Choose from a variety of creative art courses

Explore your creativity through painting and drawing and choose from a variety of creative art classes. With a huge range of subjects to learn from, you can choose from online or in-person options.

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Our creative arts courses will get you working with pastels and pencils, exploring fine art and even get you out and about discovering new galleries in your spare time. 

Paints to pastels

Delivered by experienced art tutors, why not try getting creative with clay, or getting hands-on painting your very own masterpiece. 

If you’re interested in drawing, you won’t be disappointed either. Collage making, oil painting, pastel painting and printing are just some of the subjects that have proved popular in recent years.  

Many of our arts courses are delivered for different levels of experience too, so whether you’re a beginner or a little more advanced, you’ll be able to choose the art course that’s right for you. 

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Craft: Learn to Draw Christmas Baubles in Charcoal and White Pastel

Learning to draw is a precious skill that encourages mindfulness and creativity. A quote from the late artist Paula Rego: ‘Sketches always have more vitality than paintings because you're finding things out through doing them.’ Inspired by a range of artists, this course will build your confidence and expertise in willow charcoal and white pastel on mid toned (not white) pastel paper (could be brown parcel paper). Our topic will be still life – in this case Christmas baubles! Learning to see and analyse real objects is the best teacher for developing your own drawing style. Suitable for beginners and those wishing to develop their ̨Íåswag.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 06/12/2024 -
Fri 06/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Abi Kremer
Course code:
Q00019883
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

Craft: Watercolour Christmas Cards

On this short course we will create nature inspired Christmas cards using watercolours.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 09/12/2024 -
Mon 16/12/2024
Times:
11:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Deborah Crofts
Course code:
Q00019862
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
5 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £14.80

Craft: DIY Festive Wrapping Paper Designs

In this creative workshop, you will design unique, personalised wrapping paper using printmaking techniques with stencils. We’ll start by exploring festive motifs—like snowflakes, holly, ornaments, and stars—you will be guided to create repeating patterns that bring holiday cheer. Using vibrant seasonal colours such as reds, greens, golds, and silvers, you will learn to layer and arrange their chosen stencils to achieve bold, eye-catching designs. This hands-on experience not only teaches the basics of printmaking but also encourages personal expression, resulting in wrapping paper that adds a special, handmade touch to holiday gifts. Perfect for anyone looking to add festive flair to their presents!

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 09/12/2024 -
Mon 09/12/2024
Times:
4:00pm - 6:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Abbie Cairns
Course code:
Q00019875
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

Craft: Plain to Fabulous Christmas Baubles

Take time out of your busy schedule and join us to stretch your imagination and transform plain Christmas bauble into fabulous designs.They will look so impressive on your Christmas tree or Christmas wreath with the added satisfaction that you made them yourself

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 09/12/2024 -
Mon 09/12/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Elaine Swan
Course code:
Q00019885
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Care 2: Sign along Christmas Carols

All our Care2 courses are completely free for unpaid carers (or those who have previously been carers). You do not need to receive a carer's allowance to qualify. If you are unsure, please contact our call centre advisors who will be able to assist you. Would you like to learn a little British Sign language whilst singing and signing along to some favourite Christmas Carols and popular songs? This course is a follow on from the hugely popular first course that ran at the Reading Rooms last year. You do not need to have attended the first course to participate on this one. Join guest tutor Debbie Young at the Reading Rooms in Billericay on this fun and interactive one-off free course for carers, their companions, supporters e.g. volunteers/staff and former carers as part of the Care 2 delivery. If you have an interest in learning a new language but aren’t sure about signing, come along to this fun session to learn more about BSL and deaf culture.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/12/2024 -
Tue 10/12/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Billericay Reading Rooms (Billericay)
73 High Street
Billericay
CM12 9AS
Tutor:
Deborah Young
Course code:
Q00019596
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Craft: Winter Wonderland Watercolours

In this engaging workshop, participants will explore watercolour techniques to bring serene, snowy landscapes, festive wreaths, and charming winter scenes to life. Through hands-on practice, you’ll learn essential ̨Íåswag like blending colours for soft, atmospheric effects and layering to add depth and texture, capturing the cozy feel of the holiday season. We’ll focus on selecting colours that evoke a festive mood—cool blues and whites for frosty scenes or rich greens and reds for holiday wreaths. By the end, you will have a completed piece, whether a tranquil landscape or a vibrant wreath, perfect for seasonal decor or holiday cards.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/12/2024 -
Tue 10/12/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Abbie Cairns
Course code:
Q00019878
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

Craft: Christmas stars with string

Christmas is here but if you don’t have room for a tree or you just want new decoration for the year try your hand at a beautiful 12 inch star created out of wooden skewers and string, Paint and then sprinkled with glitter or snow and add beautiful mini lights to make it sparkle.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 11/12/2024 -
Wed 11/12/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Elaine Swan
Course code:
Q00019886
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

Craft: Christmas Gnomes

Gnomes’ gnomes and more gnomes what’s not to love create Using felt and hand stitching use your imagination and create your own gnomes to match your Christmas colour scheme or personalise them for gifts. Its not an expensive project to do but can be so much fun to create

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 11/12/2024 -
Wed 11/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Elaine Swan
Course code:
Q00019887
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

Craft: Origami Christmas Ideas

Learn to create ecological friendly Christmas tags, decorations and boxes using the oriental craft of origami.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 12/12/2024 -
Thu 19/12/2024
Times:
11:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Deborah Crofts
Course code:
Q00019861
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £14.80

Craft: Book-folded Christmas decorations

A seasonal introduction to book-folding, making various Christmas decorations, from a tree (can also be an angel depending on decoration) to a candle (add battery nightlight) to baubles that hang on the full-size tree. This course is intended for beginners, and uses cheap materials (old paperback book) and no special tools.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 17/12/2024 -
Tue 17/12/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jane Williams
Course code:
Q00019843
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40