AWOL Studios at Hope Mill in Manchester
Looking for Art Classes in Manchester?
Try Creative Art Courses based at AWOL Studios in Ancoats
AWOL Studios is a thriving collective of over 80 creative art studios, businesses, music studios and theatre.
A creative pulse in the heart of historical Ancoats.
Begin to draw + paint >
Weekend course 2-days
The absolute-beginners guide to starting art, drawing and painting
The Art Elements >
Evening course 6-sessions
Key learning on line, tone, colour, shape, texture, pattern and composition
Observational drawing L1 >
Weekend course 2-days
The perfect course to improve core drawing and observational skills
Acrylic painting L1 >
Weekend course 2-days
The perfect course to start learning to use acrylics paints
Creative drawing L1 >
Weekend course 2-days
Learn a creative and imaginative approach to contemporary drawing
Creative sketchbooks >
Weekend course 2-days
Learn sketchbook skills and techniques to ignite the engine of your creative vision
Abstract Art >
Weekend course 2-days
Experiment with abstract art techniques to create exciting expressive images
Acrylic painting L2 >
Weekend course 2-days
Develop your acrylic painting confidence further with added skills and techniques
Urban sketching >
Weekend course 2-days
Gain the confidence to kick-start your outdoor urban sketching with a focus on buildings
Essential Drawing Foundations >
Evening course 6-sessions
Learn core skills to improve accuracy, perception and draw with a new clarity of vision.
Art + Creativity >
Monday morning 10-sessions
Grow and develop self-confidence and start flourishing as a creative artist.
Creative life drawing >
Intensive course 4-days
Fully taught life drawing course teaching core drawing skills to improve observation with a clarity of vision.
Expressive mark-making >
Saturday workshop 1-day
Explore drawing in its purest form with mark-making that goes beyond realism.
Mixed-media textures >
Sunday workshop 1-day
Create tactile mixed-media textures using a variety of materials and techniques.
Charcoal: tone + gesture >
Saturday workshop 1-day
Discover the freedom of gestural drawing with willow and compressed charcoal.
Dynamic colour mixing >
Sunday workshop 1-day
A step-by-step guide and exploration to mixing the colours you want with ease.
Cezanne-simplifying nature
Evening workshop 1-session
Learn from Cezanne, the Father of Modernism, and improve your own art.
Matisse-expressive colour
Evening workshop 1-session
Learn from Matisse and bring outrageous expressive colour to your own art.
Picasso-Cubism
Evening workshop 1-session
Learn from Picasso and re-imagined how to use dynamic lines in your own art.
Peer-led art groups
Life drawing Ancoats >
Monday eve peer-led group
Peer-led life, figure and portrait drawing and painting for everyone.
Ancoats Visual Arts >
Wednesday day/eve peer-led group
Peer-led general art group for everyone to join who loves visual arts and craft.
About my art courses
Art courses and drawing classes for beginners to experienced artists
and those of you yet to try
Creative Art Courses offer you the perfect blend of supportive quality teaching, enthusiastic encouragement, and space to experiment at your own pace. All of us at Creative Art Courses have an Inclusive approach that embraces Diversity and celebrates individual achievement.
Discover inspiration & creativity
A great learning experience
The Gallery Studio offers students a warm welcome where everyone interested in learning and growing as artists can feel comfortable to pursue their passion for drawing, painting and mixed-media: start your journey as a complete-beginner; develop your skills further as a beginner + improver; or re-invigorate your creativity as an intermediate. Even those artists with more experience find my courses stimulating.
Great for beginners & Improvers
Creativity at the heart of historical heritage
Our studio is based in Hope Mill and is part of AWOL Studios, Manchester’s largest creative hub of over 80 creative businesses. You will find The Gallery Studio an inspiring and creative space where you can cherish the rich cultural history of the grade 2 listed mill reaching back into the heart of the Industrial Revolution, while nurturing your own artistic development.
Easy access from the city centre
Creative Art Courses probably offer the widest choice of visual art courses in the Northwest?
AWOL Studios at Hope Mill is the perfect location for creative art classes.
Join us AWOL Studios and Hope Mill
Discover your creativity at any one of the many drawing, painting and mixed-media courses offered by Creative Art Courses.
Creative Art Courses, part of AWOL Studios within Hope Mill, is proud to be part of Hope Mill’s new historical chapter. Hope Mill is a beautiful grade II listed building built in 1824 as a cotton spinning and fustian weaving mill for Joseph Clarke & Sons. Over the 177 years of its history it has had many other guises, from engineering works to dog bed factory, gradually and gracefully falling into decline and disrepair until it was rescued by Hope Mill Partnership in 2001.
AWOL Studios was the first business to lay down its artistic roots in Hope Mill in 2007 and has become one of the most important centres for the arts in Manchester, allowing for a natural regeneration of this important historic building and attracting a myriad of other creative businesses. The final piece of the jigsaw saw the mill’s old engine room refurbished and transformed to provide a fitting setting for Hope Mill Theatre.
The Gallery Studio
All the art courses offered by Creative Art Courses are taught by qualified and experienced tutors.
Our studio at AWOL Studios was originally designed as the Gallery space – hence it’s name The Gallery Studio! It has innovative swiveling walls that open up for special events to offer an open plan exhibition space. The studio is secure and warm and makes the most of the natural symmetry and light of Hope Mill. The studio has stunning views over the surrounding area of Ancoats and the Ashton Canal, and onwards to Manchester city centre and The Pennines. It’s a great place to soak up some inspiration and you’ll feel the creative buzz the moment you arrive at AWOL Studios.
Creative Art Courses guarantees you a quality learning experience that will ensure you to leave inspired, with new skills and techniques.
Beginner – Intermediate – Experienced
Everyone is welcome
WHAT MAKES TRAVELLING TO MANCHESTER SO EASY?
- Quality budget hotel 10 minutes walk from Creative Art courses
- Easy access from the national motorway network. Plan your journey.
- Easily accessible via Intercity train links and Manchester Metrolink
- On-site free car parking. Check out our location and directions.
- Based at AWOL Studios, which is Manchester’s largest Creative industries collective.
- Week-end, + Mid-week, and evening courses available
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.
