Art Courses Birmingham

The easiest way is to start on the Art Courses Birmingham booking page and work through the options from there. You can choose the course type first, then pick the day and time that suits you, and the booking steps are clear all the way through to payment.

If you are not sure which direction to go in, I normally suggest choosing based on the materials you want to use and whether you would prefer to learn in Birmingham city centre or online. 

If you want a friendly, structured course that lets you try a range of drawing and painting materials, take a look at Drawing and Painting Techniques. If you specifically want to focus on oils, the Introduction to Oil Techniques course is the best fit. If you would like to draw and paint the figure from observation, you will want the Life Drawing Classes Birmingham page. If you fancy something shorter and social, Sip and Paint is booked as a stand-alone session.

At Art Courses Birmingham, you do not need previous experience to get started. The best course for complete beginners is usually Drawing and Painting Techniques, because it introduces you to several materials and approaches over the term, including pencil, charcoal, pastel, acrylic, ink and mixed media. You can go at your own pace, and I assume you are learning from the beginning unless you tell me otherwise. 

If you already know you want to paint in oils, then the Introduction to Oil Techniques course focuses on that medium and is still suitable for beginners.  If you are drawn to drawing from life and want to build confidence with proportion, gesture and observation, the Life Drawing Classes are a brilliant place to start. 

I often begin with a demonstration when I am introducing a new technique, but there are no set break times. At Art Courses Birmingham, you are welcome to make a hot drink whenever you like, then jump back in when you are ready.

Registration is done through the Art Courses Birmingham booking page. Choose the course that suits you, follow the steps through to payment, and you will receive a confirmation email after you have booked. 

For Art Courses Birmingham venue classes, materials are included. I supply almost all the art materials for the in-person courses. For online Zoom art classes, students source their own materials, but I do provide a recommended materials list, with a 10% discount through Cass Art.

For the venue Drawing and Painting Techniques course, the main item I ask you to bring is an A3 drawing and painting pad. For the life drawing course, I supply everything except that Ialso ask you to bring your own paper.

If you contact me beforehand, we can try to swap you into a Wednesday or Saturday session instead, as long as there is a space available. Because the Art Courses Birmingham courses are in demand, missed classes cannot be carried over into a new semester.

Art Courses Birmingham classes are based in Birmingham city centre, just off Victoria Square, in a Grade II listed building surrounded by Georgian architecture at the Birmingham and Midland Institute (BMI).

If you prefer learning from home, the Oil class continues online via Zoom, and I also offer one-to-one lessons via Zoom when in-person is not practical.

At Art Courses Birmingham, the Introduction to Oil Painting course runs for 11 weeks consecutively, while Drawing and Painting Techniques runs for 12 weeks in total, and the Life Drawing Classes also run for 12 weeks.  If you are booking a new term, you will always see the current dates and sessions on the booking page as well.

Metered parking is available around the BMI building on Margaret Street and Cornwall Street. Alternatively, car parks are available at the following locations:

BMI Parking

Great Charles Street Car Park

Ludgate Hill Car Park

Snow Hill Multi-Storey Car Park

Lower Lionel Street Car Park

If you are travelling in, it is worth giving yourself a little extra time to park and get settled before we begin.

Yes, and you would be very welcome. Many Art Courses Birmingham students rebook for another semester. Each term follows a similar structure, so you can build confidence, but I often introduce new techniques and exercises to keep things moving forward.

I usually begin with a demonstration of the technique we are focusing on that day, then we do a warm-up exercise to get you going. After that, you can explore the theme at your own pace, and I give plenty of feedback and individual tuition throughout the session when you need it.

If you want a refund, please contact me no later than a week before the course starts so I have time to find someone to take your place. If you have already attended a class, I cannot offer a refund because that space has been used and cannot be filled.

Yes. Art Courses Birmingham courses are designed for adults, and many students start with little or no experience. The teaching is step-by-step and supportive, and you will get individual guidance during the session. If you want a strong starting point, Drawing and Painting Techniques is usually the best place to begin.

Yes. Art Courses Birmingham offers live online art classes via Zoom. The oil painting course runs online, and the Zoom page explains how online sessions work and what you need. 

Yes. If you would prefer tailored support or you want to focus on specific drawing or painting goals, Art Courses Birmingham offers one-to-one tuition.