Abstract Painting
- Level(s) of Study: Short course
- Course Fee:
£280
- Start Date(s): 7 July 2025, 30 May 2026
- Duration: Monday and Tuesday 10 am - 4 pm, two days or Saturdays 10 am - 12:30 pm, four weeks
- Study Mode(s): Part-time
- Campus: City Campus
- Entry Requirements: More information
Introduction:
Course dates:
7 - 8 July 2025, Monday and Tuesday 10 am - 4 pm
30 May - 20 June 2026, Saturdays 10 am - 12:30 pm
Immerse yourself in the expressive world of abstract painting on this energising course.
You’ll explore gesture, mark-making, and emotional colour to develop a personal abstract language.
From drawing to music in charcoal to completing a unique oil painting on canvas, this course will inspire you to embrace spontaneity and creativity. Whether you’re new to art or looking to expand your skills, this course welcomes all levels of experience.
You’ll leave the course with a finished oil painting on canvas; a personal expression of your artistic vision.
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You’ll be part of a design community in our creative studio culture; one that promotes discussion and collaboration, and encourages experimentation and the constant swapping of ideas. -
With a limited class size you'll have the one-to-one attention you need to ensure you leave with the skills to continue developing your designs at home or work. -
Benefit from learning with an experienced tutor who has established links to the profession and significant experience working in varied practices. -
On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance.
What you’ll study
This course will guide you through a creative journey. You’ll begin by exploring gesture and movement through drawing before translating this into paint, as you experiment with black and white compositions, refining your brushwork technique. You’ll then create an emotional colour palette through engaging collage exercises and finish with a fully realised abstract painting in oil on canvas.
During this course you will:
- develop your ability to create expressive, gestural marks that convey energy and movement
- learn how to use contrast, brushwork, and texture to build dynamic compositions in paint
- explore the emotional power of colour and how to construct a palette that reflects mood and intention
- gain confidence in translating ideas and gestures into a cohesive, abstract painting
- build a deeper understanding of abstraction as a process, from initial mark-making to a finished oil painting on canvas.
By the end of the course, you will have produced a series of abstract drawings, a black-and-white abstract painting and a final completed oil painting on canvas.
Each piece will reflect your personal artistic journey through gesture, mark-making, and colour.
You’ll leave the knowledge to take your own painting in whichever way you choose.
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll study during the course:
- Drawing in charcoal
- Translate gestures in paint
- Work out your emotional colour palette using collage exercises
- Complete your abstract painting in oils on canvas
You will begin by responding intuitively to music, using charcoal to create large, expressive marks that capture movement, rhythm, and energy. This exercise will help you loosen up and develop a visual language of gesture, allowing your lines to flow freely without overthinking.
Next, you’ll take your charcoal drawings as inspiration and reinterpret those marks in paint, working in black and white to explore contrast, brushwork, and texture. By experimenting with bold strokes and tools, you’ll discover how to translate emotion and movement into dynamic compositions.
Through playful collage techniques, you’ll explore the emotional impact of colour and how different combinations can create specific moods. This exercise will give you the tools to develop a personalised palette that reflects your feelings, themes, or artistic intentions.
Bringing together everything you’ve learned, you will create a fully realised abstract painting on canvas. From gestural marks to expressive colour and thoughtful composition, this final piece will be a unique reflection of your creative journey throughout the course.
How you’re taught
This is a practical course and the subject is underpinned by theory and demonstrations.
You’ll complete group exercises and receive one to one tuition, group discussion and feedback.
This course will be delivered in person on Nottingham Trent University city campus.
Contact hours
You will receive 10 contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.
Careers and employability
The course could be a means to progress within fine art into different materials or approaches.
On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance, which will further enhance your CV.
This course is part of the Summer Painting Studio; after this course you could progress onto the Landscape, Portraiture and Oil Painting courses.
Campus and facilities
You will be based in the Nottingham School of Art and Design on the City Campus.
You'll find bright painting studios in which to develop your ideas.
You will receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.
You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.
Entry requirements
Level: Open to all
Entry requirement: Beginners as well as those with some painting experience are welcome.
You must be over the age of 18 in order to attend this course.
Fees and funding
The fee for this course is £280.
Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.
You will also need to bring with you:
Your course fees include everything you need to dive right into painting—premium oil paints, quality canvases, brushes, and more, so you can focus on creating with professional equipment.
You may also wish to bring with you:
- any paints, brushes, canvas, and artists’ equipment you already have
- cotton rags
- glass jars
- old credit card / flat plastic object for scraping
- sharp spikey tool(s) like a small skewer from the kitchen, hair grip, nails, old scissors.
You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.
Need accommodation for a week long summer course?
Accommodation can be booked separately to the course; the rooms are only a few minutes’ walk from our studios and classrooms, and cost £259 per week.
These are single rooms with a private bathroom in shared apartments in Nottingham Trent University’s city campus accommodation, which is ideal if you're looking to be based in Nottingham's lively city centre and want an economical place to stay.
Find out more and book your accommodation here.
How to apply
You can book your place via the NTU online store:
7 - 8 July 2025, Monday and Tuesday 10 am - 4 pm
30 May - 20 June 2026, Saturdays 10 am - 12:30 pm
Browse all short courses in fine art.
Any questions?
Contact the short course team:
- Email: creativeshortcourses@ntu.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 2813