Art Classes in the Botanics
ENTRY
from £15
WHERE
Glasgow
What it’s like
Weekly drawing and painting courses in and around the Botanic Gardens, from life drawing to oil painting, all pitched at beginners.
These are proper adult courses, not drop-in doodling. Pick a strand and stick with it for six weeks: an Open Art Class on Monday afternoons, oil painting on Wednesday evenings or Saturday mornings, life drawing on Tuesdays or a longer Sunday session. There's also shorter three-week runs in Drawing Skills and Portrait Drawing, plus an Abstract Collage class on Thursday evenings if you fancy something less about getting the proportions right.
Everything is billed as beginner friendly, so you don't need to have picked up a pencil since school. Most sessions happen in the Hopkirk Building inside the Botanic Gardens, though Saturday oil painting and the Monday class are a couple of streets away, and Thursday Drawing Skills is held at Kelvingrove Museum instead.
Cost depends on what you sign up for. A six week course like Open Art or Oil Painting is £140, the shorter three week Drawing Skills is £70, and Portrait Drawing sits at £100 for three weeks. If you'd rather not commit to a course, single life drawing sessions are £15 midweek or £30 for the longer Sunday slot, which is the easier way to try it out before spending on a full run.
Booking is all done by email rather than through a site, and it's essential. Classes fill up and there's no turning up on spec, so get in touch ahead of the day you want. Once you've paid, refunds aren't on offer for missed sessions, and cancelling needs to happen at least 48 hours before the course starts if you want your money back.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Email to reserve a place. No walk-ups due to capacity
- Booking is by email only, there's no online system or phone booking link
- Paid courses are non-refundable once they've started, so be sure before you commit
- Single life drawing sessions are the cheapest way to try a class without booking a full course
- Not every class is in the gardens themselves, check which building your course is in before heading out
Plan your visit
Do I need any experience?
No, every course is described as suitable for complete beginners.
How do I book a place?
You email to reserve a spot and mention the course title and day. There's no online booking link, and turning up without booking means you'll likely be turned away since classes run at capacity.
How much does it cost?
Six week courses like Open Art or Oil Painting are £140, three week courses run £70 to £100, and single life drawing sessions are £15 on weekdays or £30 for the Sunday slot.
How do I pay?
By bank transfer before the course starts. Details get sent to you once you've booked your place.
What happens if I miss a session?
Once you've paid for the course there are no refunds for sessions you miss, and you can't transfer that spot to another date.
Can I cancel if my plans change?
You can, as long as you email at least 48 hours before the course begins. After that, or once it's paid, refunds aren't given.
Where do the classes actually happen?
Most are in the Hopkirk Building in the Botanic Gardens. Saturday oil painting and the Monday class are held a couple of streets away, and Thursday Drawing Skills is at Kelvingrove Museum.
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