Painting Plein Air

COURSE CODE: SC2404025

COURSE DATES: Monday 14th – Wednesday 16th July 2025

TUTOR: Julia Hawkins ROI NEAC

DAYS: 3

TIMES: 10:00am – 4:30pm

EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Ages 18+, All Levels

FEE: £230

LOCATION: Bankside Campus, 185 Park Street, SE1 9BL

Observe and capture the world around you by stepping outside the studio and exploring the richness of painting outdoors. Suitable for all levels, you’ll learn how to respond to changing light, dynamic city scenes, and natural landscapes with confidence. Each session will focus on subjects such as:

  • Foundations of Outdoor Drawing – Learn key principles like linear and aerial perspective, composition, and tonal contrast
  • Colour Mixing Techniques – Explore natural limited palettes, mixing greens and blues to reflect the environment
  • Painting on Location – Capture light, mood, and atmosphere with practical sessions by the river and market
  • Sketching Techniques – Develop a responsive, fast-paced sketching style suitable for busy scenes

You’ll gain fluency in working with a limited palette, greater compositional awareness, and the ability to translate dynamic scenes onto canvas. Through a combination of demonstrations, group discussions, practical exercises, and gentle critique, you’ll be supported in developing your own approach to plein air painting.
After completion, you may be interested in joining our Drawing on Location course.

Recommend booking by: June 30, 2025

COURSE SCHEDULE

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.

  • Graphite pencils (soft B6 – B8)
  • Either hard-back sketch book (A4) or a small light sketching board with paper
  • Light weight stool to sit, if needed
  • Oil paints: Titanium White, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, French Ultramarine, Viridian, Cadmiums Red and Yellow
  • A4 size (approx) canvas boards (these can be purchased at the Academy on the day of your course)
  • Oil paper pad Size A4
  • Flat wooden or plastic palette (Size A4 approx)
  • Brushes: Long Flat or Filbert Hog, no synthetic brushes please

Julia Hawkins ROI NEAC

Julia Hawkins is an award-winning contemporary figurative artist based in Surrey and her portraits and landscapes reveal an experienced painter and colourist, who tries to capture the essence of her subject.

Julia is a Member of both the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (2020) and The New English Art Club (2022). She is a regular exhibitor at the Mall Galleries in London with both societies as well as with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. Her work was also selected for the prestigious Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize and Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Prize exhibitions.

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”.

Throughout the course you will also be working in various locations, please refer to the course schedule to see each location.

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.

£230.00

Painting

£230.00