Painting: Architecture, Space, Environment.

COURSE CODE: E2503P018

COURSE DATES: Wednesdays, 22nd April - 10th June 2026

TUTOR: Alison Hand MA

DAYS: 8

TIMES: 10:30am – 4:30pm

EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Ages 18+, All Levels

FEE: Early bird: £490.50 / Standard price: £545

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

This course explores how painting can describe and interact with the language of architecture, environment, and space. The course introduces diverse painting approaches and surfaces, and covers a range of themes including working from moving images; 3 dimensional and site specific painting; city edges and borders. Drawing on a range of source material from film and photography to sketching and study trips, we will build an exciting new painting vocabulary. 

Each idea will be contextualised with contemporary painters and key theorists, thereby broadening your knowledge. You will be able to use the processes and approaches taught to address their individual thematic concerns as you move through the course. Additionally, you will develop your own ambitious project in the last two weeks of the course, which may be a large-scale work, a series of smaller works, or a site-specific painting project. These will be exhibited on the last afternoon of the course in the studio, for discussion and others to come and view. Note: This course welcomes students working in other disciplines, such as drawing, installation, multimedia – it works well for those working across 2 and 3 dimensions, for example painting and sculpture, as well as those concentrating on painting. 

Students will be able to: 

  • Analyse the work of others and apply findings to their own work. 
  • Apply contextual and critical knowledge and the work of key thinkers and theorists in the creation of paintings
  • Create paintings from diverse source material
  • Create paintings on different (non- traditional) substrates, experimenting with form and surface
  • Create a series of diverse paintings which refract, respond to, and interpret the environment. 
  • Research, plan and realise a self-initiated project culminating in a large scale and / or site specific work
  • Apply safe-working practices at all times. 

Recommend booking by: April 14, 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.

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. You must provide your 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 cloths rags for brush cleaning (such as an old cotton t-shirt).

If you do not have your own painting materials, there is an option to order a Painting Pack at the time of booking which will be available when you arrive for your first class. You can purchase this via the following link;  

http://artacademy.org.uk/evening-classes/materials/ 

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
    6 Daler Rowney Georgian Oil paint tubes in: Titanium White, Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Yellow, Burnt Umber, Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, French Ultramarine Blue, Coeruleum Blue.

An Acrylic Painting Pack (£60.00) 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 10″x 12″ canvas board
  • One 10″x 14″ canvas board
  • Two 12″x 16″ canvas boards
  • 8 Daler Rowney (System 3) acrylic tubes: Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red Hue, Ultramarine, Sap Green, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber, Mars Black.

Certain materials can also be purchased from the Academy shop during shop hours. Please check in ad

Alison Hand is BA Fine Art Programme Leader at the Art Academy. She has an MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art, and is a published writer on art and architecture. She is currently Artist in Residence for Kings College Philosophy Department Dreams and Wakeful Consciousness research project. She has exhibited in Germany, Hong Kong, London and across the UK, and has also curated a number of shows including a major group show around the question of what is drawing. Hand’s paintings and drawings have won several awards including the Basil H Alkazzi Scholarship; the Gordon Luton Award for Fine Art; and the Stephenson Harwood Award.

https://www.alisonhand.com  @alisonhandartist

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.

Original price was: £545.00.Current price is: £490.50.

E2503P018

Early bird 10% off until the 9th of March 2026

Artwork by Alison Hand

Original price was: £545.00.Current price is: £490.50.