1 PLACE REMAINING
Applications accepted after the start date will be calculated pro rata.
Monday 22nd Sept 2025 to Friday 25th June 20271
Fees: £6,400 per annum
For application details CLICK HERE or use the button below. For any questions, please contact the school. Information about the ESOP Advanced Painting Young Artist Scholarship 2025–27 can be found at the bottom of the page.
Applications are open and admissions are ongoing. As places on this course are limited, we encourage early applications.
Introduction
About the ESOP Advanced Painting Course
The ESOP Advanced Painting Course is a full-time, two-year, MA-level programme. The course is designed for practicing artists seeking to refine their skills, deepen their practice, and develop their individual voice within a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment.
Key Features of the Programme
Individual Studio Spaces: Each student is provided with their own dedicated studio space to ensure uninterrupted time for the development of their practice throughout the entire course, including over the summer of 2026.
Extensive Tutor Support: The programme offers consistent and generous contact with our core team of tutors (see below) and visiting artists. Students benefit from regular one-on-one tutorials, weekly seminars, and group critiques, fostering tailored, in-depth mentorship.
Diverse Visiting Artists: Every two weeks, during term time, over the two years, plus 20 visiting artists—each with significant professional achievements—deliver talks, workshops, and critiques, exposing students to a wide range of artistic approaches and philosophies.
Community and Collaboration: The programme cultivates a close-knit community of artists who support one another through shared critiques, collaborative projects, and peer feedback, enriching their learning experiences.
Personal Development: Students are guided in developing the skills necessary for sustaining their as an artist, including exhibiting, networking, and navigating the art world. 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.
Why This Course Stands Out:
Focus on Individuality: ESOP champions each artist’s unique voice, encouraging them to explore their personal interests and artistic ambitions without conforming to trends.
Commitment to Diversity: The course embraces a broad spectrum of artistic approaches, ensuring inclusivity and a rich exchange of ideas.
Student Outcomes
Graduates of the ESOP Advanced Painting Course have gone on to exhibit in prestigious venues both here and abroad, and to establish sustainable careers. The course prepares students not just for artistic success but also for meaningful contributions to the art world.
HOW TO APPLY AND OUR REQUIREMENTS.
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 (Course leader), Alison Harper (Artistic Director ESOP), Kathryn Maple and Katherine Jones RA. 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.
The ESOP Advanced Painting Young Artist Scholarship 2025-27.
Application for this course’s scholarship are now open.
Click here for details on how to apply for the ESOP Advanced Painting Young Artists Scholarship.
Course Guide Dates
Please note that the following are a guide, as the course runs over 2 years with access to the studios 24/7 including summer of 2026
| TERM | DATES |
| 2025-26 | |
| Orientation Week 2025 | 22 Sept to 26 Sept 2025 |
| Term 1 | 22 Sept to 5 Dec 2025 – Half term week of 27 October |
| Term 2 | 12 Jan to 27 Mar 2026 – Half Term week of 16 February |
| Term 3 | 20 Apr to 3 Jul 2026 – Half Term week of 25 May |
| 2026-27 | |
| Orientation Week 2026 | 28 Sept to 2 Oct 2026 |
| Term 1 | 28 Sept to 11 Dec 2026 – Half term week of 26 October |
| Term 2 | 11 Jan to 25 Mar 2027 – Half term week of 15 February |
| Term 3 | 19 Apr to 2 Jul 2027 – Half term week of 31 May |
| End of Course Exhibition | Date TBA |
Images copyright of the ESOP and the artist. All rights reserved.
