All Levels

All attendees must be aged 18 and over.

This course is suitable for all levels. Students can move at their own pace depending on their experience, with as much support from the Tutor as they wish. This means an student from the following experience levels can join this course:

Beginner

Choose a Beginners course if you are looking for a broad introduction to the medium you are studying. Our Beginner courses are suitable for students with no prior experience.

Beginner +

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.

Intermediate

Our Intermediate courses are suitable for students who have considerable prior knowledge of the taught medium or have completed a Beginners/Beginners + course with the Art Academy.

Advanced

Choose our Advanced courses if you have considerable knowledge in the taught medium. You are expected to be able to work independently and have critical discussions around your work.

YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN MATERIALS.

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).

You should bring:

• A sketchbook and a range of drawing materials for studies
• Black Ink
• Small box of watercolours
• A3 pad of watercolour paper
• Linseed Oil. 
• Liquin, spectragel, oleopasto etc.  (these are optional extras)
• Zest-it (not white spirit or turps)
• Jam jars
• Tear off paper palette – A3 or large sheets of greaseproof paper as palette.
• A3 pad of oil painting paper or watercolour paper prepared with acrylic gesso

Acrylic paint: Titanium White, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue,

Oil colours: Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, French Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Cadmium Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Viridian Green, Titanium White

Brushes: Hogs hair brushes – a range of shapes and sizes. Get from very large to small, and not just one shape.Apron or old shirt

Old rags, palette knife, sponges (e.g. car wash), kitchen towel.

Surfaces. Specified each week. This is your chance to explore different supports and grounds; not just canvas, but also primed MDF, prepared gesso panels, aluminium etc. Ask me if unsure.

Use of a phone camera

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 (£75.00) contains:

• A set of bristle brushes, both flat and round, suitable for either oils or acrylics
• One tear off palette (9”x12”)
• One palette knife
• One bottle Zest-it (250ml) 
• One 10″x 12″ canvas board
• One 10″x 14″ canvas board
• Two 12″x 16″ canvas boards
• 8 Daler Rowney Georgian 38ml oil tubes: Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, French Ultramarine, Coeruleum Blue and Burnt Umber
• Certain materials can also 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.

Gavin Maughfling lives and works in East London. Exhibitions include his recent solo show ‘Looking at Tigers’, Bermondsey Project Space 2024, the set designs for Stephen Pelton  Company’s latest work at the O Positive Festival in Kingston New York 2024,  MOCA London’s web exhibition programme in 2023, the Beep Biennial Painting Prize at Elysium Gallery in 2020 and 2022, ‘Figure and Ground’ at Bermondsey Project Space in 2022, ‘Between Parts Undone’ at studio 1.1 in 2020, the Creekside Open at APT in 2019, ‘Artworks’ at the Barbican Trust Project Space in 2019, ‘Beyond the Binaries’ at the House of St. Barnabas in 2018 and ‘In the Open’ at Sheffield Institute of the Arts in 2017, as well as solo exhibitions at no format Gallery in 2021 and 2019. He has co-curated exhibitions in London and Singapore, including ‘Darkness Visible’ at APT London, 2025. His work is held in public and private collections including the National Government Art Collection. He is a member of British Contemporary Painting. 

https://www.gavinmaughfling.co.uk/home/

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.