Portrait Exchange Painting Workshop

Paint a portrait of the person sitting right across from you at this wonderfully playful London painting workshop, held at BE Ka Art Studio – Elena's riverside atelier at Trinity Buoy Wharf, overlooking the Thames.Whether you come with a friend, a partner, a colleague, or simply yourself, you'll be paired up and guided through the delightful challenge of capturing someone's face on canvas. It's social, it's lighthearted, and it's genuinely a lot of fun – no artistic experience required, and no pressure to get it perfect.Elena, a visual artist and teacher, will walk you through every stage with warmth and encouragement. You'll start with a simple sketch, learning how to place and balance facial features on the page, before moving into acrylic paint to explore colour in a free, playful way. To finish, you can add bold or pop-inspired details with markers – or keep things soft and expressive. The choice is entirely yours.At the end, you'll have a colourful, one-of-a-kind portrait to take home as a personal keepsake – or gift it to the person you've painted, if you'd like to leave them with a little something to remember the day.This is a great fit for:

• Complete beginners and first-timers
• Friends, couples, dates, and family members
• Parent and child pairs
• Hen dos, birthdays, and celebrations
• Colleagues, team-building, and corporate groups

Please note:

• BYOB – no drinks or food are provided at the studio. You're welcome to bring your own, or pop to nearby favourites The Orchard Café or Layers Bakery before or after (both open daily until 4pm)
• Aprons are provided, but we'd recommend wearing something you don't mind getting a little paint on
• Step-free access is available
• The entry gate is open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm – please make sure you arrive within this window, as late entry won't be possible
• If you'd rather not appear in any photos or footage taken for promotional use, just let Elena know on the day and she'll make sure you're not included

The workshop takes place at Trinity Buoy Wharf, a historic 19th-century site in London’s Docklands, where you can find London’s only lighthouse. Today, it is also home to one of London’s most vibrant creative communities, a sculpture park, event venues, and the iconic Container City™ buildings.

• Step-by-step guidance on facial proportions, features, and sketching your subject
• All materials provided – pencils, erasers, apron, acrylic paints, palettes, brushes, and a table easel
• Your finished portrait to take home or gift – choose between an A4 paper, a 25 × 20 cm canvas board, or a 30 × 40 cm stretched canvas at checkout
• A discount when booking two tickets

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