Skip to main content Go to Site Map

Sketching and Watercolour – an Introduction (Stage 1)

  • Ages: 18+
  • Term: Autumn
  • Length: 10 weeks
Watercolour of woman in dress

Overview

This highly creative 10-week course offers you a hands-on approach to the world of sketching and watercolour.

Want to book this course? This course isn't taking bookings at the moment, but we expect to publish our new course dates and open for bookings in April 2026. Make sure you’re the first to know when you can book our short courses by signing up for updates using the link below.

About this course

This course offers a hands-on approach to the world of sketching and watercolour. It’s ideal for all levels and abilities and provides a relaxed way to build upon your drawing skills whilst enjoying the surrounding environment.

Drawing and sketching is fundamental to everything we do. Throughout history, every great artist and designer has kept a sketchbook; it’s a must-have for any creative. It acts as a ‘visual journey’ and offers a place to experiment, record special moments or work through your ideas for a more advanced project.

During the course, you'll explore the fundamentals of drawing and observation, including how to gain confidence in recording those elements that you find inspirational with your own unique style.

You'll use a variety of materials and techniques including pencils, pens, charcoal and watercolour whilst looking at genres such as landscape, botany and the human form. As you progress through the sessions, you’ll develop your drawing and sketching skills through experimentation, drawing from life and expressive design.

  • Learn to see and paint the world around you
  • Skills with charcoal, pencil, pen, and watercolour to create lively images through expressive use of line and mark making
  • Tone, contrast, textures, colour, and form
  • Capturing movement and basic perspective
  • Basic techniques to approach landscape, botanical subjects, objects, and people

At the end of the course you'll:

  • Possess improved artistic skills and confidence to approach observational drawing in a range of media and techniques
  • Possess basic watercolour techniques and apply them to sketching
  • Be able to use a sketchbook as a visual journey or to hold research for a project
  • Be able to relax through art
  • Have increased confidence in your own skills and feel inspired
  • Have boosted creativity and imagination
  • Possess the foundations to continue creating beyond this course
  • You can request a certificate to confirm your achievements, providing you've a 100% attendance record. To request a certificate please get in touch with us at academy@aub.ac.uk and confirm your name and the title of course you've completed

Will I be assessed?

No, there is no formal assessment. You’ll group share your work at the end of each session with the intention to support, inspire and encourage each other’s learning. 

As the course progresses your tutor will measure your overall performance and offer essential guidance and feedback, so you know how you're getting on.

Meet your tutor

Alison Board

Alison Board

Alison is a highly talented, creative artist and dedicated educator, whose many diverse talents include dance, performance, and fine art.

What you need to know

Autumn term 2025

Tuesday 7 October – 9 December 2025 (10 Tuesday evenings, 18.00-21.00)

Age

Suitable for adults aged 18+.

Level

Beginners or anyone with some experience who want to refresh or develop their skills further.

Experience or qualifications required

None – this is an introductory course. We have no formal academic entry requirements for our short courses.

If you'd like to discuss if this course is suitable for you, get in touch with us: academy@aub.ac.uk or 01202 363222.

£359

Any additional costs

You'll need to provide some art materials and equipment to use on the course. This'll incur an additional cost if you need to purchase it for the course. See the 'What to bring to class' section below for full details.

Additional materials and resources will be provided by AUB and is included in your course fee.

  • Notebook and pens/pencils to make notes
  • Hardback A4 sketchbook (160gsm or heavier)
  • Drawing pencils; 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B
  • Putty rubber
  • Rubber
  • Pencil sharpener
  • Charcoal
  • Set of fine line drawing pens (waterproof ink)
  • A roll of cheap lining paper of A3 sugar paper
  • Watercolour paper pad
  • Watercolour paints
  • Set of watercolour brushes

More guidance will be given during your first class about the watercolour supplies you’ll need, so you may wish to wait until after your first class to purchase some.

A student stands painting two cherries in a sketch book.

Suggested Suppliers

Information about resourcing specialist materials/consumables that you may need to bring these with you

A flower and a pair of sunglasses rest on a pair of boxes. A stiletto heel shoe and a handbag are sitting in front of another box. The other stiletto heel shoe is on top of one of the boxes.

AUB Academy FAQs – Evening and Weekend and Saturday Art School

If you have any questions about our Evening and Saturday Short Courses, you may find the answers in here.

A person leans in and looks closely at a big display board with assorted pieces of graphic design work.

AUB Academy booking T&Cs

Please read our Terms and Conditions carefully before booking onto our Evening and Weekend courses.

Beyond the course

This could just be the start of your creative journey! After this course, you could further your watercolour skills with our stage 2 intermediate course or look to the future and explore our creative qualifications that can prepare you to further your current career, enable you to retrain to an alternative career path or prepare you for future creative arts studies.

Watercolour of two flamingo's

Sketching and Watercolour – Expanding Skills (Stage 2)

In this 10-week course, you'll build on your existing drawing skills and become a well-rounded and more confident watercolour artist.

Open portfolio books lying on top of one another across a table.

Creative Art and Design (15–18 years)

This 2-week summer course is ideal for students aged 15–18 with a passion for creative arts that want to experiment.

A colourful abstract art print.

Art, Design and Creative Studies (SEG Award – Level 2 Certificate)

This 30-week Level 2 accredited course will equip you with the tools and principles to develop your creativity in art, design, and crafts

Illustration of a woman in a bikini reaching forward with a pink fish to her right. A shark is shown behind them. The text "A day in the deep" appears above the illustration.

Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media

Study Foundation Art, Design and Media at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and more...

Gallery space with white walls displaying colourful artwork, red sculptural sofa, and brown perforated room divider panels.

BA (Hons) Fine Art

BA (Hons) Fine Art at AUB is an exciting, multidiscipline course, set within our dynamic culture of making in our purpose-built studios...

Illustration of an overground train on a bridge over a street, with people in the carriages and city buildings either side.

BA (Hons) Illustration

Study Illustration at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days.

More information about evening and weekend courses

Screenprinting

Why choose AUB for your short course?

We're a first-choice provider of art and design short courses for anyone wishing to engage in art and design subjects in their spare time.

People standing in front of artwork and talking at the MA Painting Lighthouse exhibition

Reasons to study a short course

There are plenty of reasons to consider studying a creative short course. Perhaps you want to retrain, learn new skills, or just have fun...

A close up of a layered fabric

How to book

Looking to book onto one of our Evening and Saturday courses? You’ll find everything you need to book your place here.

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.