Terms and Conditions of The Essential School of Painting
Version 2.0 · Published April 2026: This version replaces all previous versions, including the version dated 5 January 2026.
1. About ESOP and These Terms
The Essential School of Painting Ltd (“ESOP”, “we”, “us” or “our”) is an independent art school based in London, offering studio-based, online and off-site courses, workshops, and related programmes for adults. We are registered in England and Wales: company number 13261727, VAT registration number 398020289, registered address 47 Radbourne Crescent, London E17 3RR. Our studios are at Collage Art Space 5, Coburg Road, Wood Green, London N22 6TZ.
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) set out the basis on which we provide our courses, workshops and other educational services. They apply to every booking made with ESOP, whether for a single day workshop, a term course, a yearlong course, or an online programme. By booking a course or making a payment, you agree to be bound by these Terms.
Some courses, in particular the Advanced Painting Course, are subject to additional signed agreements that sit alongside these Terms and provide course-specific detail. Where such an agreement exists, it says so, and where it conflicts with these Terms on a matter specific to that course, the additional agreement prevails.
We also publish separate documents that form part of the wider framework within which our courses operate: our Privacy Policy, our Cookies Policy, our Studio Code of Conduct, our Inclusivity Statement, our Staff–Student Relationships Policy, and our Disciplinary Process. These are available on our website and from our Administrator on request.
2. Who These Terms Apply To
These Terms apply to all individuals who book or attend any course, workshop, talk, event or other service provided by ESOP, including:
- Short courses and weekend workshops
- Yearlong courses (Painting Year I, Painting Year II, and all other yearlong programmes)
- Online courses and fortnightly online programmes
- Off-site and en plein air courses and painting holidays
- Talks, visiting artist events and other educational activities
- The Advanced Painting Course (also subject to a separate signed Course Agreement)
These Terms apply equally to students who pay their own fees and to those whose fees are paid by a sponsor, employer, or scholarship. Where a student is enrolled under a scholarship or bursary arrangement, the terms of that arrangement apply alongside these Terms.
3. Booking and Contract Formation
A booking is made when you complete the registration process on our website and payment is received, or, for courses where we manage enrolment directly, when you submit a registration and we confirm your place in writing.
A legally binding contract is formed once we confirm your place, either by email or other written confirmation. Until that confirmation is sent, no contract exists and we are not obliged to hold a place for you.
We reserve the right to refuse or cancel a booking where it is reasonable to do so, for example, where a course is full, where eligibility requirements are not met, or where we have reasonable grounds to believe the booking has been made in error or in bad faith. Where we refuse or cancel a booking before the course has begun, we will refund any fees paid in full.
Yearlong courses. For yearlong courses, your place is confirmed when we receive your completed registration and first payment. Enrolment on a yearlong course is a commitment to the full academic year. The cancellation and refund provisions in Section 6 apply.
4. Fees and Payment
4.1 Course fees
All course fees are stated clearly at the time of booking. The fee normally includes tuition and basic studio resources, and art materials where stated on the relevant course page. Where materials such as canvas are excluded, this is stated clearly on the course page.
Fees are reviewed periodically and may change from one academic year to the next. The fee that applies to you is the fee confirmed at the time your booking is made. Any fee increase announced for future courses or academic years does not affect fees you have already paid or been invoiced for.
4.2 Payment
Payment must be made in full at the time of booking unless a payment plan has been agreed in advance. Where a payment plan is agreed, the schedule of payments and the consequences of missed payments are set out in a separate Instalment Plan Agreement.
We accept payment by bank transfer, PayPal, and such other methods as we make available from time to time. We do not accept large cash payments and we do not retain card details.
4.3 Yearlong courses — term payments
Some yearlong courses permit payment term by term rather than in full at the start of the year. Where this is the case, it is stated on the course page. Term-by-term payment is an arrangement about how fees are paid, it does not reduce the student’s commitment to the full academic year.
4.4 Vouchers and gift cards
Gift cards and vouchers are valid for twelve months from the date of purchase unless otherwise stated. Vouchers may be redeemed only against ESOP courses and services. They are non-refundable and have no cash value, except where required by law. Where a voucher is used to book a course that ESOP subsequently cancels, the full value of the voucher is reinstated.
5. Your Right to Cancel
If you book a course online or at a distance, UK consumer law gives you the right to cancel within 14 calendar days of booking and receive a full refund, provided the course has not yet started. This is your statutory right and nothing in these Terms affects it.
To exercise this right, send us a clear written statement by email to admin@theesop.com telling us you wish to cancel. You do not need to give a reason. We will process your refund within fourteen days of receiving your cancellation notice.
If you have asked us to begin providing the course within the fourteen-day period and the course has started, you may lose your right to a full refund or, we may make a proportionate deduction to reflect the services already delivered.
Non-distance bookings. Where a booking is made in person at our premises rather than online or at a distance, the statutory cooling-off right does not automatically apply. However, we extend the same courtesy cancellation right to all bookings made within fourteen days, regardless of how the booking was made, unless the course has already begun.
6. Cancellations, Transfers and Refunds
6.1 Cancellation by you — short courses and workshops
If you cancel a short course or workshop booking after the fourteen-day cooling-off period:
- More than 14 days before the course starts: we will offer a refund of the course fee, less an administration charge of £25, or the option to transfer your place to another course or date.
- 14 days or fewer before the course starts: we are not normally able to offer a refund, but we will offer a transfer to another course or date where possible, or a credit note valid for twelve months.
- After the course has started: we are not able to offer refunds for sessions already delivered.
6.2 Cancellation by you — yearlong courses
Enrolment on a yearlong course represents a commitment to the full academic year. We recognise that circumstances can change, and we will always try to find a fair and reasonable solution.
- Within the statutory cooling-off period: full refund of any fees paid. See Section 5.
- After cooling-off, before the course has begun: we will refund fees paid, less any non-refundable deposit and any administration costs reasonably incurred. We will discuss any deduction with you before making it.
- After the course has begun — term payments — early in the year: we will not normally refund fees for the current term, but we will release you from the obligation to pay future terms. We may offer a partial refund or credit where the circumstances are exceptional.
- After the course has begun — term payments — later in the year: we are not normally able to offer a refund. The Directors may agree a partial credit where the circumstances genuinely warrant it.
- After the course has begun — annual fee paid upfront: where a student has paid the full annual fee and withdraws before the end of the academic year, the school will consider a partial refund of the unused portion, calculated proportionately to the point of withdrawal and considered on a case-by-case basis. The earlier in the year the withdrawal, the more likely a partial refund is to be agreed. No refund is normally available where withdrawal occurs in the final term.
- Exceptional circumstances: where serious medical, personal or family circumstances make continuation impossible, please talk to us as early as possible. We will always try to find a fair arrangement, regardless of how fees were paid.
6.3 Transfers
Requests to transfer your place to a different course or date must be made in writing to admin@theesop.com. Transfers are subject to availability. A place on a course is personal to you and may not be transferred to another individual without our prior written agreement.
6.4 Cancellation by ESOP
Where we cancel a course before it begins, we will offer a full refund of fees paid, or a transfer to an equivalent course if you prefer. We will give you as much notice as we reasonably can.
Where we cancel due to circumstances outside our control, our first commitment is to continue by alternative means where possible. Where this is not possible and a refund is due, we will process it promptly.
7. Changes to Courses
We aim to deliver every course as advertised. We reserve the right to make reasonable changes to course content, structure, timetable, tutors, or venue where such changes are necessary or beneficial and do not fundamentally alter the character of the course.
Where a change materially affects your experience of the course, we will notify you as soon as reasonably practicable. If the change is substantial and you do not wish to continue on that basis, you may request a refund of fees paid for the remaining sessions.
Occasional substitution of named tutors or visiting artists is a normal feature of a programme led by practising professionals. Our commitment is to the quality and calibre of teaching, not to any single individual, unless we have made a specific written commitment to a named tutor as a material part of your booking.
8. Attendance, Conduct and Community
8.1 Attendance
We ask that you attend the sessions you have enrolled on and let us know in advance if you cannot make a session. We do not normally offer refunds or credits for individual missed sessions where the absence is on your side. Where you are unwell or face an emergency, please contact us and we will do what we can to help.
8.2 Conduct
ESOP is a community of painters and artists who take their practice seriously. We ask everyone to treat each other with respect and to contribute positively to the shared studio environment. Our Studio Code of Conduct and Inclusivity Statement set out our expectations in more detail. We expect all students to:
- Treat tutors, staff, fellow students and visitors with courtesy and respect
- Follow studio rules and health and safety guidance
- Respect shared spaces, equipment and other students’ work
- Act in accordance with our Inclusivity Statement; ESOP is an inclusive community and discrimination, harassment or demeaning behaviour is not tolerated
- Follow the Codes of Conduct and other policies published on our website
8.3 Removal from a course
Where a student’s behaviour is seriously disruptive, unsafe, or in serious breach of our Codes of Conduct, we may, after attempting to resolve the matter, ask them to leave a session or withdraw from the course, in accordance with our Disciplinary Process. Any refund of fees in such circumstances is considered on a case-by-case basis.
9. Health, Safety and Personal Responsibility
9.1 Our responsibilities
We maintain our premises in a condition that is reasonably safe for students’ use. We provide Health and Safety and Studio Guidelines at the start of every in-studio course and ask you to confirm that you have read them.
9.2 Your responsibilities
You are responsible for your own personal safety and for following the health and safety guidance we provide. Please tell us, before the course begins, about any medical condition, disability, learning difference or accessibility need that may affect your participation. This information is treated as confidential in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
9.3 Online courses
For online courses, you are responsible for your own home working environment. Sessions are delivered on designated ESOP platforms only. Audio or video recording of teaching sessions by participants is not permitted without the prior consent of the tutor and the school.
9.4 Off-site and en plein air courses
Where a course includes off-site activity, specific guidance is issued in advance. Participants are responsible for ensuring they are equipped and prepared. Where we arrange or recommend third-party services such as accommodation or transport, we are not liable for those parties’ acts or omissions.
9.5 Personal property
Personal belongings, artwork and materials brought to our premises or to any ESOP activity are at your own risk. We do not insure students’ personal property or artwork.
10. Intellectual Property and Photography
10.1 Your work
You retain full copyright in all artwork you create during your course. We may ask to photograph or document your work for school records or promotional purposes; we will always seek your consent before using images of your work publicly, and we will attribute your work by name where reasonably practicable. You may ask us at any time to remove a specific image of your work from our website or materials.
10.2 Course materials
Copyright in course materials prepared by ESOP or its tutors remains with ESOP or the relevant tutor. You are licensed to use these materials for your own learning during the course but may not reproduce or distribute them without our written consent.
10.3 Photography and recording
We may photograph or film sessions for documentation or promotional purposes. If you prefer not to appear in such material, please let us know before the session. Audio or video recording of teaching sessions by students is not permitted without the prior written consent of the tutor and the school; this applies equally to in-studio and online sessions.
11. Data Protection and Privacy
The Essential School of Painting Ltd is a registered data controller under the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Our ICO registration number is ZB253159.
We process personal data you provide to us in order to manage your booking, deliver the course, and communicate with you about your enrolment and future ESOP activities. Full details of how we handle your personal data, and your rights as a data subject, are set out in our Privacy Policy:
theessentialschoolofpainting.com/the-essential-school-of-painting-privacy-policy/
Our Cookies Policy explains how we use cookies and similar technologies:
theessentialschoolofpainting.com/the-essential-school-of-painting-cookie-policy/
By booking a course, you confirm that you have read both policies. If you have any questions about how we handle your data, please contact us at admin@theesop.com.
12. Liability, Complaints and Governing Law
12.1 What we are responsible for
We are responsible for delivering our courses with reasonable care and skill. Where we fail to do so, your rights under UK consumer law apply in full.
Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other matter where it would be unlawful to do so — including your rights as a consumer under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
12.2 What we are not responsible for
Subject to the above, our liability to you is limited to the amount you have paid for the course. We are not liable for indirect or consequential loss. We are not responsible for loss or damage arising from your failure to follow our health and safety guidance, or from your failure to disclose a relevant medical condition before the course begins.
12.3 Complaints
If you have a concern or complaint, please contact us first — by email to admin@theesop.com or by speaking to a member of staff. We aim to deal with all concerns fairly, promptly and constructively. Where a concern relates to the conduct of a staff member, tutor or fellow student, it will be handled under our Disciplinary Process. Where a concern relates to your personal data, you may also contact the UK Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk.
12.4 Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, without prejudice to your rights as a consumer to bring proceedings in your country of residence where UK consumer law permits.
12.5 Changes to these Terms
We review these Terms annually, at the start of each academic year, and update them where necessary. The version published on our website at the time of your booking applies to you. Where we make material changes that affect existing bookings, we will notify you directly.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, please get in touch:
Email: admin@theesop.com
Telephone: +44 (0)20 8279 0904 / +44 (0)7582 080067
Address: Collage Art Space 5, Coburg Road, Wood Green, London N22 6TZ
Website: www.theessentialschoolofpainting.com
Version 2.0 · Published April 2026 · Replaces Version 1.0 (5 January 2026) · Review cycle: annual, each September