Concession £240.00
- Start Date: 01 Nov 2025End Date: 29 Nov 2025Sat (Daytime): 10:30 - 16:30In PersonLocation: Keeley StreetDuration: 5 sessions (over -5 weeks)Course Code: VM851Full fee £389.00 Senior fee £311.00 Concession £253.00
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This course will draw inspiration from selected themes and artists, to help you explore in more depth technologies and principles of painting. It will show some of the diversity of contemporary practice and the contexts within which it is made.
What will we cover?
You will work on short projects from observation, secondary sources and abstraction, exploring diverse brush handling, choices of paper and surface and relevant accompanying mediums. You will also explore pigment choices and gain a greater understanding of their characteristics and how to respond to these in a personal way.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Use a broader range of painting techniques in watercolour.
• Select, mix and apply colours with greater confidence.
• Recognise the approaches and painting methods of selected contemporary practitioners.
• Give greater consideration to the scale and presentation of your work, through exploring context.
• Make more informed choices of materials and methods of application in developing your work.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an intermediate course for students with some basic painting experience, which can be in any medium.
You should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You may be encouraged to take short written notes for your own use and take part in group discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
• Practical work in the studio
• Short demonstrations
• Handouts
• One-to–one tutoring
• Group discussion
This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment. When you log on you will be able to access course material, presentations and handouts etc.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Basic materials and resources are provided as part of this course, including watercolour paint, brushes and paper appropriate for the medium. Students are welcome to bring any additional specialist materials.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Further themed courses in watercolour or painting courses in other media on the general programme. You may also wish to support your watercolour practices with courses from our drawing programs.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.