Welcome to Creative Art Courses
Manchester’s leading independent teaching studio since 2010

Hi, I’m Brian Raymond
“As lead tutor at Creative Art Courses I’m passionate about every art course and drawing class I have planned for you.I look forward to welcoming you to my studio.
We are face-to-face teaching specialists
Experience our unique blend of friendly, supportive, and personalised teaching
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Student quote: Challenging, interesting and literally an ‘eye opener’. Takes you right back to the fundamentals of looking. Ellie N
Student quote: I really enjoyed rediscovering my creativity, didn’t think I had it in me! Lots of ideas and skills to take away with me. Tricia H
Courses + Classes
Begin to draw + paint
Weekend course 2-days
The absolute-beginners guide to starting art, drawing and painting
Realistic drawing L1
Weekend course 2-days
The perfect course to improve skills in drawing accurately from life
Expressive drawing L1
Weekend course 2-days
Learn a creative, self-expressive approach to semi-abstract contemporary drawing
The Art Elements
Thurs morning or eve course 6-sessions
Key learning about line, tone, colour, shape, texture, pattern and more
Creative sketchbooks
Weekend course 2-days
Learn sketchbook skills to enable your creativity and artistic vision to flourish
Acrylic painting L2
Weekend course 2-days
Further develop your acrylic painting with added skills and techniques
Urban sketching Ancoats
Weekend course 2-days
Build your urban sketching confidence with a focus on drawing buildings
Essential Drawing Foundations
Thurs eve course 6-sessions
Learn core drawing skills to improve accuracy, perception and clarity of vision
Art + Creativity
Mon morning course 10-session x 3 terms
Gain skills to grow creative-confidence and learn how to flourish as a visual artist
Creative life drawing Foundations
Thurs 6-session or 3-day weekend course
Fully taught life drawing course to improve core skills, observation and clarity of vision
Experimental drawing
Sat workshop 1-day
Explore drawing in its purest form to expand your gesture and mark-making
Mixed-media textures
Sun workshop 1-day
Create tactile mixed-media textures using a variety of materials and techniques
Charcoal drawing
Sat workshop 1-day
Discover the freedom of gestural drawing with willow and compressed charcoal
Dynamic colour mixing
Sun workshop 1-day
A step-by-step guide and exploration to mixing the colours you want with ease
Cezanne-simplifying nature
Mon eve workshop 1-session
Learn from Cezanne, the Father of Modernism, and improve your own art
Matisse-expressive colour
Mon eve workshop 1-session
Learn from Matisse and bring outrageous expressive colour to your own art
Picasso-Cubism
Mon eve workshop 1-session
Learn from Picasso and re-imagined how to use dynamic lines in your own art
Weekly Art Class
Wed morning flex 4-class block
Begin a new art project each week with inspiration and supportive teaching
Learn Life Drawing
Wed afternoon flex 4-class block
Expand your life drawing knowledge and skills topic-by-topic
Absolute-beginners Class
Fri afternoon drop-in 1-session
Art class to nurture your soul and boost creative-wellbeing
Life drawing Ancoats
Mon eve peer group
Peer-led life, figure and portrait drawing and painting for everyone
Ancoats Visual Arts
Wed day / eve peer group
Peer-led art group for everyone who loves visual arts and craft
VIDEos to watch
What do my students think?
“Very friendly, informative teacher. Well equipped studio, nice environment. Course was well structured – moving + building well on each step of learning. Great fun.”
“Simple and easy to book. All the info you need to know is there. Quick response from Brian confirming place and good communication before course dates.”
“Really enjoyable weekend. Covered so much ground and worked so hard! But never a dull moment and felt so good to be learning so many new skills!.”
Manchester’s most welcoming studio
Everyone is made to feel very welcome when they arrive at the Creative Art Courses studio. Students find it easy to make themselves comfortable and are happy spending time in the studio’s creative atmosphere, able to learn and grow as artists.
Whether you are just beginning or looking to improve further your tutor will make sure you are able to make the best possible progression. All the expert tutors offer supportive and encouraging teaching, using their skills and expertise to inspire students.
Come along and join us – the Gallery Studio at Hope Mill is the place to nurture your creative spirit and grow your skills and confidence to become the artist you have always dreamed of.
Videos to watch
Student Testimonials
“Really interesting. More educational than I thought it was going to be. Warm, friendly, clean and light.”
Simon C
“Well worthwhile. Learned a lot.”
Ruth C
I wanted an opportunity to … discover how to be creative. I found it a really good experience + gave a good flavour of different materials and techniques and how to use them. Angela B
“I learned real and useful techniques. I learned how to see what was wrong and how to fix it, and techniques I can replicate, practice and use for drawing and painting.” My course highlight was “the Vision Cone and practicing it.”
Susan W
STUDENTS WILL EXPERIENCE
Structured learning
Carefully structured teaching that will lead you step by step, giving you the confidence to try new things.
Individual attention
Loads of individual 1:1 encouragement to explore, experiment and discover.
Inclusive + personalised learning
A teaching style that focuses on your individual needs and is fully accepting of your individuality.
Creativity and technical skills
Teaching that allows you to learn new technical skills and develop your creativity, ensuring you leave inspired to continue to develop your skills further at home.
Welcoming studio
The Gallery Studio is a warm, creative and friendly space offering a relaxed informal, yet focused, learning environment.
Essential Art skills
Students learn essential core skills that provide the springboard to future artistic independence.
Within easy access of Manchester city centre
Easy to travel to from Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan, and within easy access of mainline train stations and motorway networks making us accessible from anywhere in the country.
Beginner – Improver – Intermediate – Experienced.
Everyone is welcome.
“Student quote: Loved it! you’ve shown me a different way to approach art and my creativity. I feel as if you’ve opened up in me a new way of seeing things.”
Donna B
“Student quote: From week one I knew this was going to be good, and that first class was almost worth the fee alone. I think this course was an incredible experience and I know I’ve learnt a lot over the six weeks.”
Meg K