Half Day Tutorials

Join Ali for a series of half-day or evening tutorials, running from 10am to 12:30pm, 18:00 - 20:30 and available either online or face to face at her North Dorset studio. Each session explores an exciting creative theme through live demonstration, guided tuition, and supportive discussion, giving you space to experiment and develop your personal artistic voice.

The sessions are intentionally relaxed and sociable, with conversation encouraged alongside making to build confidence, connection, and a supportive creative atmosphere. Working with watercolour-based techniques alongside a range of contemporary materials, these workshops encourage play, experimentation, and confident creativity.

Whether you join from home or in the studio, numbers are kept deliberately small to ensure plenty of individual attention and feedback. Ali tailors guidance through experience in working with all abilities, making these sessions suitable for all — from complete beginners to more experienced artists who want to expand their skills or refresh their practice.

You will need to supply your own materials; a suggested basic kit is sent to you when you book via email. Studio participants can also enjoy an inclusive atmosphere and good-quality refreshments throughout the day.

Ali spent a great deal of 2025 experimenting with ways to incorporate fluorescent colours into her work and this first session uses bees as inspiration.

£25.00

Ali spent a great deal of 2025 experimenting with ways to incorporate fluorescent colours into her work and this second session uses dragonflies as inspiration.

£25.00

To celebrate the release of Ali’s new book ‘Painting Landscapes’, May and June’s tutorials will explore a variety of landscapes and features you may find there.
This tutorial can be attended individually or as part of two sessions in the morning and evening for a more complex composition.

£25.00

To celebrate the release of Ali’s new book ‘Painting Landscapes’, May and June’s tutorials will explore a variety of landscapes and features you may find there.
This tutorial can be attended individually or as part of two sessions in the morning and evening for a more complex composition.

£25.00

To celebrate the release of Ali’s new book ‘Painting Landscapes’, May and June’s tutorials will explore a variety of landscapes and features you may find there.
This tutorial can be attended individually or as part of two sessions in the morning and evening for a more complex composition.

£25.00

To celebrate the release of Ali’s new book ‘Painting Landscapes’, May and June’s tutorials will explore a variety of landscapes and features you may find there.
This tutorial can be attended individually or as part of two sessions in the morning and evening for a more complex composition.

£25.00

If you are used to the freedom of watercolour and wish to improve your observation and patience, then coloured pencils may be a route to explore. Join Ali as she challenges herself to layer and burnish her use of pencils, combined with her love of mark making.

£25.00

If you are used to the freedom of watercolour and wish to improve your observation and patience, then coloured pencils may be a route to explore. Join Ali as she challenges herself to layer and burnish her use of pencils, combined with her love of mark making.

£25.00

To further explore her theme of ‘dogs’ this month, Ali shares a combination of techniques throughout the day with a portrait of a very beautiful wolf. As someone who has owned dogs her whole life, this month will prove to be one of her very favourite explorations.

£25.00

To further explore her theme of ‘dogs’ this month, Ali shares a combination of techniques throughout the day with a portrait of a very beautiful wolf. As someone who has owned dogs her whole life, this month will prove to be one of her very favourite explorations.

£25.00

Acrylics aren’t a medium that Ali always reaches for and so, what better excuse than to spend a day exploring and revising techniques with her? Chickens will be the theme of the sessions and will use different techniques to show their plumage and character.

£25.00

Acrylics aren’t a medium that Ali always reaches for and so, what better excuse than to spend a day exploring and revising techniques with her? Chickens will be the theme of the sessions and will use different techniques to show their plumage and character.

£25.00

Questions you may have…

How do I book?
Using the details above, add the tutorials of your choice to your cart and pay for them on the checkout page, this can be found at the top of each web page shaped like a shopping trolley. As soon as the transaction has gone through, you will receive an email with all of the details for you to keep, please check your spam folders if it hasn’t reached you, for future reference putting ali@learningtopaint.co.uk as a contact into your email supplier helps to stop this happening. Keep this email very safe and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to read it, well before your session, as it contains what preparation you may need to consider and the materials that are going to be used. Should you misplace this email, we are very happy to send it again but cannot guarantee that it will arrive in time if we are only given short notice.

What do I need to do to attend in person?
Come to the studio (address at the bottom of each web page and in your booking email), allowing approximately 15 minutes before we start to set up. When you get to the studio you will find plenty of parking, two steps up to the studio or level access at the rear and a warm welcome. There are good quality refreshments and toilet facilities at the studio, please be aware that we are situated on a large working farm and so there may be animals, vehicles and a workforce both on the approach and around the studio.

What do I need to do to attend online?
When you book you will receive an instant reply email with everything you need to attend and a link to a ‘Zoom’ online room. Keep the details of the email safe and on the day use the link and passcode to gain entry. If this isn’t something you have done before, you are welcome to contact Ali to get help and navigate your way around how it works. Make sure you have plenty of battery life in whatever device you are using and that you give yourself time to set yourself up before the session, we usually suggest logging in about 15 minutes before the workshop starts.

I’d like to discuss what will be covered during the tutorial - what can I do?
You are very welcome to contact Ali ahead of booking without any obligation. The images you see in the description will be the type of resources we will work from and if you would like to see the style of Ali’s painting, please browse the gallery section of this website to see how she interprets a subject. Ali does not prescriptively paint a sample piece ahead of the tutorial so that you can see her overcome the same creative issues that you may be experiencing in real time. This helps to keep her work fresh and spontaneous.

What materials will I need?
When your booking is confirmed you will be sent a full equipment list so that you have plenty of time to prepare before the session, you can also find a copy of it below. Ali recommends certain products but the success of your session does not rely on you duplicating the brand or quantities of materials you may need. At the start of every workshop, Ali always runs through the alternatives or takes questions on whether what you have is suitable. Should you wish to discuss this ahead of booking, you are more than welcome to email her without obligation. If your session requires a particular photograph or resource to follow on the day, this will be emailed to you on the Monday before you attend and will act as a reminder that you have an exciting session booked.

What happens next?
As soon as your booking has been confirmed and you have received your email, gather your materials and look forward to spending time with Ali in a creative environment, exploring new painted possibilities.

Where else can I find these workshops?
All of these tutorials can also be found as an inclusive part of The All A-Board Artists membership at a reduced price. You can read more about the various levels HERE.

A list of equipment that you may want to consider for these tutorials can be found HERE, the list is comprehensive to answer any queries you may have but it is merely a suggestion and not at all compulsory for the success of the session. The main items to ensure you bring are good quality surfaces, paints/colour, and brushes. You are welcome to interpret any tutorial in your own way, please make a note of the media we will be covering and if you have any reservations or questions, Ali invites you to email her ahead of the session.