Beginner +

All attendees must be aged 18 and over.

Choose a Beginner + course if you are looking to hone your skills, focus on a specific subject area and build your confidence. These courses are suitable for those with some basic skills in and knowledge of the taught medium, but still follow a structured path with guidance from the tutor.

YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN MATERIALS.

Please note there will be a small charge for the egg tempera materials, which the Academy will supply. The exact cost will be confirmed before the start of the course but this will not exceed £15. 

The Academy is a white spirit and turpentine free environment and only odourless spirits, such as Zest-it or Sansodor, are permitted on the premises. Students must provide their own spirits, which can be recycled for longevity. 

We request that you bring 2 small jars (one with a lid, one without) to hold your spirit, and a few cloth rags for brush cleaning (such as an old cotton t-shirt).

Below is a list of what is currently required for the course. Please also check the ‘what to bring’ sections above. Your tutor will advise if further materials or equipment are required as the course progresses.

Certain materials can be purchased from the Academy shop during shop hours. Please check in advance of your class if the item you require is available, as the Academy may not have this in stock.

If you do not have your own materials, there is an option to order an Oil Painting Pack at the time of booking, which will be available when you arrive for your first class and can be stored at the Academy for the duration of your course. 

An Oil Painting Pack (£65.00) contains:

• A set of bristle brushes, both flat and round
• One tear off palette (9”x12”)
• One palette knife
• One bottle of Zest-it (250ml)
• One 10″x12″ canvas board
• One 10″x14″ canvas board
• Two 12″x16″ canvas boards
• Eight Daler Rowney oil tubes of Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, French Ultramarine, Coeruleum Blue and Burnt Umber

Carl Randall is a graduate of The Slade School of Fine Art (BA Honours Fine Art Painting), the Royal Drawing School (the Drawing Year), and Tokyo University of Fine Arts, Japan (MFA and Doctorate in Painting). He has exhibited several times at the National Portrait Gallery’s Portrait Award (2024, 2013, 2012, 2002), and was their Travel Award winner in 2012, where I had a display of 16 Japan-themed paintings at the Portrait Gallery. Carl has also exhibited numerous times at The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition (2019, 2013, 2009 2012); The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Exhibition at the Mall Galleries (2024, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2012), and at Flowers Gallery London (each year 2017-present). He has had solo exhibitions in London and Tokyo, and has taken part in Art Fairs in Switzerland, Japan, London, Turkey and Taiwan. Carl has work in the collections of The Royal Collection, University College London Art Museum, Tokyo Geidai Art Museum Japan, and Foundation Carmignac Paris. He is also the winner of The Sunday Times Watercolour Competition and The Nomura Art Prize Japan, as well as several other awards; and his work has been featured on the BBC World Service and CNN.

http://www.carlrandall.com  

Charlie Pickard is a classically trained fine artist, illustrator and author. Trained at the London Atelier of Representational Art, completing his training in 2017. His work has been seen at the Royal Society of Oil painters in 2017 and the Royal Society of British Artists in 2020, where he was awarded the Philip Delazlo Award for excellence and in the Royal society of Portrait Painters in 2024. Charlie also regularly contributes articles to various publications including Artists and Illustrators, Imaginefx and 3Dtotal. He Illustrated the book ‘Anatomy for Artists’ in 2020 and Authored the book ‘Colour and Light’ in 2021 and the book Anatomy in Motion in 2024, all in partnership with the publisher of 3Dtotal. Charlie continues to work, write, exhibit and teach out of his studio in London.

https://charliepickardart.com/

Tim Benson was educated at Glasgow School of Art and Byam Shaw School of Art from 1998-2001 and was the President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters between 2018 and 2023. As a practised figurative artist Tim not only creates a distinguishable likeness of a subject but moreover evokes the sitter’s character and mood. He is never satisfied with simple representation, rather concentrating on bringing to his work an emotive and often visceral quality. Tim regularly exhibits in solo and group exhibitions around the UK. He displays fine art paintings that stand on their own as collectible works of art and accordingly has established a large following and collector base. In addition to his fine art pieces, he accepts more formal portrait and figurative commissions in oil or charcoal.

http://timbenson.co.uk 

Antony Williams trained at Farnham College of Art and Portsmouth University in the UK. He works almost exclusively in egg tempera which can be a painstaking and exacting medium, but which allows him to express a deep feeling about the look of the world. All of his work is based on direct and intense observation, and can produce as a result a very heightened sense of realism, where every surface detail is given almost equal and constant consideration. Williams’ still lifes and portraits – like much art – underline the passing of time and mortality. This was the reason no doubt why his fine portrait of the Queen caused controversy. Inevitably, his method, his close vision, revealed that these were in fact the face and hands of an ageing woman. That is not how everybody chooses to think of the monarch. But as a work of art, and an exercise in sober, careful truth – telling like the best of his work – it was indeed, very impressive.

https://antony-williams.com/

Bankside Campus

185 Park Street,London SE1 9BL

tel: +44 (0) 207407 6969

This is our new purpose built accessible campus. Find more information here

Nearest Tube/ Rail: London Bridge or Southwark (both a 10-15 minute walk).

Please note that London Bridge has two exits, the most direct route is to follow signs to “Borough Market”.

Students are welcome to use The Hub during break times, where you can prepare hot drinks and/or food. You must bring your own keep-cup, water bottle or food container to the Academy as mugs, glasses, and containers will not be available in our Bankside campus.

Tea and coffee will be provided by the Academy and is available from the island unit at the end of The Hub.

Terms and Conditions

• By booking onto one of our courses you agree to our Short Courses Terms and Conditions.
• You will need to have paid in full before the first session of your class. Your place is not guaranteed until we have received full payment. Please book early in order to guarantee your place on the course.

Materials & Equipment

• If you purchased a pack online this will be given to you on the first session of your course upon your arrival. Packs can be booked on our Materials Page or on this page when you book the course
• Please don’t wear your best clothes as there is always a chance you will get messy. If possible bring an apron or overalls.
• All artwork at the Academy MUST be taken home at the end of each session where possible, with the exception of oil paintings and sculpture works.
• We cannot store materials at the Academy, so please take these to and from your sessions.
• Please ensure that your mobile phone is switched off or is on silent during the class.
• Health and Safety Guidelines will be provided to you a week before the start of your course.

Concessions and Discounts

We offer a number of concessions and discounts, please find more information on what we offer here.

Gift Vouchers

If you would like to purchase a gift voucher to be used on our courses then you can purchase these here.