Oil Painting for Beginners – 27 Aug to 17 Sept 2025 (6-9pm)

Tutor: Guy Allott

£120

4 Wednesday Evenings

All materials are provided, including paints and brushes. Canvas can be purchased in the studio if needed.

Venue: The Essential School of Painting – Main Studio

The perfect introduction for anyone curious about oil painting but unsure where to start.

This supportive and hands-on, four-week, studio-based class offers a step-by-step introduction to the fundamentals of oil painting. It’s ideal for complete beginners as well as those looking to refresh or rebuild their skills.


Led by artist and tutor Guy Allott, you’ll explore the building blocks of oil painting step by step. Learn how to choose surfaces and supports, understand the use of brushes and mediums, and gain confidence in mixing colour effectively. The course will also introduce you to tonal contrast, layering, and the tactile, expressive qualities of oil paint — helping you develop a strong foundation in both technique and creativity.


Through structured exercises and guided projects, you’ll work from observation and build up paintings in a relaxed and encouraging studio environment. There will be plenty of room to ask questions, try things out, and receive supportive feedback tailored to your level.

Whether you’ve never picked up a brush before or you’re returning to oils after some time, this course will give you the tools to get going

Guy Allott

London-based artist Guy Allott (b. 1972, Hexham, Northumberland) is celebrated for his multidisciplinary approach, encompassing painting, sculpture, printmaking, and ceramics. A graduate of Central Saint Martins (1999) and the Royal College of Art (2002), Allott’s work intricately weaves themes from science fiction with traditional landscape art, resulting in pieces that are both fantastical and thought-provoking >>> read more

About The Essential School Of Painting

The Essential School of Painting (ESOP) is an independent art school in London, built on our belief that painting is a living discipline, progressed through sustained practice. We are a place where painters teach painters, carrying a painter from first steps, through year-long courses, to our postgraduate two-year Advanced Painting Course. For over twenty years, painters of the first rank, Academicians and artists of international standing, have taught, exhibited and spoken in our studios. We openly welcome all to join our community. That welcome is encapsulated in our motto, Animus ad Creandum, the courage to create.