5 Painting Classes to Try This Summer

Looking for a way to fill your longer days? Stimulate your creative side and say hello to summer with our wide range of painting classes near you.

Summer's arrival in the UK calls for celebration, and what better way than getting creative with a local painting class? Whether you yearn for a peaceful watercolour workshop in London, or a vibrant wine and paint night in Edinburgh, there's a class to unleash your inner artist and make new friends.

No prior artistic expertise is needed! From beginners to budding Pollocks, our inclusive classes across the UK, from bustling Manchester to charming Bristol, offer a relaxed and friendly environment led by experienced artists. They'll guide you through the basics, leaving you free to have fun and experiment, all while getting a little paint-splattered in the process.

The hardest part? Choosing your first artistic adventure! But worry not, we've got you covered. Here are our top five picks to kickstart your summer of creativity:

1. Get into the flow with a fluid art class

If you don’t like being confined to fine lines or certain shapes, fluid art or acrylic pouring will be your new best friend. This mesmerizing art form is a treat for the senses and makes for some seriously cool wall art. 

Simply put, fluid art focuses on the act of pouring paints onto a canvas and watching the fascinating patterns and effects unravel in front of your eyes. Paint pouring is easily accessible for complete art newbies and could even be considered gateway-painting. Once you’re hooked on this fascinating art form, you can begin to combine it with other mediums to create magical mixed-media masterpieces! 

With an acrylic pouring for beginners class, you can expect to learn several easy yet impressive paint pouring techniques from an expert level pigment professional. Whether you’re in London, Bristol, Manchester, or Edinburgh, we’re sure you’ll find one of our fluid art painting classes near you to get you hooked on the eye-catching world of flow art.  

2. Make vibrant artwork with an acrylic painting class

Looking for a general introduction to painting? Want to recreate colourful masterpieces such as Andy Warhol’s Campbell's Soup Cans? An acrylic painting class might be the perfect option for you! 

Acrylics are highly pigmented, fast-drying paints that produce gorgeously striking works of art. Although their quick-drying nature can be unforgiving, they’re often used in beginner art workshops due to the vibrant effect of the paint, which is bound to get any beginner addicted for life. Plus, once you’ve mastered the art of acrylic painting, oil and watercolour painting may feel like a doddle, making it a great place to begin your painting journey. 

3. Paint whimsical scenes with a watercolour workshop

If you like a side of zen with your time spent painting, watercolour art could be your cup of tea. 

Learn to paint with watercolours and you’ll be opening up a whole new world of peaceful afternoons spent watching delicate pastel paints blend together. Unlike acrylic paint, watercolour painting is somewhat forgiving, making it perfect for a truly laid-back and relaxing experience. 

So, if you’re looking for a new stress-busting hobby or some relaxing things to do in London, Manchester or Bristol, head over to a local watercolour painting for beginners class and begin your art therapy journey. 

The best part? You’ll walk away with a soothing hand-painted scene to hang on your wall for an extra dose of relaxation when you get home. Transform a house into a home with painting lessons near me.

4. Paint like the greats with an oil painting class

Are you a fan of Van Gogh’s Starry Night or Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus? If that’s a yes, then you’ll love following the footsteps of your favourite painters with an oil painting class. 

Beginner oil painting workshops can be found from London to Edinburgh and everywhere in-between, and are the perfect place to truly unleash your inner artist. 

Prestigious oil paints not only carry weight in the art world but they’re also a wonderful way for beginners to dip their toes in the water. Due to their incredibly slow-drying nature, you can go completely at your own pace and take your time contemplating your masterpiece.

If you’re a complete painting beginner who would like to learn to paint with oil paints, however, we recommend that you take a class. Taking an oil painting art class will not only teach you how to use oil paints and the top techniques for doing so, but it also offers a supportive and encouraging environment for you to begin your first oil creation. 

5. Get those creative juices going at a paint and sip class

A paint n’ sip is more than just a fun and boozy paint party (although it is indeed that) it’s also a great place for anxious beginners to take their first foray into the world of art. 

At a sip and paint, the ‘sip’ part offers plentiful dutch courage (wine, beer, you name it) so that you can focus on letting loose and getting creative with your masterpiece — inhibitions, be gone! You’ll also have a talented local artist guiding the session too, who’ll be on-hand to impart their top tips, tricks, and techniques. So, although ‘wine and canvas’ evenings are seriously good fun, you’re still guaranteed to learn a thing or two and walk away a better artist than when you came in. 

Whether you enjoy your tipsy paint and sip class alone, with friends, or as a team-building activity or birthday party celebration, you’ll love the laid-back nature of sipping and painting away your evening! Plus, you’ll walk away with some frame-worthy art, despite the alcohol — pretty impressive, right?