LONDON
Studios
Acme
Supporting artists since 1972, Acme is a charity based in London which provides affordable studios, work/live space, and a programme of residencies and awards. Acme is the single largest provider of affordable artist studios in England, and this year it will support over 800 individual artists across 16 buildings in Greater London.
Artistic Spaces
Artistic Spaces have a large range of creative spaces to suit all kinds of businesses, crafts and individuals. They have studios in North West, East and South London. Their growing network of studios across London has been the starting place for many successful ventures and continues to be the homes of established artists, designers and entrepreneurs.
ASC Studios
London based registered charity, Artists Studio Company (ASC) is one of the biggest providers of affordable workspace. Currently providing workspace to over 500 practitioners across London. Recently purchasing two permanent sites providing secure workspace to 160 practitioners as well as an additional 120 new studios in Brixton.
Blackhorse Workshop
Blackhorse Workshop is an open access, fully equipped wood and metal workshop. The workshop can be used from as little as half a day to a whole year. They welcome everyone from dabblers to professionals, and will help you wherever they can. Machinery support is on hand from their highly skilled technicians and you can grow your startup with the support of industry expertise and a community of makers.
Euroart Studios
North London’s largest artist led art studio and workspace complex providing affordable studios and workspaces for rent by artists, makers and creative practitioners. Only 5 minutes’ walk from either Seven Sisters or Tottenham Hale tube stations, this complex of 70 studios boasts an eclectic mix of talented creative practitioners: painters, sculptors, mixed-media and installation artists, ceramicists, photographers, graphic artists and more. This cluster of creative practitioners fosters networking and collaboration. It also provides an invaluable resource for information and advice.
Oxo Tower Wharf Studios
Oxo Tower Wharf, at the heart of London’s South Bank, is home to studios for designer-makers and craftspeople and has a number of spaces available for talented new tenants. Safeguarding spaces for creatives in central London, the building provides makers with a studio and showroom in one, with opportunity for an open door to the public too. Studios range between 290-720 sq. ft and are located on the first and second floors of the iconic riverside building.
www.coinstreet.org/space-and-venue-hire/designer-maker-studios
Space Studios
Established by artists in 1968, SPACE runs 20 artist studio buildings across 7 London boroughs and Colchester, providing affordable creative workspace plus support programmes, such as exhibitions, artists residencies, bursaries and training opportunities, to enable artists to be sustainable. SPACE also delivers learning projects for schools, young people and communities neighbouring SPACE studio sites, to promote engagement with creativity and the arts.
SPACE supports more than 800 artists with studio provision and a further 700 a year with professional development. Additionally, SPACE engages 22,000 people a year in its public programmes.
Tannery Arts
Tannery Arts is a small, independent charity concerned with making contemporary art accessible to a wide public through its programme of exhibitions and learning projects. It supports the professional development of emerging and established artists and curators, promoting their practice through opportunities to exhibit work, develop projects, to engage in learning activities and through the provision of affordable studios.
Trinity Art Studios
Trinity Art Studios provide well equipped and maintained work space for fine artists. Their riverside studios house a collective of professional and semi-professional artists focused on artistic development and commercial application. Trinity Studios encourages an environment in which painters and sculptors can expend their technical skills and express their individual talent while striving to produce quality artworks for a global audience.
V22 Studio
V22 currently runs ten studio buildings in North and South East London providing affordable artists' studios, artisans' workshops and workspace for creative businesses and social enterprises. From light industrial uses to former terraced houses to a Victorian children’s home, our different buildings offer a variety of self-contained spaces ranging from 75 to nearly 2,000 square feet.
Wimbledon Art Studios
With 215 individual studios, they provide affordable, professionally managed creative workspaces for a community of over 270 artists, makers and designers. Their twice-yearly Art Fair attracts thousands of potential buyers and provides you with essential exposure to galleries and collectors.
Courses
The Art Academy
An independent art school founded in 2000, offering a unique approach to fine art education in the very heart of Central London. The Academy offers a range of art education programmes for all ages and for all skill levels.
Camden Arts Centre
Camden Arts Centre is a place for world-class contemporary art exhibitions and education. In addition to gallery spaces, the building includes studios which schools can use free of charge and in which people of all ages and abilities can learn skills in ceramics, painting, drawing and writing as part of the courses programme.
City Lit
City Lit Art & Design offers the most diverse range of part-time, weekend and evening courses in London, taught by successful artists and practitioners. Art classes include some of the most popular subjects in London; from photography, fashion and textiles, drawing and painting, print, graphic design, interior design and garden design courses, just to name a few.
www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/art-and-design
Cygnets Art School
Cygnets is a children's art school focusing on the teaching of traditional skills such as drawing, painting & sculpture, combined with unique projects; experienced teachers, and professional quality materials. Follow the link below for information on classes, and how you can start your own Cygnets franchise!
Hampstead School of Art
Hampstead School of Art is a practitioners’ art school, where they are committed to teaching essential practical skills that form the foundation of a career or adventure in the visual arts. Teaching artists lead by example and provide excellent studio-based tuition, putting you at the heart of a uniquely supportive environment, creating an inspirational relationship between knowledge and practice.
www.hampstead-school-of-art.org
Insight
Insight has been providing an 'art school' style education to people in North London since 2001. They currently run twenty one different painting and drawing classes for adults and children each week from their Whetstone studio as well as two classes for adults in Bricket Wood, St Albans. They also run the very successful 'Studio Fridays' which supports new artists looking to exhibit in London galleries.
Royal Drawing School
The Royal Drawing School runs over 250 different full and part-time drawing, painting and printmaking courses each year for adults and children of all ages and abilities. The courses are taught by a specialist faculty of over 75 practising artists, and have heavily subsidised fees and a comprehensive concessions scheme that make them accessible to the widest array of students. The School also runs a one year MA-Level course, The Drawing Year, awarding a full scholarship and studio space in central London to every student, and a one-year full time Foundation Year, for students aged 18-19 years old.
SOUTH EAST
Studios
A Space Arts - Southampton
A Space Arts provide opportunities for artists to make new work and develop creative careers. Along side this they provide audiences opportunities to engage and learn from high quality artistic experiences. Projects include Arches Studios, Tower House Culture Hub, Public Art Projects and new Arts and Heritage venue God’s House Tower.
Unit 11 Studios - Southampton
Unit11 studios is an artists’ collective in central Southampton, providing affordable studio space to engaged and active art practitioners resident in the city. Unit11 studios operate as a not for profit collective and are a member of the Studio Providers Network South who meet quarterly to discuss the local arts scene and opportunities.
www.unit11studios.wordpress.com
Courses
The Colour Factory Studios - Winchester
Famous for the beautiful painted bollards in Winchester’s ‘The Square’, The Colour Factory artists’ studios & gallery offers a full programme of adult classes in painting, mixed media, jewellery and silversmithing. These small and friendly classes in the beach garden workshop provide a lovely relaxed oasis in which to get creative.
The Hampshire Art Studio
The Hampshire Art Studio run weekly painting and drawing courses, a mix of different life drawing classes, specialist classes and one off masterclasses with renowned visiting tutors. They have residential Hampshire studios & also offer courses abroad. Whatever your abilities there will be classes that are right for you.
Sussex County Arts Club - Brighton
Sussex County Arts Club run drop-in sessions every day from their studios in central Brighton. They include life drawing, costumed and life painting/life sculpture. Everybody is welcome. No advanced booking required. Abilities range from complete beginner up to professionals.
www.sussexcountyartsclub.co.uk
Winchester Art Club - Winchester
Winchester Art Club was founded in 1919 and today has over 250 members, representing all levels of ability. The annual exhibition attracts over 2000 visitors and other exhibitions are held throughout the year. There is a regular programme of talks, demonstrations and courses.
WEST MIDLANDS
Courses
Art Courses Birmingham
Enjoy a relaxed and friendly atmosphere at these accessible art classes. Explore various mediums with hands-on advice and demonstrations. Situated in the picturesque area of the Jewellery Quarter, in the beautiful church of St Paul’s.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery - Birmingham
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) first opened in 1885. It is housed in a Grade II* listed city centre landmark building. There are over 40 galleries to explore that display art, applied art, social history, archaeology and ethnography.The art gallery is famous for its Pre-Raphaelite paintings, which are part of the largest public Pre-Raphaelite collection in the world. In addition to the permanent galleries there is a diverse exhibition programme that offers a series of changing exhibitions throughout the year.
www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag
Ikon Gallery - Birmingham
Ikon Gallery is Birmingham’s flagship venue for contemporary visual art, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015. Ikon is a charity, providing free access to over 130,000 visitors annually and the gallery has grown to become world renowned not only as a champion for the very best in contemporary art, but also as a major player in Birmingham’s cultural community.
MAC - Birmingham
First opened in 1962, Midlands Arts Centre – also known as MAC – is a pioneering arts complex for everyone. Their mission: to make art an important part of people’s lives. Specialising in contemporary work, they offer a busy programme of theatre, dance, independent cinema, music, spoken word, comedy, exhibitions and special events. As well as a wealth of practical classes in all aspects of creativity, from playing musical instruments to ceramics and jewellery-making. MAC is a national leader in developing work with children, families and young people of all backgrounds.
NORTH WEST
Studios
Rogue Artists' Studios CIC - Manchester
Rogue Artists' Studios CIC is an artist-run studio provider based in a Grade 2 listed school building in East Manchester. Rogue currently provides studio space for 85 fine artists working across the full spectrum of media including painting, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, sound art and performance. Rogue is also home to a number of arts organisations delivering first class arts engagement programmes to schools and communities across the North.
Vernon Mill - Manchester
Vernon Mill studios were started in 2000 and quickly developed into a colony of over 50 artists dealing with all aspects of the visual arts. They have an open studio event every October and there are painting, drawing and ceramic classes at various times, details on the website. The mill is open to visitors every day and browsing the studios is open is encouraged.
www.vernonmillartstudios.co.uk
Courses
Dot Art - Liverpool
dot-art works with over 100 artists to provide an unrivalled choice of affordable, high quality, locally sourced art work for home or business, both through their city centre gallery, external exhibitions and comprehensive website. In addition dot-art source and supply artists for a wide range of other projects, including commissions, public realm projects, schools workshops, training and community participation events. dot-art in addition run a range of unique art classes and courses three seasons a year based in inspiring arts venues across central Liverpool.
Liver Sketching Club - Liverpool
The Liver Sketching Club was founded in Liverpool in 1872 and has been continuously active in the city ever since. They hold about 40 classes every month with meetings every day except Sunday. In line with the Founders’ original concept, they work from live models. Liver Sketching Club now have over 100 members.
Wirral Society of Arts - Liverpool
The Wirral Society of Arts has been the premier art organisation in Wirral since 1948 and the current membership is about 160. The WSA organises regular exhibitions for members including annual events at the Williamson Art Gallery which alternate between Open and Members' only exhibitions.
SCOTLAND
Courses
Comrie Art Hut
Comrie Art Hut works in collaboration with a variety of artists and makers from around Scotland to offer art courses and artist retreats. The space is light, peaceful and welcoming and is situated at COMRIE CROFT which is a former farm, now a thriving community of nature-based enterprises with accommodation, shop and café in the summer months. The hut is run by local artist and tea expert Beverly Wainwright with the aim of welcoming anyone with an interest in being creative and in the arts. A variety of courses are on offer from weeklong Artist Bookmaking and drawing courses to weekend mosaics. The summer and autumn programmes will expand over the next few years as will the variety of courses on offer.
Dundee Art Society
Dundee Art Society is one of the longest running art societies in Britain, with its origins going back to 1890. The society has always had an active programme of running classes including life drawing for both professional and amateur alike. To show their work, two exhibitions are held each season, one at Christmas for members and an Open Show in the summer.
Dundee art society is at 17 Roseangle, Dundee, DD1 4LP.
Edinburgh Urban Sketchers
The Edinburgh Urban Sketchers group is part of a global network of people dedicated to raising the artistic, storytelling and educational value of on-location drawing, promoting its practice and connecting people around the world who draw on location where they live and travel.
The Scottish Arts Club
The Scottish Arts Club is a Members’ Club established in 1873 to support the arts and artists from all over Scotland. Members and visitors are welcome to visit and sample a variety of workshops, classes, talks and exhibitions. Classes include life drawing, painting, portraiture and other media. Their incredible studio space can be hired privately by the hour. Refreshments are available on site.
St Hilda Sea Adventure
Paint and Cruise the breath-taking Scottish Islands, including St Kilda, aboard our beautiful ex-tallship St Hilda or our small cruise ship Seahorse II with on board art tutor. Guests can choose from on of our many, superb value, island cruises from April to October. Great range of activities, incredible scenery, rare wildlife, delicious local food with your dedicated chef and knowledgeable crew.
www.sthildaseaadventures.co.uk
Strathclyde Centre for Lifelong Learning
The Centre for Lifelong Learning (CLL) at the University of Strathclyde has been offering classes to adults for almost 40 years. Classes cover a diverse range of subjects and topics including creative art, art appreciation, languages, literature and social studies. Most campus-based classes are held within the University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning at our convenient city centre location only a 5 minute walk from George Square, Glasgow.
Studio Pavilion
Studio Pavilion at House for an Art Lover is a free contemporary art space in a public park offering a diverse year-round programme of exhibitions, events, residencies and public engagement activities. They also offer a varied and unique range of art classes for adults and children including screen-printing, ceramics and creative writing.
Vine & Canvas
Relax and have fun at Vine & Canvas where an energetic and experienced art tutor will guide you in duplicating the night's highlighted painting! Sip a bit! Paint a bit! Join them for life drawing or book in a private event. All materials are provided and no experience is necessary.
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