Learn & develop in live sessions with prominent artworld professionals and fellow artists at Contemporary Art Academy
Contemporary Art Academy provides acclaimed online art courses for all artists at any stage in their evolution. All classes are live and are capped at just 8, 16, or 20 participants.
Our faculty is made up of leading artists, gallerists, curators, and writers, each bringing a wealth of high-level experience and deep connections across the international contemporary art world. They are generous with their insight, committed to mentorship, and passionate about supporting artists at every stage of their development.
CRIT PROGRAMME is for practicing artists wishing to receive direction and feedback on their work from a prominent contemporary artist, writer or curator and peer group. The programme offers artists a unique opportunity to evolve their practice and form powerful peer bonds that extend beyond the course.
DEVELOPMENT (PG) courses are for practicing artists who want to improve their practical, critical and professional capabilities. Written and led by prominent artworld professionals including artists, curators and art writers, this category enables artists to discuss and develop through 1-2-1 and group critiques, presentations and seminars.
INSTRUCTIONAL LIVE courses are for those wishing to learn or enhance technical skills in the major media including oil, acrylic and watercolour. Supported by Winsor & Newton.
CRIT PROGRAMME
4-week online modules providing incisive analysis and feedback. Open to all disciplines and artists at any stage of their career. Enables artists to evolve their practice, expand their network, and gain feedback from prominent contemporary artworld professionals and peers.
CRIT PROGRAMME | LIANE LANG
Start Date: 10 September 2025
Day: Wednesday
Time: 10.00 BST | 05.00 ET | 02.00 PT
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 8
Fee: £95
CRIT PROGRAMME | SAM JACKSON
Start Date: 10 September 2025
Day: Wednesday
Time: 18.00 BST | 13.00 ET | 10.00 PT
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 8
Fee: £95
CRIT PROGRAMME | EMILY STEER
Start Date: 2 weeks after registration is full
Day: Wednesday
Time: 10.00 BST | 05.00 ET | 02.00 PT
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 8
Fee: £95
CRIT PROGRAMME | JOANNA WHITTLE
Start Date: 2 weeks after registration is full
Day: Wednesday
Time: 18.00 BST | 13.00 ET | 10.00 PT
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 8
Fee: £95
CRIT PROGRAMME | KIRSTY OGG
Start Date: 2 weeks after registration is full
Day: Monday
Time: 18.00 BST | 13.00 ET | 10.00 PT
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 8
Fee: £95
CRIT PROGRAMME | DAVID RISLEY
Start Date: 2 weeks after registration is full
Day: Monday
Time: 10.00 BST | 05.00 ET | 02.00 PT
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 8
Fee: £95
DEVELOPMENT Courses (PG)
8 or 10-week online courses for practicing artists wishing to develop their work in a critically supportive environment.
PERSONAL PRACTICE (PG1)
For artists wishing to develop their current practice in a discussion based environment. Completion unlocks CRITICAL CONTEXT (PG2).
Lead Artist: David Risley
Start Date: 2 weeks after registration is full
Day: Tuesday
Time: 18.00 BST | 13.00 ET | 10.00 PT
Duration: 8 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 16
Fee: £300
CRITICAL CONTEXT (PG2)
Enables artists to develop new work within a research context and write a new artist statement. Progress onto PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (PG3).
Lead Tutor: Emily Steer
Start Date: Coming soon
Day: Tuesday
Time: 10.00 BST | 05.00 ET | 02.00 PT
Duration: 8 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 16
Fee: £300
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (PG3)
Artists develop their professional capacity towards a public online group exhibition. Completion unlocks GALLERY SECTOR (PG4).
Start Date: Coming Soon
Duration: 10 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 16
Fee: £300
GALLERY SECTOR (PG4)
Delivered by gallerists and curators, artists develop the critical and commercial context of their practice towards an online Open Studio.
Start Date: Coming Soon
Duration: 8 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 16
Fee: £300
“The course was warm, friendly, enjoyable and incredibly valuable. I feel more confident and focused with fresh and exciting insight into my work. Excellent.“
Penny Jones
INSTRUCTIONAL LIVE
6-weeks courses for those wishing to learn or enhance technical skills in the major media including oil, acrylic and watercolour.
Suitable for beginners to professionals, INSTRUCTIONAL LIVE courses enable artists to explore their creative potential and improve their technical skillset in an encouraging and supportive online environment.
Supported by Winsor & Newton
FEATURE INSTRUCTIONAL COURSES
Thematic courses for those with some painting experience, including graduates of our Introductory Instructional Courses.
INTO THE SUBLIME: Painting in acrylic with Liane Lang
Guided by artist Liane Lang, make acrylic paintings inspired by the art of the Sublime, focusing on the grand, overwhelming and awe-inspiring.
Start Date: Coming Soon
Duration 6 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 20
Fee: £240
ILLUSIONS IN PAINT: Trompe l’oeil painting in acrylic with Alastair Gordon
Explore the captivating world of trompe l’oeil painting and its techniques. Learn to create stunning optical illusions that transform flat surfaces into three-dimensional form.
Start Date: Coming Soon
Duration 6 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 20
Fee: £240
PLANTS & PLACES: Watercolour painting with Andrew Carter
Make landscape, waterscape and plant paintings in watercolour. Enjoy guidance on how to make an initial pencil sketch from references, mark making methods and colour mixing.
Start Date: Coming Soon
Duration 6 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 20
Fee: £240
INTRODUCTORY INSTRUCTIONAL COURSES
For beginners who would like to learn the basics, including preparing your palette, colour mixing and paint application.
INTRODUCTION TO WATERCOLOUR PAINTING with Stephanie Nebbia
Discover the magic of working in the historic medium of watercolour.
Start Date: Coming Soon
Duration 6 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 20
Fee: £240
INTRODUCTION TO ACRYLIC PAINTING with Alastair Gordon
Enjoy working in the contemporary and versatile medium of acrylic.
Start Date: Coming Soon
Duration 6 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 20
Fee: £240
INTRODUCTION TO OIL PAINTING with Robert Rost
Learn how to paint in the iconic medium of oil.
Start Date: Coming Soon
Duration 6 weeks
Location: Online
Capacity: 20
Fee: £240
“I am thrilled that I got a place on the course. I loved and treasured every session – and I definitely was not alone in this sentiment. The participants were from all over the world, and twenty of us were treated to a masterclass in developing our individual styles. Plenty of guidance, gently given.“
Stella West-Harling MBE
OPEN DAY
ONLINE OPEN DAY
Start Date: 31 July 2025
Day: Thursday
Time: 18:00 BST | 13:00 ET | 10:00 PT
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Online
Fee: FREE
Meet co-founders Zavier Ellis and Mathew Gibson, who will be on hand to answer questions on any aspect of our upcoming course offers and Contemporary Art Academy in general.
TALKS PROGRAMME
Monthly talks where leading artists, curators, art critics, gallerists and collectors discuss their life in art, followed by a Q&A.
Michael Petry
Start Date: 31 July 2025
Day: Thursday
Time: 19:00 BST | 14:00 ET | 11:00 PT
Duration: 1.5 hours
Location: Online
Fee: £1