Oil Painting Classes

Held exclusively at our studio in Dunboyne, Co. Meath, our oil painting classes are designed for complete beginners, and anyone curious about oils but unsure where to start.

Whether you’re picking up a brush for the very first time, returning to painting after years away, or feeling nervous about not being “good enough” to begin, our small-group workshops (max 6 students) offer gentle, step-by-step tuition tailored to your pace.

You’ll receive expert instruction in foundational oil painting techniques—like brushwork, colour mixing, sight-size methods, and composition—all within a proven, structured framework.

More than just learning to paint “prettily,” these classes help you build technical skills, grow your confidence, and unlock your creative potential in a supportive, judgement-free space.

This is your place to explore, express, and learn how to paint properly.

The art classes are held at our dedicated art studio located just outside Dunboyne Co. Meath, centrally located between Kilcock, Maynooth, Dunshaughlin, approximately 20-30 minutes from Trim and Clonee by car. We are approximately 40 to 45 minutes from Dublin.

Getting Started At The Studio

If you’ve never picked up a paintbrush before, or it’s a while since you have painted or think you are lacking in various skills—don’t worry, we’ve got you.

We begin our creative journey over three relaxed workshops, each featuring a unique painting project. These sessions are designed to gently introduce the essentials of oil painting—no pressure, no jargon, just easy-going creativity. We move at a friendly pace, with hands-on guidance to help you build confidence and technique from the ground up.

1. Workshop One – Monochrome Figure Study

We begin with a black-and-white painting of a woman – seen from behind – which means no need to dive into tricky facial details right away.

With the focus on shape, tone, and brushwork, this session helps you get comfortable with applying and mixing paint, handling brushes, working with values, and using sight-size technique. By the end of the session, you will know how to start, continue, and finish your piece with clarity and purpose. The workshop is a simple, proven way to get started.

2. Workshop Two – Still Life with Colour

Next, we introduce colour through a still life using a streamlined palette—five base colours plus sap green, white, and black. Here you’ll explore colour mixing, warm vs cool tones, glazing, and making tints.

It’s all practical, visual, and very approachable.

3. Workshop Three – Colour and Impressionist Brushwork

Our third painting looks at using complementary colours—mainly violets and yellows—and expressive brushwork inspired by the Impressionist style.

You’ll experiment with layering, create muted tones that make others sing, and build texture using brush techniques—such as tâching, famously used by the Impressionists to add energy and movement to their work.

What Comes Next

After completing these three pieces, students have the option to explore a structured two-year programme of paintings covering landscape, seascape, still life, portraiture, and artist-inspired works.

To keep the studio focused and flowing, we offer each new piece at the right time in the learning journey. If a student shows the necessary skills and enthusiasm for a particular painting, we’re happy to tailor the path—but we encourage mindful choices rather than browsing the full collection during class. This keeps things running smoothly and ensures time is spent painting, not picking.

If you decide to continue your journey with us, you will learn how to paint figures, still life, landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, and florals.

Additionally, you will be taught different oil painting techniques, composition, colour mixing, and how to expand on your existing oil painting skills.

Not at all! Our workshop series is thoughtfully designed as a progressive journey, where each session builds consequentially on the skills and insights of the last.

You’re free to book each workshop individually when it suits you, but we do ask that the initial 3 workshops are taken in order: starting with Workshop One, followed by Two, and finishing with Three. Once the fundamentals are learned in these 3 workshops, you’ll have the foundation to confidently tackle more complex painting techniques in each of the sessions that follow on from our 2-year programme. It’s a proven method to help you grow, layer by layer, without feeling overwhelmed.

We know that life gets busy, so there’s no need to complete all workshops back-to-back. Once you’ve started, you’re welcome to pause and return when it suits you—we’ll pick up right where you left off.

Whether you take all three sessions in quick succession or space them out over a few months, the learning continues smoothly. The structure is designed to build gradually, so each time you return, you’re stepping forward with confidence and are ready to tackle each new painting project.

These workshops are ideal for anyone who hasn’t painted since their school days, has never held a paintbrush but always wanted to try, or simply wants to carve out time for something new.

We also gently welcome those who’ve dabbled in watercolour or acrylics and are curious to explore oils, as well as oil painters, lacking formal tuition and are now looking to refresh their approach.

No matter your background, we start fresh—with emphasis on expression over precision. If you’re used to detailed work, you might find oil painting encourages a looser, more intuitive touch.

Please note: workshops are for adults only, aged 18+.

Our studio is intentionally designed as a calm, sociable environment where attendees can chat freely and enjoy some well-earned time out.

Each 3-hour session costs €75, excluding materials.

You can purchase the use of materials in the studio, online, for each workshop at an additional fee of €26 or €11 for a 50 x 60cm painting board or €7 for a 30 x 40cm painting board.

You can book an oil painting class by selecting the dates you would like to attend from the “date” drop-down list on our website.

All card payments are taken through either Stripe or PayPal and we accept all major credit & debit cards along with Apple Pay and Google Pay.

If a session is full, email us at [email protected] or use the contact form on our website to join the waiting list.

If you wish, we have an option for you to buy boards from Studio and can supply the use of Studio materials. This can be selected from the drop-down list above.

1. 6mm thick 50 x 60cm board – €11
2. 6mm thick 30 x 40cm board – €7
3. Use of materials to paint your painting when in the workshop – €26
   1. Use of brush
   2. Painting board
   3. Solvent
   4. Plenty kitchen roll
   5. Paint
   6. Tear off Palette sheet

If you buy boards they will be yours to take home, the rest of the materials must remain at the studio.

You can book your materials for a workshop by selecting one of the last three options in the drop-down list on our above when you are booking your workshop.

To redeem a gift voucher add the workshop to the basket. At the checkout, enter your unique code in the coupon box under “Have A Promotional Code”. If you run into any trouble, email us at [email protected]  or use the contact form on our website and we’ll help you out.

You must be able to attend the workshop booked as there will be no refunds or moving between workshops.

We ask that you only book into a workshop if you’re sure you can attend, as bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Each workshop involves considerable care and preparation—from cleaning and setting up the studio, to sourcing and prepping materials, planning sessions, and providing refreshments. As a small independent studio, we absorb all costs ourselves, and every booking directly supports the running of the space.

Cancellations impact more than one seat—they can affect the whole flow of a workshop, disrupt rescheduling, and cause financial loss. We truly appreciate your understanding and support in keeping our studio sustainable, viable and above water especially in these uncertain times.

We appreciate your understanding—unfortunately, exceptions simply aren’t possible due to the planning and costs involved.

If your painting isn’t finished by the end of the workshop, don’t worry as that is also part of the process. You’ll have a time between your next session to reflect, spot what you grasped, and uncover areas we can work on next time.

We’re here to help you understand how to paint—not just patch things up for you.

Yes, tea or coffee will be available during the class tea break.

Yes, there is free onsite car parking at the studio.

Because our studio is tucked away in the countryside, a bit of planning makes all the difference—we’ve outlined the best transport options below.

• Bus Services:
  The nearest bus stops are in Batterstown and Dunboyne, but neither offers direct access to the studio. You would need to arrange a taxi from either location.
• Train Services:
  Dunboyne has a train station with services to and from Dublin Docklands. However, onward travel from the station to the studio also requires a taxi or car.
• Taxi or Lift:
  If you’re relying on public transport, we recommend pre-booking a taxi from Dunboyne or Batterstown. There are no local taxi ranks, so advance planning is essential.
• Driving:
  The most convenient and reliable way to reach us is by car. There’s free parking available at the studio. Please bear in mind Google Maps has a habit of directing students onto local L roads, we suggest you stay on the main routes. If the Eircode we provide at booking is not working, try the Hatchet Inn, and continue on the R156 until you see our entrance with a display board.

We want your visit to be stress-free, so please plan your journey carefully.

Our workshops are held in a personal studio space—a place shaped with care, creativity, and community. It’s both a working environment and, in many ways, a home.

So, you’re not just coming to a workshop—you’re stepping into a space that’s been built with love. We’re glad you’re part of it.

Now, we ask that all participants approach the experience with respect for the space, the people in it, and the energy it takes to run each session. That means:

• A humble, open attitude—whatever your experience level
• Support and kindness towards fellow students
• Trust in the workshop’s structure and guidance
• Courtesy during shared moments, like our tea break
• No expectation of one-to-one tuition within group sessions

Being part of these workshops is a privilege we’re proud to offer—one that may not be available indefinitely. So, let’s treat the space, the time, and each other with care.

Most importantly, we want this to be a nourishing, supportive environment. We gently reserve the right to decline future participation if a person’s conduct is disruptive or inconsistent with the spirit of the workshops. It’s about keeping the studio a safe space for growth and creativity.

We’re grateful to the many wonderful folks who’ve helped shape these sessions—and we’ll continue to welcome those who bring kindness, curiosity, and community into the room.

Please note that there are a couple of steps into our art school that you may need to be aware of.

At the studio, we work with carefully selected, tried-and-tested paintings designed to teach specific skills. Each painting has been chosen because it brings something valuable to the learning process—whether that’s colour theory, brush technique, composition, or paint handling. Students benefit from knowing what the end result can look like, and our guidance is based on years of working with these painting studies.

While we understand that personal photos might feel meaningful, they often aren’t the best teaching tools. They can be technically limiting and, without the foundational skills, what a student sees in their imagination rarely translates well onto canvas. To keep the learning focused, we ask students to work within our curated collection. It’s part of the process—and part of the magic.

We’re proud to say the studio has grown—beautifully and busily—which means we’ve refined how we teach. We no longer offer 4, 5, or 6-week workshops, as we’ve found that shorter, sharper sessions yield far better results. In just a few hours, we aim to provide meaningful progress: students begin painting, problem-solving, and building confidence straight away. No fluff, no filler—just pure, focused learning.

We’re aware that other studios now offer extended formats that mirror ours, sometimes with lower prices and looser standards. But our commitment is to quality and integrity: we don’t post student work online, not because it isn’t good, but because we value their privacy and our process. Our focus is on what students gain, not what strangers see.

This is a teaching studio. Our mission isn’t to create Pinterest-worthy pictures – it’s to equip painters with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to create lasting work. We don’t chase trends, and we don’t offer gimmicks. What we do offer is real skill-building, an honest artistic journey, and the kind of tuition that respects your time and your talent.

Places are limited, and we keep it that way so every student gets the attention they deserve. If you’re here to learn, grow, and paint better – not just prettier – you’re in the right place.

During each workshop, we will also have a 20 – 30 minute breakout session where I will take you through topics such as:-

• How to start, paint and finish a painting,
• What materials to use, how to use them and why we use them,
• Different oil painting techniques,
• Understanding oil paint, colour, colour mixing and to read the colour wheel,
• How to get more from your existing skills/paintings.

These topics will change every month.

You can also bring paintings that you have been working on at home but need a little direction on where to go next. Or if you have an image that you would like to paint at home but don’t know how to tackle it, I’ll be there, on hand, to discuss possible ideas with you.

Our students have praised the friendly, fun, and productive environment of the classes. They appreciate the expert tuition, personalised advice, and the cosy studio environment.

A couple of testimonials:

“Emily’s painting classes are friendly, fun and very productive. Emily guides her students through painting techniques and styles with humour and great encouragement. Her mini art history lessons are informative and very entertaining. Emily takes a genuine interest in each student and her advice and instruction are always personally tailored. Her studio is a wonderful cosy environment in which to learn and just be creative, surrounded by Emily’s own beautiful paintings.”

– J Merrills

“I recently attended some oil painting classes at the beautiful studio of Emily McCormack at Warrenstown, Kilcock, Co Meath. I enjoyed the workshops very much under the expertise and guidance of the tutor/artist Emily. Emily’s lively good humour was evident as the group of four experimented with techniques and personally I was delighted to watch my images unfold. I had a sense of satisfaction on completion of having learned much. Respectful regard was afforded to each individual participant. I would highly recommend Emily’s coaching workshops for anyone wanting to learn new techniques or improve skills or just to have a really enjoyable creative experience.”

– Helena