Art Tuition
NEWS – I now provide ONLINE TUTORIALS via my Patreon page.
Beginner Art Classes for Adults
Join my course for absolute beginners where you can learn a new skill, make friends and have lots of fun in the process. No experience is necessary and you’ll be made to feel very welcome.
The next beginner’s course will start on Monday January 8th 2024 at Hankelow Methodist Church Hall, just south of Nantwich. The course runs for ten weeks up until 18th March and includes a one weeks break at Half Term (12th February). The class runs from 1:30pm – 4:30pm.
Over the course of the ten weeks you will explore a range of materials and techniques including painting, printing, collage and more. Each activity builds progressively upon previously learned skills . All materials will be provided, so you just turn up and have fun!
The ten week block of classes costs £275 which includes all materials, tuition, plus tea, coffee and biscuits!
Book your place using the button below. Please make sure that you complete all of the required fields.
Oil Painting Classes for Adults
This class is for beginner and experienced artists alike. During the ten weeks you will get the opportunity to develop your oil painting with guidance from the tutor as we tackle a variety of subjects. The course will include thorough coverage of topics such as materials, surfaces, etc as well as techniques including Glazing, Alla Prima painting and (weather permitting) Plein Air painting.
The ten week block of classes costs £275 which includes all materials, tuition, plus tea, coffee and biscuits!
The next course will start on Monday January 8th 2024 and will run weekly for ten weeks up until 18th March. These dates include a one weeks break at Half Term (12th February). The class runs from 9:30am – 12:30pm each week.
Book your place using the button below. Please make sure that you complete all of the required fields.
Residential Painting Courses
Over the coming year I will be delivering the following 3 day workshops at Moor and Sea holiday accommodation in North Devon. For further information see the descriptions below.
Introduction To Oil Painting
This course will teach you all that you need to know to make your own oil paintings. You will receive a thorough introduction to the equipment and materials needed, such as painting surfaces, paints, brushes and mediums. Over the three days you will progress from techniques showing you how to create drawings with accurate proportions and values, to the creation of finished paintings. Through demonstrations and practise you will learn how to mix accurate colours and how to create harmonious and interesting compositions. There will be plenty of opportunity for you to practise and explore this exciting medium all with the support of the tutor.
Course Dates
May 3rd – 5th 2024
Course Price
£280 All materials, lunch each day and refreshments are included
Accommodation at Moor and Sea Holidays
20% discount for guests on the course
Plein Air Painting
This course will provide you with all the knowledge and skills that you need to take your painting outside with confidence. The course includes a thorough explanation of the equipment needed to paint outside ‘en plein air’, including how to adapt your indoor painting practice to the challenges of the great outdoors. You will learn how to select a scene, set up your equipment in a suitable painting spot and then simplify the image. Your tutor will demonstrate techniques to suggest the complexities of nature, allowing you to work quickly and expressively to overcome the challenge of changing light and weather. Painting outside can be a daunting and exhilarating experience. Once you’ve shared this experience with like minded people under the guidance of an experienced tutor you won’t look back!
Course Dates
September 27th – 29th 2024
Course Price
£280 All materials, lunch each day and refreshments are included
Accommodation at Moor and Sea Holidays
20% discount for guests on the course
Testimonials
David’s lessons are always fun, creative and informative. I feel my drawing and painting have already benefited from his advice and guidance. Not only is David an incredibly talented artist, he is also a brilliant and inspirational teacher. Whether you are picking up a pencil or paintbrush for the first time or already have years […]
I have been one of David Barber’s students for as long as he has been teaching in the village in which we both live. He is a wonderful artist himself and is an excellent teacher. He teaches the theory and perspective of art so well, starting from scratch, with good humour and patience.
David is a practising artist and experienced teacher. His lessons are fun and inspirational. He is enthusiastic, helpful and generous with tips and suggestions to help us progress with our own artwork. Very enjoyable, I would highly recommend.
I am a self taught amateur painter who has been using acrylic for about 10 years and only pleased with some of my work. I realised that I had reached a plateau and was frustrated by the same pattern of mistakes in each new attempt. David has provided me with a logical and meticulous approach […]
Started a class with David in January … it’s a 10 week course and the lessons are fantastic, fun and informative.. David is a brilliant teacher as well as being a talented artist.. he makes everyone feel comfortable and the time flies by… From day one I knew I’d want to continue after the 10 […]
What a find this art class is, I love every second. David is a lovely guy and an excellent teacher, I am so surprised at how much I’ve improved in just a few lessons, the last time I did any art was at school and I’ve managed to wow myself and all of my family […]
I am really enjoying the art course as a complete beginner. David has introduced a variety of materials that I had never used before and explained very well how we should use them. He encourages us to experiment with them first and it’s been a lot of fun seeing what can be created and developing […]
This is such an enjoyable thing to do. The lessons are pitched perfectly to inform and encourage and most importantly to do…we are trying a variety of media and learning the different techniques each involve. The sessions are great fun as well as being instructive, very friendly and David is an excellent teacher and an […]
This is the artist David Barber who’s class I am currently attending. Dave is a lovely guy and a great and supporting teacher. If you’re interested in art and would like to learn the skills to make your work better, or even start from scratch, Dave will have a course for you. I cant recommend […]
At school I was told that I couldn’t draw and I accepted it. When I saw David’s beginner art classes advertised I messaged him about joining as I really wanted to learn but, felt that with no experience the classes might be too advanced for me. David encouraged me to join and assured me that […]
Thank you so much for taking a thoroughly enjoyable course on the Intro to Oils. You are an excellent artist and an inspiring and patient tutor with a wealth of practical knowledge and experience to pass on to others. You taught me the initial considerations and techniques to be adopted at the start of a […]
I had a wonderful weekend learning to paint with oil on David’s 3 day residential course. David is such a patient and excellent teacher as well as a fantastic artist. David went through the full process of drawing, colour theory and still life painting with us at just the right pace, with a mixture of […]
David Barber
Artist and Teacher
I am a qualified teacher with almost twenty years teaching experience. I now work as a professional artist creating my own work and helping artists to develop their skills. I teach both physical classes and online to both beginner and experienced artists.
Recently, I was commissioned by the ‘Artist and Illustrators’ magazine to produce an oil painting tutorial.
