Back to top

Arts Courses

Our arts courses are available from beginners up to advanced levels and include media specific courses such as watercolour and acrylics, alongside courses which focus on skills like botanical drawing, screen writing, and more general art for wellbeing courses.

Introductory Arts Courses

Art for Wellbeing

Different fun projects each week: animals, portraits, landscapes, cityscapes, still life, abstract! You will be working with mixed media to produce your own stunning art. Suitable for all abilities. You will progress at your own pace, learning skills and techniques in coloured pencil drawing, with the support of a professional artist, in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

More information on Art for Wellbeing

Drawing and Painting - Get Started

This course will provide a useful introduction to a variety of painting and drawing techniques and materials to get you started on your learning journey. You will be able to develop your skills and gain the knowledge and confidence needed to create your own work. You will get lots of support and encouragement along with the opportunity to explore and experiment with a variety of wet and dry media such as watercolour, acrylic, charcoal, and pastels.

More information on Drawing and Painting - Get Started

Drawing and Painting - Introduction to Watercolour

A course which aims to build the learners confidence and develop a broad range of skills and techniques that form an understanding of the full range of the watercolour medium, its possibilities and its beautiful qualities. Demonstrations, help, support and tips will be a feature of the course and its progression.

More information on Drawing and Painting - Introduction to Watercolour

Introduction to Painting with Watercolour

This course will cover basic techniques of watercolour; how to mix colours and apply them. The course will be covering how to apply basic washes of colour then moving on to lifting out skies and painting basic sunsets, then moving on to wet-into-wet techniques and dry brush work. The tutor will phone you prior to the course starting to discuss the course further. The tutor will check how you are getting on each week and make sure that you learn each method before moving onto something new. You will have the opportunity to study other artists and learn from their painting skills. There will be handouts available, and the tutor will also demonstrate how to achieve effects. As you work on each project the tutor will also offer 1-1 help and advice. This course is designed to be welcoming and friendly, to be able to enjoy learning in a safe environment.

More information on Introduction to Painting with Watercolour

Introduction to Drawing and Painting

This course will enable you to learn how to begin creating your own art. It will introduce you to a variety of painting and drawing techniques and materials to get you started on your learning journey. You will be able to develop skills and gain knowledge and the confidence needed to create your own work. The work of other artists will be looked at also. A variety of subject matter will provide inspiration. You will get lots of support and encouragement along with the opportunity to explore and experiment with a variety of wet and dry media such as watercolour and acrylic paints, graphite, charcoal, ink and pastels. There will be opportunities to follow guided examples and see demonstrations, and also to follow your own ideas and to gain confidence being creative. You will also have the opportunity to talk to other members of the class about your work and to share ideas.

More information on Introduction to Drawing and Painting

Introduction to Painting with Acrylics

This course will cover basic techniques of acrylics; how to mix colours and apply them. The course will be covering how to apply paint, using a watered-down thin technique and then applying paint thickly. The course will cover different styles and subject matter. The tutor will phone you prior to the course starting to discuss the course further. The tutor will check how you are getting on each week and make sure that you learn each method before moving onto something new. You will have the opportunity to study other artists and learn from their painting skills. There will be handouts available, and the tutor will also demonstrate how to achieve effects. As you work on each project the tutor will also offer 1-1 help and advice. This course is designed to be welcoming and friendly, to be able to enjoy learning in a safe environment.

More information on Introduction to Painting with Acrylics

Introduction to Drawing

This course will cover line drawings, learning about different tones and about mark making. There will be a variety of topics, something to suit everyone, the tutor will phone you prior to the course starting to discuss the course further. The tutor will check how you are getting on each week and make sure that you learn each method before we move onto something new. In this course you will learn about how to use a grid to reproduce a drawing.

More information on Introduction to Drawing

Mixed Level and Intermediate Arts Courses

Botanical Drawing and Painting

This course will cover the observation of various plants, flowers, and natural subjects. The course starts with learning to draw in detail, paying particular attention to creating form and perspective and then explores drawing in pen, coloured pencils, and water colour paints. There will be several projects set which will help learners work towards producing professional, traditional Botanical Illustrations. Advice and guidance will be given to learners of all abilities and experience.

More information on Botanical Drawing and Painting

Drawing and Painting - Watercolour - Mixed Level

Our watercolour mixed level courses are designed for learners wishing to gain an understanding of the basics of watercolour painting and are suitable for beginners and improvers. We will develop your skills in the techniques of watercolour and an understanding of colour mixing, drawing skills, and composition. The course builds up step by step to help your understanding and to allow you to gain confidence in each area before moving onto the next. For more experienced learners we aim to develop skills, techniques and applications already learnt to help you develop your own style with confidence. The course tutor will be on hand at every stage to provide support with one-to-one tuition, demonstrations, and handouts.

More information on Drawing and Painting - Watercolour - Mixed Level

Drawing and Painting - Mixed Level

This course is open to all levels of ability, so whether you are a complete beginner or someone with a bit more experience, you will be able to develop and improve your skills with lots of support from your tutor. The course will include experimenting with different materials and techniques, as well as providing helpful insight into using colour, design, and working from your own reference photographs, and observing from real life.

More information on Drawing and Painting - Mixed Level

Drawing and Painting - Next Steps

The course is suitable for someone with little experience or for people who want to develop existing skills. You will learn and develop basic drawing skills and then move on to painting with watercolours and/or acrylics. There is the opportunity to develop skills in colour mixing and in using different paint applications. You will be encouraged to experiment with other media too. This course is run with wellbeing in mind, in a relaxed and friendly environment.

More information on Drawing and Painting - Next Steps

Drawing and Painting - Mixed Level Workshop

This course is open to all levels of ability, so whether you are a complete beginner or someone with a bit more experience, you will be able to develop and improve your skills with lots of support from your tutor.

More information on Drawing and Painting - Mixed Level Workshop

Drawing and Painting - Intermediate Level Workshop

The course will include experimenting with different materials and techniques. Providing helpful insight into using colour, design, working from your own reference photographs, and observing from real life. There is also some research into artists and a chance to study their work. It is a chance to learn something new in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

More information on Drawing and Painting - Intermediate Level Workshop

Wellbeing Saturdays - Arts Courses

Art and Diversity: Keith Haring

Learn a little about the artist Keith Haring and his art. Create an artwork in response to this using his pop artwork and animated imagery as inspiration. Work with thick and thin black line and areas of colour using marker pen, fine liners, felt tips and highlighters. Make the art meaningful for you also with pattern, personal mark-making, and colour.

More information on Art and Diversity: Keith Haring

Drawing and Painting: Mixed Level

This one-day workshop will include step-by-step drawing and painting activities with demonstrations by the tutor to show you how to use different art materials and techniques. You will be given guidance to create your own artwork during the session.

More information on Drawing and Painting: Mixed Level

Drawing Animals Using Shapes

This course will cover basic techniques of drawing, you will learn how to break down animals into simple shapes then build them up into more realistic animals by using tone and mark making. The tutor will demonstrate and help individual learners at each stage so they can progress at their own pace. Whilst you work on this project the tutor will also offer 1-1 help and advice. Handouts will be given and extra to take away to practice technique further. The tutor will phone you prior to the course starting to discuss the course further. This course is designed to be welcoming and friendly, to be able to enjoy learning in a safe environment.

More information on Drawing Animals Using Shapes

Drawing with a Grid

This course shows you an easy-to-understand way to draw by drawing in stages. To draw this you will be shown how to reproduce this image by using a grid, the tutor will demonstrate some techniques on how to do this. Whilst you work on this project the tutor will also offer 1-1 help and advice. Handouts will be given and extra to take away to practice technique further. This course is designed to be welcoming and friendly, to be able to enjoy learning in a safe environment.

More information on Drawing with a Grid

Painting a Watercolour Seascape

This course will cover basic techniques of watercolour; how to mix colours and apply them. We will be using wet-into-wet techniques and dry brush work to complete painting. The tutor will demonstrate and help individual learners at each stage so they can progress at their own pace.

More information on Painting a Watercolour Seascape

Learn at the following venues

Image shows a map with a pin marking the location of Coalville Library.

Coalville Library

More information about 'Coalville Library'
An Image of the Enderby Adult Learning centre on the map

Enderby Adult Learning Centre

More information about 'Enderby Adult Learning Centre'
Image of a map to show location of Hinckley Library

Hinckley Library

More information about 'Hinckley Library'
Image shows a map with a pin marking the location of Loughborough Library.

Loughborough Library

More information about 'Loughborough Library'
Image shows a map with a pin marking the location of Melton Library.

Melton Library

More information about 'Melton Library'
Image shows a map with a pin marking the location of the Moira Adult Learning Centre.

Moira Adult Learning Centre

More information about 'Moira Adult Learning Centre'
Image shows a map with a pin marking the location of the Roundhill Adult Learning centre.

Roundhill Adult Learning Centre

More information about 'Roundhill Adult Learning Centre'
An image showing Wigston Library on map

Wigston Library

More information about 'Wigston Library'