Collection: Short Courses

Capturing the subtle details of the face requires strong observational and drawing skills, and learning to draw portraits becomes achievable when broken down into key components. By understanding these foundational principles, you’ll enhance your portraits and enrich your sketchbook with greater confidence. 

Learn to paint expressively with an individual approach while increasing your knowledge and understanding of the importance of colour, composition and form. Using acrylic or oil paint, students will learn how to mix and experiment with colour and will be encouraged to paint quickly and loosely and to develop expressive brushwork.

Learn to see beyond the bewildering details of your subject to gather the colour information you need to get your painting off to a great start! 

Discover how to think of colour in a way that enables you to mix the exact colour that you want confidently and directly, every time. The course assumes no prior knowledge and has given great results with students from beginner to advanced levels.

Learn the fine art of copper plate etching, a medium both steeped in tradition and one that allows for exciting approaches to contemporary art making. In this 2-day workshop discover various methods to create a small edition of prints in the beautiful NAS etching studios.

Would you like to take a line for a walk with experimental contour drawing? How about tapping into your creativity and becoming one with ink while drawing? Experience the art of using your whole being when you draw, and see your drawing expand beyond its current horizon.

Learn to draw forms and structures of the human head, facial features, body dynamics and discover the connection between the ‘character’ and the ‘face’. Using pencil, charcoal, ink, wash and collage, to make quick sketches and sustained drawings from plaster casts, live models and a self-portrait.

Have you always wanted to paint but haven’t known where to start? Designed for complete beginners, this course will give you a solid and practical foundation in painting using acrylics and oil paints. Learn simple processes for colour mixing, composition, and perspective, to produce a suite of finished paintings.

Explore the varied processes of screenprinting starting with basic stencils and moving into photographic techniques. Learn how to create original prints from drawings, photographs and existing images, as well as how to use the darkroom and the computer for photographic processes with image separations and colour mixing.

This exciting course combines textiles with creative drawing using diverse techniques with paper, fabric, collage, assemblage. Including sketching, painting, weaving and embroidering lines on the surface of papers and textiles, exploring the materiality of different surfaces.  

This hands-on workshop will strengthen your drawing practice and introduce you to the magic of analogue animation methods. You’ll explore dynamic mark-making, gestural drawing, and develop strategies for capturing movement and complete a short animation. 

Immerse yourself in the luminous world of watercolour and explore the expressive potential of the medium, working across landscapes, still life, and the human figure. With demonstrations, hands-on exercises, and discussions, this course encourages you to refine your technique while embracing spontaneity.

This course explores techniques and mediums of acrylic painting, composition, colour, representation, collage and the use of text in art. Experiment with abstracting from reality including landscape elements, still life, space or the figure. 

Learn to take full creative control of your camera through hands-on sessions in manual exposure, depth of field, and motion. Put exposure and composition principles into practice in the studio and outdoors. Gain confidence in developing your technical skills, creative vision, and digital workflow for polished, expressive photography.  

Explore the representational, atmospheric, and emotive possibilities of tonal drawing. Working from set ups and life models, you will learn to perceive and convey lights and darks in your work in a friendly and supportive environment.

Learn the art of clay modelling and create a life-size portrait bust that captures both likeness and character. Discover the techniques and principles of working with clay, exploring its plastic properties to sculpt a 1:1 scale portrait. 

Immerse yourself in the luminous world of watercolour and explore the expressive potential of the medium, working across landscapes, still life, and the human figure. With demonstrations, hands-on exercises, and discussions, this course encourages you to refine your technique while embracing spontaneity.

Join a comprehensive, foundation course in figure drawing to develop your technical skills and gain confidence in capturing the human form in dynamic poses in the drawing studio and in real-world environments. 

In this two-day workshop, you will learn how to hand build three-dimensional forms and sculptural wall works out of clay. Working with slab building techniques, explore ceramic forms as well as surface design and decoration through a use of slip, underglaze, sgraffito and carving techniques to create personal stories with clay. 

Reignite your curiosity in this engaging course designed for beginners or those returning to the sketchbook. Explore observational foundations—line, tone, and perspective—while gaining confidence in creating drawings from life. Each week you’ll develop skills through expressive use of charcoal, Conté, ink and pastel, working from images and objects, inspired by the vibrant NAS campus.

Be introduced to the basic skills of wheel-throwing clay, including how to centre the clay, lift, shape and trim the form. Tania Rollond demonstrates, encourages and guides you to develop techniques and confidence to make cups, bowls and sculptural forms. 

Are you new to painting or looking to expand your practice? In this inspiring course you will explore materials and techniques, including gouache, acrylic paint, and collage. Emphasizing play, experimentation, and introducing historical references, you’ll build confidence, develop personal expression, and discover new ways of making paintings beyond representation.

If you love contemporary art and are thinking about starting a collection but aren’t sure where to begin, this course introduces you to the art world, exploring the different motivations people have for collecting art, whether for investment, aesthetic satisfaction or simply fascination. Learn from experts and gain the confidence to navigate the gallery system.