Morning, afternoon and evening sessions, Tuesday to Saturday — find your slot and book in three minutes.
PAINT WITH CONFIDENCE
Oil Painting Courses in London
London’s best-rated oil painting courses — Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced levels.
SUNNY ART CENTRE I COVENT GARDEN
Organisations We’ve Worked With
Sunny Art Centre has worked with leading organisations, universities and cultural institutions in London and internationally.
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The course
“I dream my painting and I paint my dream.” — Vincent van Gogh
Join our sought-after oil painting classes at our Covent Garden art school, positioned among the most coveted art courses in London. This comprehensive course is dedicated to the fundamental principles of the old masters’ oil painting techniques — a nuanced exploration of traditional, formal and conceptual dimensions, coupled with the practical mastery of technique.
Topics covered include impasto, glazing, chiaroscuro, monochrome painting, limited-palette work, colour mixing, proportion, tonal and formal intricacies, colour temperature, composition, and the understanding of dimensional space and perspective.
Participants engage perceptually with diverse subject matter, from still life studies to landscape and portraiture. This structured, rigorous programme cultivates a profound understanding of oil painting and equips you to articulate your artistic vision with sophistication and depth.
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Your tutors
Our team comprises world-leading artists and art tutors, trained to proficiently work across various media and subjects. Our expert art tutors continuously introduce cutting-edge methods and techniques — a commitment that ensures our students’ sustained engagement with art and the Centre’s first-class reputation in London.
As a leader in art education, Sunny Art Centre has become a preferred destination for studying art in London. We have conducted art workshops and painting courses for prestigious institutions including the National Gallery, Royal Academy of Art, Southbank Centre, BBC, ITV, and more.
Central Saint MartinsChelsea College of ArtThe Slade SchoolRoyal Academy of ArtÉcole des Beaux-Arts, ParisAthens Academy of ArtCharles H. Cecil Studios, Florence
Workshops delivered for: The National Gallery · Royal Academy of Art · Southbank Centre · BBC · ITV
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Curriculum
Techniques
Impasto, glazing, chiaroscuro, monochrome painting, limited palettes and colour mixing — the old masters’ methods, mastered in practice.
Tone & form
Proportion, tonal and formal intricacies, colour temperature and compositional principles.
Subjects
Still life studies, landscape and portraiture, engaged perceptually at your own easel.
Details
Beginner to advanced in Covent Garden · weekday & weekend timetable · online booking in three minutes · open to all art lovers aged 16+.
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Studying here
Experience bespoke art education in our small-group courses led by expert fine art tutors with international acclaim. Benefit from personalised guidance in mastering oil painting techniques, delivered by tutors with decades of global teaching experience. With a maximum of 10 students per class, enjoy sustained attention and flexibility with weekday and weekend options. For each lesson, your workspace is set up for your arrival, the tutor has your specific subject prepared, and your progress is recorded at the end of each class.
Your purchased package seamlessly integrates into your online account, granting you the freedom to log in and book any available art class at our centre. Our art classes run Tuesday to Saturday — select the time slots and starting date that align with your preferences.
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Timetable & sign up
Now open for enrolment
Course Timetable & Sign Up
Personalised drawing and painting tuition in a small-group studio in Central London. Flexible start dates — join at any time.
- Learn to draw with professional artists
- Small groups, personal guidance at every easel
- Limited spaces available this term
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 11:30 am – 1:30 pm | 1:30 – 3:30 pm4:00 – 6:00 pm | 6:30 – 8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | — | 4:00 – 6:00 pm | 6:30 – 8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm | 1:30 – 3:30 pm4:00 – 6:00 pm | 6:30 – 8:30 pm |
| FridayToday | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm | 1:30 – 3:30 pm4:00 – 6:00 pm | 6:30 – 8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 9:00 – 11:00 am11:30 am – 1:30 pm | 2:00 – 4:00 pm4:00 – 6:00 pm | — |
Two-hour sessions · book any slot within your package
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Choose your course
Select your preferred programme and purchase your lesson package.
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Access your account
Your lessons are added to your online account after booking.
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Book your classes
Choose your preferred time slots each week.
Two-hour sessionsMaximum 10 students per classAll levels welcomeFlexible schedulingCertificate on completion
How an Oil Painting Develops Across the Course
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Choose Your Course Package
HOW FAR WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE YOUR OIL PAINTING?
Every programme gives you access to the same professional tutors, personalised tuition and flexible booking.
The difference is the depth of study, the time available for development and the breadth of the curriculum you can complete.
For students seeking substantial, long-term development, we recommend the 50-lesson Complete Programme.
Most Popular · Best Value50 Lessons100 hours of professional art tuitionValid for 11 monthsProgramme IncludesDrawing Pack and Sketchbook — worth £80 · Certificate of Completion · Flexible online booking · Personalised tutor guidanceChoose 50 Lessons★ 4.7 · 313 Google Reviews
£30.40 per 2-hour class£1,520 total · VAT includedSave £547
What you’ll learn
This longer beginner’s art course for oil painting will provide you with all the necessary knowledge to begin more complex compositions spanning different genres, be it portraiture, landscape, still life, or life painting, through expanding upon the technical aspects of the previous 40 art lessons.
40 Lessons80 hours of professional art tuitionValid for 9 monthsProgramme IncludesPremium Drawing Pack — worth £42 · Certificate of Completion · Flexible online booking · Personalised tutor guidanceChoose 40 Lessons★ 4.7 · 313 Google Reviews
£34.88 per 2-hour class£1,395 total · VAT includedSave £237
What you’ll learn
In the extended beginner art course, students will explore ways of seeing and portraying a variety of subjects while gaining confidence in the application of oil paint. These art lessons will also include an introduction to the work of old masters. Their technical expertise and compositional achievements will serve to further instruct and inspire art students.
20 Lessons40 hours of professional art tuitionValid for 5 monthsProgramme IncludesFlexible online booking · Personalised tutor guidanceChoose 20 Lessons★ 4.7 · 313 Google Reviews
£39.75 per 2-hour class£795 total · VAT included
Materials not included · No certificateWhat you’ll learn
This art course will include a basic introduction to techniques and materials as students work towards creating an ‘underpainting’, allowing them to get to grips with the basics of oil paint application. As their confidence grows, art students will become further acquainted with a range of paint application techniques, as well as colour mixing. Over the course of completing a painting, students will cover the fundamental techniques of oil painting, which they are encouraged to develop through an intermediate art course.
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Advantages
Credit on your terms
A lesson is deducted only at the moment you book it, much like an Oyster Card. Your balance sits waiting until you are ready, so a busy month at work costs you nothing.
Continuity between tutors
After every lesson your tutor writes up your progress, and that note is visible to whichever tutor takes you next. Step away for a season and your full history is still there when you return.
Managed from your account
Reserve, move or cancel classes yourself online, at any hour. Our policy asks for 48 hours’ notice, so booking at least two days ahead secures the session and the seat you want.
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Your study plan
Tailored to you
Your first lesson is an assessment. A tutor watches how you draw, judge tone and mix colour before writing a bespoke Study Plan, which may begin with an underpainting and a limited palette or with the tonal control behind chiaroscuro.
Expert guidance
Your plan is set by tutors with backgrounds from the Royal Academy of Art and Central Saint Martins, and years of international teaching behind them. They decide the pace at which layering, glazing and alla prima enter your work.
Intimate classes
Fewer than ten students share the studio, so a tutor can stand at your easel while the paint is still wet. Each lesson follows your Study Plan rather than a fixed syllabus.
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Examples of students’ work
Work by our students — from first drawings to gallery-ready pieces.
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Our art tutors
Our tutors have exceptional skills and unparalleled experience when it comes to advising students on their portfolios. They honed their craft at some of the most prestigious institutions in the world, exhibit in the UK and internationally, and have appeared in publications and programmes including those of the BBC — qualities that guarantee the high success rate our students achieve in entering the programmes of their choice.
Their extraordinary efforts ensure we continuously deliver bespoke, cutting-edge art tuition — on site at our London studio and remotely online.
Royal College of ArtRoyal Academy of ArtsÉcole des Beaux-Arts, ParisCentral Saint MartinsChelsea College of ArtBartlett School of ArchitectureGoldsmiths, LondonAthens AcademyFlorence Academy of Art
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Frequently asked questions
The questions we hear most, answered. The full list lives on the course FAQ page.
How large are the classes, and how long is each lesson?
Each group lesson lasts two hours, and classes are limited to a maximum of 10 students. The small class size allows students to work independently while receiving regular individual demonstrations, feedback and technical support from the tutor.
When are oil painting classes held?
Our oil painting classes run every week at our Covent Garden art school, and students can join at any time throughout the year. Tuesday and Thursday 11:00am–1:00pm 1:30pm–3:30pm Tuesday to Friday 4:00pm–6:00pm 6:30pm–8:30pm Saturday 9:00am–11:00am 11:30am–1:30pm 2:00pm–4:00pm 4:00pm–6:00pm All classes are subject to availability. Please check the online timetable when making your booking.
Can I start the oil painting course at any time?
Yes. We offer rolling enrolment, so you do not need to wait for the beginning of a school term. After purchasing your oil painting course package, you can select an available starting date and book your lessons through your online student account.
Do I have to attend the same class time every week?
No. You can choose from the available daytime, evening and Saturday sessions and may book a different class time each week. This flexible system is suitable for students with changing work or personal schedules. All lessons must be booked in advance and are subject to availability.
Where are the oil painting classes held in London?
Classes are held at Sunny Art Centre, Sunny Art Centre, Covent Garden, Kemble Street, London WC2B 4AW. Nearest Underground stations Covent Garden: Piccadilly line Holborn: Central and Piccadilly lines Nearby bus stop Aldwych/Kingsway, Stop F — routes 1, 68, 91, 168, 188, N1, N68, N91, N171 and SL6 Nearby car parks Lincoln’s Inn Fields Car Park, Urban Parking Shelton Street, NCP London Covent Garden and Intelli-Park Covent Garden — all open 24 hours. Our central London location is convenient for daytime, evening and weekend art classes.
How do I book an oil painting class?
First, select and purchase the oil painting course package that best suits your goals. Your lesson credits will then be added to your online student account. You can log in, view the timetable and book your preferred classes. A confirmed booking is required before attending. Arriving without a booking does not guarantee that a place will be available.
SUNNY ART CENTRE
Plan your visit
ADDRESS:
Sunny Art Centre, Covent Garden,
Kemble St, London WC2B 4AW
TELEPHONE:
020 8616 5990
GENERAL ENQUIRIES:
info@sunnyartcentre.co.uk
OFFICE HOURS:
10am – 6pm, Monday to Friday
Tube
Covent Garden — Piccadilly Line
Holborn — Central / Piccadilly Line
Buses
Aldwych Kingsway (Stop F)
1, 68, 91, 168, 188, N1, N68, N91, N171, SL6
Car parks
Lincoln’s Inn Fields · Urban Parking Shelton Street
NCP Covent Garden · Intelli-Park Covent Garden — all 24/7