Sketching and Watercolours – Advanced Practice (Stage 3)

Ages: 18+
Term: Summer
Length: 10 weeks

Overview

Take your artistic practice to the next level with Sketching and Watercolours – Advanced Practice (Stage 3). Designed for confident painters and sketchers, this stimulating and comprehensive course invites you to deepen your technical ability while refining your personal artistic voice.

To book your place today, simply click Book Now to be taken to AUB's secure online store, where you can complete your booking. You can also sign up to our newsletter for short course updates.

Course information

Building on your existing skills, you’ll explore sophisticated watercolour techniques including lifting, layering, soaking and combining media to achieve greater depth, luminosity and vibrancy.

You’ll tackle more complex subject matter – from atmospheric landscapes and urban environments to expressive and abstract compositions – developing a nuanced understanding of light, structure and composition.

Throughout the course, you’ll be encouraged to experiment, take creative risks and pursue personal projects aligned with your interests. Under the expert guidance of Alison Board, you’ll benefit from personalised feedback, supportive peer discussion and thoughtful critique, helping you push the boundaries of your work in both traditional and contemporary approaches.

This course also places strong emphasis on personal expression and emotional connection. You’ll explore how to interpret texture, mood and narrative within your work, translating observation into evocative, confident watercolours. Whether your focus lies in fine art, illustration or craft-based practice, you’ll be supported to create a cohesive body of work that reflects your unique artistic identity.

Perfect for those ready to deepen their mastery of watercolour, this advanced stage will help you transform ideas into expressive, resolved artworks with clarity and confidence.

Refinement of advanced watercolour techniques, including lifting, layering and textural effects
Capturing movement, storytelling and atmosphere in complex compositions
Exploration of abstract, impressionistic and mixed-media approaches
Personal projects tailored to your artistic interests
Development of confident, expressive mark-making
Expert tuition from an accomplished practising artist
Strategies for building depth, contrast and compositional balance
Techniques for approaching challenging subjects with assurance
Group discussion, peer exchange and detailed feedback
Creative exercises designed to refine your individual style

Timetable

Week 1: Negative shapes for complex natural forms
Week 2: Lifting and soaking techniques for atmosphere and correction
Week 3: Layered masking fluid – landscape elements
Week 4: Painting on a coloured surface – animal study
Week 5: Combining media for more complex compositions – urban scene
Weeks 6–7: Large-scale challenge – landscapes
Week 8: Weaving narratives into your subjects
Week 9: Photographing your work, framing, portfolio development
Week 10: Self-initiated project

At the end of the course you'll:

Demonstrate increased confidence and technical control in advanced watercolour and drawing techniques
Approach complex subjects with greater compositional awareness and creative assurance
Apply lifting, layering and mixed-media processes effectively to achieve depth and vibrancy
Develop a cohesive body of accomplished and experimental work
Strengthen your ability to express atmosphere, mood and narrative within your paintings
Articulate and refine your individual artistic style

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's 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.

What you need to know

Summer term 2027

Tuesday 6 April – 8 June 2027 (10 Tuesday evenings, 18.00–21.00)

Age

Suitable for adults aged 18+.

Level

Prior experience in drawing or sketching is highly recommended. If you've previously explored watercolour painting, this course will help you find your personal style; if not, you’ll be supported to build your skills step by step.

Experience or qualifications required

None. 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.

£375

Any additional costs

You may need to purchase materials for this course – please refer to the ‘What to bring to class’ section for details.

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

Α4 οr Α3 sketchbook
100% cotton watercolour paper – approximately quarter imperial or larger
Drawing pencils
Drawing pens
Watercolours and inks
Watercolour brushes
Accessories such as erasers, sharpeners and mark-making tools
A3 portfolio case

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

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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.

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AUB Academy booking T&Cs

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

Meet your tutor

Alison Board

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

Book your place today

Book now

Beyond the course

This could just be the start of your creative journey! After this course, you could further your artistic skills with another short 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.