Monday 23rd September 2024 to Sunday 28th June 20261
Applications to this course are now closed.
Please click here for ESOP Advanced Painting Course 2025-27
Fees: £6,200 per annum
The ESOP Advanced Painting Young Artist Scholarship 2024-26.
Click here for details on how to apply for the ESOP Advanced Painting Young Artists Scholarship.
Detailed description of the course
Head of programme: Dan Coombs
Introduction
This 2-year course runs from 23rd September 2024 to 27th June 2026. It includes access to a studio throughout the entire duration, including the summer of 2025. The course offers extensive tutor contact time, with teaching days from Monday to Wednesday in a student group of no more than 16. Every two weeks during term time, visiting artists provide talks and tutorials. Additionally, each academic year features gallery and artist studio visits. At the end of the course, there is a group exhibition for the graduating class.
For details on how be apply click the tab above or contact the school.
We are looking for individuals who meet the course requirements to qualify. Admissions are based on artistic potential, energy, creativity, open mindedness, dedication as well as quality of work and who are able to demonstrate their determination and commitment to the course.
We ask applicants to be prepared to participate fully in this pioneering, innovative and unique painting course. If selected, and you accept our admission offer, you will be committing to attend and participate in the programme for the full two-years.
The ethos of the ESOP is to encourage as a wide range of viewpoints as possible and we welcome applications from candidates wishing to contribute to this diverse and polysemous micro-culture.
The core team of artists tutoring2
The course is led by the internationally exhibited painter Dan Coombs overseeing a programme of visiting artist lectures and tutorials, Dan Coombs himself and regular ESOP tutors plus projects, lectures, seminars and group tutorials. The core tutor team is Dan Coombs with Alison Harper, Neil Gall, and Kathryn Maple the John Moore’s Painting prize winner for 2021. The course will evolve through a dynamic ongoing conversation between the teachers and the participating artists. Advice and mentorship will be provided for every aspect of painting practice, including strategies for gaining visibility, recognition and patronage, the pragmatics of running a studio, as well as all the technical issues connected with the craft of painting.
Click images below for more information on the artist.
Course Guide Dates
Please note that the following are a guide, as the course runs over 2 years with assess to the studio 24/7
| TERM | DATES |
| 2024 | |
| Orientation Week 2024 | 23 Sept to 27 Sept 2024 |
| October Term | 30 Sept to 4 Dec 2024 – Half term week of 28 October |
| January Term | 6 Jan to 19 Mar 2025 – Half Term week of 17 February |
| April Term | 22 April to 2 Jul 2025 – Half Term week of 26 May Note: Easter Monday is 21 Apr 2025 |
| 2025 | |
| Orientation Week 2025 | 29 Sept to 3 Oct 2025 |
| October Term | 6 Oct to 10 Dec 2025 – Half term week of 27 October |
| January Term | 12 Jan to 25 Mar 2026 – Half term week of 16 February |
| April Term | 13 April to 24 June 2026 – Half term week of 25 May |
| End of Course Exhibition | Date TBA |
About Dan Coombs
Dan Coombs is a London based painter, a graduate of The Ruskin School, Oxford (1989-92) and the Royal College of Art (1992-94). He was Rome Scholar in painting British school in Rome (1994-5). He has exhibited widely both nationally and internationally. Dan creates his compositions from studies in collage and paint, which unite his figures with entirely invented surroundings, landscape dream worlds and interior spaces. These are human encounters charged with a mysterious, symbolic power. They are explorations of guilt, beauty and fear of isolation; that draw on myth, religion and psychoanalysis in order to grasp the real within the imaginary.
Testimonials
The advanced painting course combines practice-based work with a programme of talks led by internationally renowned artists. We’re encouraged to explore our own working strategies and methods while also being inspired and challenged. We receive access to an incredible amount of tutor time, I can’t stress enough how valuable this is and how incredibly generous they are with their time and energy. I very much doubt I would receive this level of support elsewhere.
Jo Martin
ESOP Advanced Painting is a fantastic community of people who love painting. It’s intense, challenging and supportive. There is ample tutor contact time with a diverse range of artist, including course tutors and visiting artists, all of whom deliver talks on their practice. Great shared experiences on trips out to exhibitions and galleries and, through all the ups and downs, everyone’s work just keeps on coming on stronger and stronger.
Linda Cunningham
Images copyright of the ESOP and the artist. All rights reserved.
