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The Artist Hub
Tips, Tutorials & Creative Inspiration
The Artist Hub is regularly updated with a wide range of resources designed for beginner and amateur artists. You’ll find new techniques to explore, tutorials covering a variety of subjects, and helpful tips on materials and equipment. This free hub is a valuable resource for the artists who attend our weekly sessions as well as those who are part of our wider creative community.
We also celebrate and share finished course achievements, showcasing the incredible work our students create throughout their learning journey.
Choosing a Beginner’s Set of Oil Paints
Building a versatile oil painting palette.
When starting out with oils, choosing the right colours can make all the difference. Our go-to beginner palette includes a mix of strong primaries, natural earth tones, and versatile neutrals.
cheshireartclasses
Aug 15, 20253 min read
2025 Recommended Oil Painting Brushes
After a year of successful painting, I've simplified my recommended brush list to feature only the best: Rosemary & Co brushes. These...
cheshireartclasses
Jan 2, 20255 min read
Mollington Oil Painting Morning: Interiors and Light
This four-week oil painting course at Mollington focused on Interiors & Light, a challenging subject rooted in art history. Students explored architectural space, tonal values, and atmosphere through a traditional grisaille underpainting before introducing colour through glazes. The course emphasised structure, light, and depth, resulting in expressive interior studies with strong tonal control and a convincing sense of light.
cheshireartclasses
Dec 20, 20252 min read
Marthall’s Oil Painting Morning: The Hummingbird
Cheshire Art Classes’ recent hummingbird oil-painting course guided students from underpainting to final detailing. Participants explored the full colour wheel, created bokeh backgrounds, developed precise focal details, and built form through expressive techniques—resulting in confident, beautifully executed final paintings.
cheshireartclasses
Dec 12, 20252 min read
Painting the Lotus in Mollington’s 4-Week Oil Course
Our Mollington group has completed a beautiful 4-week lotus-painting course, working on larger 40×60 cm canvases and learning techniques from Burnt Sienna under-painting to soft background blending and layered colour refinement. Congratulations to all students — including first-time oil painters — for creating such elegant work.
cheshireartclasses
Nov 13, 20251 min read
Marthall’s Introduction to Landscape Painting: From Coastline to Canvas
For many students this was their first landscape in oils, and the progress has been remarkable. Your focus, patience and willingness to trust the process have produced confident, expressive work. Thank you for attending and for the warm, supportive studio atmosphere. We look forward to seeing you on the next course, where we’ll be exploring painting birds in oils.
cheshireartclasses
Nov 11, 20252 min read
Understanding the “Fat Over Lean” Rule in Oil Painting
In oil painting, “fat over lean” is a time-tested guide — not an unbreakable rule. Learn how understanding it helps you build stable layers, prevent cracking, and know when it’s okay to bend the rules for creative expression.
cheshireartclasses
Nov 4, 20255 min read
Why Your Oil Painting Brushes Keep Splitting (and How to Fix It)
If your oil painting brushes keep splitting, you’re not alone. From paint buildup and harsh cleaning to dry studio air, there are several reasons your bristles lose their shape. Learn how to restore frayed brushes, prevent future damage, and keep your tools in perfect painting condition with a few simple care habits.
cheshireartclasses
Nov 4, 20254 min read
Bringing Still Life to Life: Chelford’s First Oil Painting Course
At the start of our very first 4-week still life oil painting course at Chelford Village Hall, each of the 11 students was presented with...
cheshireartclasses
Sep 5, 20252 min read
Mollington Oil Painting – Course Three: Kingfishers
We’ve just wrapped up our third course at Mollington Oil Painting Morning , and what a journey it has been! This time, our focus was on...
cheshireartclasses
Aug 31, 20251 min read
Exploring the Art of Landscape: Our 8-Week Oil Painting Course in Mollington
We’ve just wrapped up another enriching 8-week beginner oil painting course at the Five Villages Hall in Mollington—and what a wonderful...
cheshireartclasses
Jul 17, 20252 min read
Project 6x6
Project 6x6 is a vibrant, collaborative initiative with my incredibly talented art students. Each of the 45+ participants is creating their own 6x6-inch oil painting—with total freedom in subject, style, and palette. The only rule? It must be in oil.
cheshireartclasses
Jul 14, 20251 min read
Mollington Oil Painting Course: 8 Weeks of Still Life Discovery
A Look Back at Our 8-Week Mollington Oil Painting Course Our 8-week beginner oil painting course at the Five Villages Hall in Mollington...
cheshireartclasses
Jun 30, 20251 min read
Farndon Children's Art Club - February
A Huge Thank You to Our Young Artists! We want to extend a big thank you to all the young artists who joined our six-week art club at...
cheshireartclasses
Apr 7, 20251 min read
Wrapping Up Our 6-Week Beginner Still Life in Oil Painting Course
Our 6-week beginner still life in oil painting course has come to an end, and what a fantastic journey it has been! Over the past 6...
cheshireartclasses
Mar 12, 20252 min read
Creating the Perfect Home Art Studio: Tips for a Functional and Inspiring Space
As much as we would all love a beautiful art studio nestled in a remote Cornish retreat or overlooking the streets of Florence, the...
cheshireartclasses
Feb 27, 20254 min read
Artist Books! Which ones I've found helpful and inspiring.
I love to collect books more than I have time to read them. Some of these books are beautiful to own whereas others help understand...
cheshireartclasses
Jun 7, 20241 min read
Rosemary & Co Brushes - Which ones? What sizes?
Logo Cheshire Art Classes is now a proud affiliate member of 'Rosemary & Co" brushes. Rosemary & Co offer an extensive range of brushes...
cheshireartclasses
Apr 11, 20243 min read
Traditional Drawing Materials List
The must-have materials to improve your tonal graphite drawing techniques.
cheshireartclasses
Oct 16, 20231 min read
Brushes - Natural or Synthetic
I am answering all my student's questions about brushes in a blog post - where to buy them from and which ones are best. If anyone knows...
cheshireartclasses
Aug 21, 20233 min read
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