Drawing portraits with pastels 4 Nov to 9 Dec 2025 (Tues 6-9pm)

Tutor- Alison Harper. Fee £240

Places are limited — early booking is advised.

Join us on this comprehensive six-week pastel portrait drawing course. Guided by Alison Harper, you’ll explore why artists past and present have been drawn to the luminous, expressive qualities of pastel.

Working with dry pastels on Fabriano Tiziano pastel paper, you’ll learn a range of techniques including blending and layering to achieve rich skin tones and intricate hair textures, before moving on to more expressive and imaginative approaches. Along the way, you’ll uncover invaluable insights and expert guidance on bringing your portraits to life.

This course beautifully blends tradition and innovation, equipping you with the confidence and technical skills to create portraits that are both personal and powerful >>> read more

About Alison

Alison is an exceptional multi-talented artist and graduate of the prestigious Glasgow School of Art and is known as one of ‘The Glasgow Girls’ and is the artistic director and one of two co-founders of the Essential School of Painting. The holder of multiple awards including the Commonwealth Scholarship, Alison has exhibited widely both in the United Kingdom and abroad >>> read more

About The Essential School Of Painting

The Essential School of Painting (ESOP) is an alternative art school based in Wood Green, London, specialising in painting and drawing classes taught by leading contemporary artists. The ESOP offers exciting, intellectually rigorous courses with the intention of advancing painting. Classes are available for all levels of experience.