Drawing and Pastel

We offer drawing and sketching courses for all creative abilities. Many of our courses are mixed ability and suitable for all, but we also have some specific beginners classes to support people who are just starting to explore their drawing skills.

Our classes and workshops teach drawing techniques on various subjects ranging from figures, faces and portraiture to landscapes and outdoors. Our courses can help you learn how to ‘look’ and interpret what you see. Courses explore line tone and perspective and allow students the opportunity to build confidence and experiment with different techniques and medium. Some classes focus on a medium like charcoal or pastel, allowing you to understand the techniques associated with that medium.

Some courses focus on life drawing and have a different model each week. These figure focused courses allow you to learn about shapes and proportions of the body and face, looking at how light and shade change the way we see and capture a subject.

Explore our wide range of exciting drawing courses, classes and workshops and sign-up now.

More Information on Our Drawing Courses

Courses 2024/25

Drawing-Beginners (B18C)

Description: A friendly, supportive and structured course which will help beginners develop their drawing skills. You will learn to draw using pencil, charcoal, rubbers and more. You will explore line, tone and perspective through a series of exercises, designed to improve your confidence and ability.

Tutor: Mary Kelly Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 14 Jan 2025 (Spring) Times: Tue 09:30-12:00 Duration: 5 week(s)

Availability: Fully booked Fee: £101 (Concession: £61)

Drawing Skills-Mixed Ability (B73C)

Description: Led by an experienced tutor, learners will make rapid progress and explore line, tone, measurement, texture, shading and composition. They will be taught how to ‘look’ and how to interpret what they see.

Tutor: Roma Widger Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 15 Jan 2025 (Spring) Times: Wed 13:00-15:00 Duration: 5 week(s)

Availability: Last few Fee: £81 (Concession: £49)

Oil Pastels-An Introduction (B74C)

Description: Discover the vibrant and beautiful world of oil pastel painting. This short course will cover the fundamental principles and hands-on techniques of working with oil pastels. Guided by a skilled tutor, you will discover the versatility of oil pastels.

Tutor: Roma Widger Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 15 Jan 2025 (Spring) Times: Wed 15:15-17:15 Duration: 5 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £81 (Concession: £49)

Just Charcoal (B12C)

Description: Charcoal drawing is a medium medium known for its ability to produce amazing results. Charcoal comes in several forms and this course will allow you to explore the possibilities of willow, compressed, pencil, powdered and liquid charcoal, using brushes, smudgers, rubbers, and fingers.

Tutor: Jenny Ibrahim Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 16 Jan 2025 (Spring) Times: Thu 10:00-12:30 Duration: 5 week(s)

Availability: Fully booked Fee: £101 (Concession: £61)

I Wish I Could Draw People! Drawing Figures And Faces-Beginners & Intermediates (B39A)

Description: We will start with basic principles, learning about shapes and proportions of the human body, and the tutor will demonstrate the principles of drawing from observation. Then you will draw some figures, first using photographs: e.g. of dancers, acrobats and athletes.

Tutor: Bill Guilding Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 17 Jan 2025 (Spring) Times: Fri 09:45-12:15 Duration: 5 week(s)

Availability: Last few Fee: £101 (Concession: £61)

Drawing-Beginners (B18D)

Description: A friendly, supportive and structured course which will help beginners develop their drawing skills. You will learn to draw using pencil, charcoal, rubbers and more. You will explore line, tone and perspective through a series of exercises, designed to improve your confidence and ability.

Tutor: Mary Kelly Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 25 Feb 2025 (Spring) Times: Tue 09:30-12:00 Duration: 6 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £121 (Concession: £73)

Drawing Skills-Mixed Ability (B73D)

Description: Led by an experienced tutor, learners will make rapid progress and explore line, tone, measurement, texture, shading and composition. They will be taught how to ‘look’ and how to interpret what they see.

Tutor: Roma Widger Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 26 Feb 2025 (Spring) Times: Wed 13:00-15:00 Duration: 6 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £97 (Concession: £59)

Just Charcoal (B12D)

Description: Charcoal drawing is a medium medium known for its ability to produce amazing results. Charcoal comes in several forms and this course will allow you to explore the possibilities of willow, compressed, pencil, powdered and liquid charcoal, using brushes, smudgers, rubbers, and fingers.

Tutor: Jenny Ibrahim Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 27 Feb 2025 (Spring) Times: Thu 10:00-12:30 Duration: 6 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £121 (Concession: £73)

Portraiture From Life (B39B)

Description: Develop your skill at drawing or painting faces with an experienced portraiture tutor and artist. You will be drawing or painting from a different, clothed sitter each week. You may use any drawing medium you prefer including charcoal, pastels, or crayons.

Tutor: Bill Guilding Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 28 Feb 2025 (Spring) Times: Fri 09:45-12:15 Duration: 6 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £121 (Concession: £73)

Drawing Skills-Mixed Ability (B73E)

Description: Led by an experienced tutor, learners will make rapid progress and explore line, tone, measurement, texture, shading and composition. They will be taught how to ‘look’ and how to interpret what they see.

Tutor: Roma Widger Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 23 Apr 2025 (Summer) Times: Wed 13:00-15:00 Duration: 5 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £81 (Concession: £49)

Just Charcoal (B12E)

Description: Charcoal drawing is a medium medium known for its ability to produce amazing results. Charcoal comes in several forms and this course will allow you to explore the possibilities of willow, compressed, pencil, powdered and liquid charcoal, using brushes, smudgers, rubbers, and fingers.

Tutor: Jenny Ibrahim Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 24 Apr 2025 (Summer) Times: Thu 10:00-12:30 Duration: 5 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £101 (Concession: £61)

Life Drawing-Mixed Ability (B30B)

Description: Develop skill at drawing the human figure. Drawing from a nude model (female and male), you will learn to see shape, proportion, light and shade more objectively. You will use a range of traditional drawing media and explore various approaches and techniques.

Tutor: Bill Guilding Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 25 Apr 2025 (Summer) Times: Fri 09:45-12:15 Duration: 5 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £101 (Concession: £61)

Drawing- Beginners/Improvers (B19A)

Description: This is a friendly, supportive and structured course for beginners to develop into improvers. The course will introduce new drawing skills and techniques and how to use different materials to make marks.

Tutor: Mary Kelly Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 29 Apr 2025 (Summer) Times: Tue 09:30-12:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £201 (Concession: £121)

Drawing Skills-Mixed Ability (B73F)

Description: Led by an experienced tutor, learners will make rapid progress and explore line, tone, measurement, texture, shading and composition. They will be taught how to ‘look’ and how to interpret what they see.

Tutor: Roma Widger Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 04 Jun 2025 (Summer) Times: Wed 13:00-15:00 Duration: 6 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £97 (Concession: £59)

Just Charcoal (B12F)

Description: Charcoal drawing is a medium medium known for its ability to produce amazing results. Charcoal comes in several forms and this course will allow you to explore the possibilities of willow, compressed, pencil, powdered and liquid charcoal, using brushes, smudgers, rubbers, and fingers.

Tutor: Jenny Ibrahim Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 05 Jun 2025 (Summer) Times: Thu 10:00-12:30 Duration: 7 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £141 (Concession: £85)

Drawing Figures And Faces From Life-Mixed Ability (B31B)

Description: Working from a different model each week (clothed, nude and portrait), you will develop skills in drawing figures and faces, their shape and proportions, light and shade. You will use a range of traditional drawing media and explore various approaches and techniques.

Tutor: Bill Guilding Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 06 Jun 2025 (Summer) Times: Fri 09:45-12:15 Duration: 6 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £121 (Concession: £73)

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