Watercolor Magic Starts Here
Learn illustration techniques that bring stories to life through brushstrokes and creativity
Explore Our WorldPaint Your Own Stories
Watercolor illustration isn't just about mixing colors. It's about catching a feeling on paper before it fades. That spontaneous bloom of pigment when water hits dried paint? Pure magic.
We've been teaching people to handle brushes since 2019. Started with weekend workshops in Reading, and now we work with illustrators across the UK who wanted to add watercolor to their toolkit.
Some of our students illustrate children's books now. Others create editorial pieces for magazines. A few just paint for themselves on Sunday mornings. All of them learned that watercolor has its own personality – and you can learn to work with it, not fight it.
How We Actually Teach
Three principles that guide everything we do in our studios and online sessions
Technique First, Style Later
Master wet-on-wet, dry brush, and layering before worrying about developing a signature look. Your style shows up naturally once you stop thinking about it so much.
Happy Accidents Welcome
Watercolor does unexpected things. We teach you to recognize when that's brilliant and when you need to start over. Most breakthrough moments happen when paint does something you didn't plan.
Real Projects, Real Feedback
You'll work on actual illustration briefs – book covers, editorial pieces, character designs. We review your work like clients would, because that's what prepares you for real commissions.
What You'll Actually Learn
Our curriculum covers everything from holding a brush properly to creating portfolio-ready illustrations. Most students notice real improvement around week four – that's when muscle memory kicks in.
- Color mixing and palette planning for consistent illustration work
- Character design and storytelling through visual elements
- Working with different paper types and understanding how they affect results
- Creating depth and atmosphere using layering techniques
- Managing edges and controlling water flow for intentional effects
- Building a portfolio that shows range and technical skill
Classes run weekly from September 2025 through March 2026. You can join in-person sessions in Reading or attend live online.
Course Structure That Makes Sense
We designed this based on how people actually learn watercolor – not how we think they should. Each module builds on the previous one, but you can focus extra time where you need it.
The foundation course runs 24 weeks. That sounds like a lot, but watercolor takes practice. You can't rush the process of understanding how pigment and water interact.
| Module | Focus Area | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals | Brush control, water management, basic washes | 4 weeks |
| Color Theory | Mixing, palettes, temperature, value relationships | 3 weeks |
| Technique Building | Wet-on-wet, dry brush, lifting, masking, salt effects | 5 weeks |
| Character Design | Creating expressive illustrated characters | 4 weeks |
| Composition | Layout, storytelling, visual hierarchy | 3 weeks |
| Portfolio Projects | Complete illustrations from concept to finish | 5 weeks |
Your Learning Journey
What happens from your first brushstroke to finished portfolio piece
Foundation Phase
Weeks 1-7
You'll spend these weeks getting comfortable with materials and basic techniques. Expect some frustration – everyone fights with water control at first. But by week seven, you'll notice your hands know what to do without thinking.
Skill Development
Weeks 8-16
This is where it gets interesting. You start creating illustrations that look intentional rather than accidental. We introduce more complex projects and you begin developing preferences for certain techniques over others.
Creative Application
Weeks 17-24
Final phase focuses on complete projects. You'll work on portfolio pieces with real deadlines and client-style feedback. Some students finish with illustrations good enough to show publishers. Others realize they need another round. Both outcomes are fine.
Who Teaches This Stuff
Both of us work as professional illustrators. Teaching lets us share what we've figured out through years of commissions, deadlines, and learning what actually works.
Ewan Brightwell
Lead Instructor
I've been illustrating children's books since 2014. Watercolor became my primary medium after I got tired of digital work feeling too perfect. Now I teach the techniques that publishers actually want to see in portfolios.
Callum Underhill
Technique Specialist
My background is editorial illustration for newspapers and magazines. I focus on teaching speed and efficiency – how to create compelling work under deadline pressure without sacrificing quality or burning out.
Start Creating in 2025
Our September intake is now open for registration. Classes fill up based on when people commit, not when they pay – so if you're interested, let us know sooner rather than later.