The Essential School of Painting - London Art School

My daughter attended the foundation course this last year, passed with flying colors and has been accepted at Chelsea College for BA in Fine Arts on basis of completing and passing this course.Fantastic school, top quality teaching from some renowned artists and the staff are so helpful and encouraging. Nice human, uninstitutional feel about the school where the individual is cared about and catered for.Would recommend this school to anyone serious about taking their art to another level.

I have had a very positive experience at the Essential School of Painting, having completed two courses there, and seen my work develop enormously over the last 2 years. The tutors are practising artists and very committed to student learning, classes are small so there is plenty of individual teaching as well as group discussion, and the School has a very welcoming relaxed atmosphere. The teaching has really improved my technical competency in painting methods and materials, as well as a very positive impact on my confidence and creativity. It has been a very good experience as a student to be part of a community of artists on these courses, sharing ideas and experiences. I thoroughly recommend the Essential School of Painting to anyone who is looking for painting courses that are serious about helping students develop their ideas, technical skills and their creativity.,

I absolutely love the Essential School of Painting. I did the Saturday Painting Personal Project course, and liked it so much that I came back and did it again two years in a row. The imaginative and maverick teaching liberated me to make bigger and bolder paintings. I particularly liked the way this course enabled us to focus on our own ideas and motifs, essentially incubating our own artistic practices. I miss it already!

The Essential School of Painting has an exceptional ethos. I feel very lucky to have found a place that encourages one's own painting style by teachers who have a huge back drop of knowledge to be inspired by. Do not hesitate! Nice students too, many repeat customers (which I found reassuring going into my 2nd year there). Thank you to the warm and wonderful directors, Alison and Andrew for galvanising us all during lock down. (If you are looking for an online class, they have that nailed too!)

My experience at the ESOP has been really good. Our teacher, Dan Coombs, is truly invested in my work and growth as a painter. The teaching is always constructive and relevant with a contained sense of my learning process. The class group is kind and supportive when reflecting about each other’s work, which broadened my thinking and experience of art. Also the administration is friendly, efficient and committed. Studying at the ESOP has been a very positive experience and I wholeheartedly recommend the ESOP to anyone who wants to study there!

The ESOP is a treasure. The Painting Year Course got me started on my painting career and continues to give me a structured environment within which I can explore ideas and techniques with the help of great tutors, who really tune into you as an individual.The courses are great value and give you the opportunity to work alongside other painters in a positive, creative and nurturing space.

ESOP testimonial from Giuliano ZampiWho did personal painting at ESOP in 2023 on Tuesdays and Saturdays.I have had an amazing life working as an architect in some of the foremost architect’s practices in the UK, while specializing as a virtual 3-D animator using all my architects training and artistic skills.But what I have longed to do for decades was to return to my first love, which was painting.ESOP was the only art school that had painting as its primary focus. Which what I wanted to focus on more than anything. I’ve done illustrations and many other forms of art. But it was pure painting that I wanted to really learn about, and at ESOP I struck gold.Session can start by looking at well-established painters works, historic and current, with the goal of understanding the very nature of painting, as well as the thoughts and ideas behind the works, but most importantly the technical secrets old and new and the whole gamut of the painting experience.In the studio, the amazing tutors, Alison, Guy, Rosanna, and the incredible Dan Coombs approach the student and their work with such profound warmth and understanding and a perception of what it is the student is trying to achieve. I was at every session blown away by their understanding and manner of responding to each student's specific needs and their very different work styles. They encourage you to set challenging goals for yourself, which can leave the student at times floundering, which is very common when dealing with serious art, which then transforms into more elated times as the student’s work resolves.This group of tutors have a very special gift of steering the student towards their goals and so they find themselves immersing themselves in their painting art form with ever growing confidence and developing greater challenges.Alison Harper, co-Founder and Artistic Director, has a very special gift for amassing a wonderful collection of especially nice students on this course, which in my books is paramount for a harmonious studio.GZ sept 2023

The Essential School of Painting - Painting Personal Projects CourseI’d done several painting courses in the past and wasn’t sure about doing anymore but I’m so glad I decided to attend the ESOP Painting Personal Projects course. It’s excellent.The course is well-structured with some imaginative and challenging exercises to participate in. I’ve learnt a great deal about techniques, colour, composition and how to generate ideas for paintings. Since completing the first term, I feel more confident about my work.The tutors are extremely knowledgeable, very supportive and encouraging. I find Saturdays at the ESOP studios a wonderful, friendly, creative space in which to paint and improve my knowledge and skills.The Painting Personal Projects course is perfect for anybody who wants to improve their painting and is looking for a friendly and supportive environment in which to do it.

I highly recommend the Essential School of Painting. The quality of teaching both online and in-person is excellent and tutors are generous with their time and knowledge. The atmosphere is welcoming, inclusive and inspiring. Visiting tutors/artist talks are of a very high standard. The ESOP does not teach a particular style, but tackles the subject of painting equally from a practical and intellectual standpoint, most importantly rooting itself in contemporary discourse.

Having had a break from my artistic practice, gaining a scholarship for ESOP gave me the opportunity to return to my practice with the benefit of a classroom setting. Having the help from the amazing tutors and the support that comes from being in a group of other art students allowed me to push my work in new directions. And set one day a week aside to experiments again and learn about new artists and techniques. At the time I wouldn't have been able to afford to take this course without the scholarship so am grateful of the opportunity it gave me. Much of the work I made within the course made it's way to my Masters portfolio and has led to me gaining a place at Glasgow School of Art for this September. As an early stage artist having the support that the course gave me has really helped me to take my practice seriously again and be hopeful of building a career for myself within the arts.