If you’re a budding acrylic painter craving both structure and freedom, this course will help you build a sustainable creative practice through playful experimentation — exploring still life in ways you may never have imagined.
Your work will evolve as you do, across each module.
This is a lifetime access course, and while it’s self-paced, I’m here when you need me. You can reach out anytime within the platform to ask questions or get support as you move through the content.
The course brings together the best of Experimental Still Life from the past five years — and more bonus content is arriving before Christmas 2025.
Have a question now? Just pop it in the chat box and I’ll reply as soon as I can.
Understand how to paint with acrylics in a way that feels like you
"I really love this course. I have taken many classes and this one is just the best so far!! Thank you so much!!"
What would it feel like to be itching to get into the studio every day —
to know what you'd do when you got there,
and to trust the process that brings what’s in your mind’s eye to life?
How? I hear you ask..
Inside, you’ll find 8 rich modules guiding you through:
Artist mindset & drawing
Composition & colour
Acrylic techniques & experimentation
Observational & imaginative painting
Abstract & large-scale works
And even earning a living through your art
Each step is designed to help you grow confidence, loosen up creatively, and build a sustainable painting practice that truly feels like your own.
When you join this self-paced version, you’ll also receive:
Private 1:1 access to me inside the platform — ask anything, anytime, as you move through the course
Printable guides for each module, to help you stay grounded and track your progress
Optional community spaces — one here on this platform, and on Facebook
A curated booklist and resource library
All future updates and bonus additions — including content from the 2025 live experience
Plus bonus access to my mini-course, Hot Cakes – How to Create and Sell a Collection of Small Artworks if you don't already have that.
ESL is for you if...
You’re a budding artist, ready to explore painting in a fun, experimental way
You’re curious about how I paint — and want a peek inside my process
You want fresh ideas to respond to, not fixed outcomes
You’re feeling bored or stuck in your current work
You’re feeling blocked — and you’re ready to shift that
You’ve used acrylics before and want to develop your skills further
You’re a professional artist craving a new way of working
You’d love to immerse yourself in still life, but don’t yet know how
You want lifetime access to painting inspiration and support
You want to go at your own pace, privately, but with personal access to me
You’d like feedback on your work — and don’t mind joining a small, supportive group
ESL is not for you if…
You’ve never painted before at all — though brave beginners are still very welcome! Just ask questions as you go
You’re looking for a paint-by-numbers process to recreate my work (this is about unlocking your creativity, not copying mine)
You never want to work from life — while we explore imagination, we begin with observation
You want to learn oil painting — this course is only for acrylics
You need written transcripts — these are not currently included
You prefer minimal video content — there are around 100 videos included
Even though this course is self-paced, you’re not on your own.
You can message me directly — at any time — through the chat bubble inside the platform. I’m the only person who sees these messages, and I’ll respond personally. There’s no time limit on this support.
You’ll also see exactly how I paint — in real time — with my full thought process shared as I work. This is an intimate, honest experience that supports your own artistic growth, with plenty of aha moments along the way.
"Honestly this is the best course I’ve ever done, so thank you so much."
— Liz
What artists are saying
Your confidence as an artist will skyrocket — you’ll always have a way into your painting, even when you feel stuck
Your mindset will shift: you'll appreciate your uniqueness more, compare yourself less, and likely discover whole new directions in your work
You’ll understand how to revisit and strengthen a painting — refining colour, composition, and energy as your skills deepen
You’ll feel safe to experiment, knowing that change isn't chaos — it comes from clarity, and that builds self-belief
You’ll have a clearer, braver story to share about your work — and more trust in your voice
You'll be far more fulfilled and you may even have sold a few paintings along the way!
Your practical knowledge of acrylic will expand — you’ll feel at home experimenting
You’ll start to notice your own process and preferences — and this will unlock even more confidence
You might even find yourself teaching others, or feeling inspired to share more publicly
You’ll have completed several paintings you’re proud of — and some may even sell while you're still in the course
(I can’t guarantee sales, but when you're proud and visible, it’s very possible. And it's an incredible feeling when your joy moves someone enough to invest in it.)
While I hope you won’t need external validation, earning income from your art can be both nourishing and affirming
You’ll be Brave in Paint — no matter what
You’ll know: it’s just paint. It’s not to be feared — not exploring is the real risk.
This courage will spill into your life beyond the canvas. Friends and family will notice the shift in you.
Your teacher and fellow explorer on this creative journey.
I’ve been a professional artist ever since leaving art college, where I trained as an illustrator. For the first 25 years of my career, I illustrated greeting cards, wrapping paper, children’s books, magazine fiction and editorial pieces. I also ran my own children’s gift business — Moobaacluck — on a site called Notonthehighstreet.com for 10 years.
A few years ago, I made the decision to focus solely on my painting — and I haven’t looked back.
Since then, I’ve had work selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition — in 2020 and again in 2023 — and two of those paintings are now featured in the RA calendar for 2025.
You just never know what might happen when you follow what lights you up.
Have a question before signing up?
Use the chat box — I’ll get back to you personally.
Are you going to wait another year?
See more student work by searching these tags on Instagram
#braveinpaint #experimentalstilllife
#eslart and #speslart on instagram.
Module 1 - Let's Draw - exploratory techniques, mindset and inspiration
Module 2 - Composition and Colour - values, mixing, spatial awareness
Module 3 - Let's Explore - adventures into backgrounds, painting techniques, and tools
Module 4 - Everyone Can Paint a Lemon - observational painting in surprising ways and stylisation
Module 5 - Painting from the Inside Out - working from imagination through exercises that stretch you
Module 6 - Let's Abstract - discover how or if you like to abstract your still lifes through different exercises
Module 7 - Let's Go Big! Explore working at scale
Module 8 - Practical Tips - photography, varnishing, tips on sellling, and studio practice.
Here is a link to the materials list.
It's likely you will already have most of what you need and I would advise simply buying what you're excited to use as you go through the course.
As long as I am in business running courses. If I change platform for any reason I would let you know and bring this course and you with me. Subject to circumstances out of my control I anticipate running my business for the next 10 -20 years from now. You will always be advised several months in advance of any strategic moves. If I make updates I will also let you know by email. Be sure to subscribe to emails in your profile area.
Not at all. Feel free to quietly work on the course alone. You can message me privately if you need support at any time.
If however, you would like feedback on your work you would need to post it in a group either on Facebook or here on this platform .Join at any point. Details of the groups are in the Housekeeping lesson.
You have lifetime access, for as long as I offer this course.
You will need to invest time in the course to get results and you can take as long as you like. It isn't a fast course, it's an inspirational ideas packed course that will spark your own process.
Delve deeply into any area that appeals to you - that is how you will strengthen your unique process. I would say there is 8 months to 2 years worth of material depending on how much you decide to explore. Many students revisit over 1-3 years.
You can pick what resonates initially and return to other things later. Go sequentially in the early modules. Even within these, you can pick what resonates. That's how you find out your own process and interpretation of the subject.
If you change your mind about taking part in the course you can contact me for a full refund up to 7 days after you have paid for it.
After 7 days there are strictly no refunds. You are legally obligated to pay your second installment if you chose that option.
Please message me if you have any doubts before purchasing so that I can help you with your decision. I only want people who will benefit from the course taking it.
If something in you is stirred by what you’ve seen and read here — trust that.
You don’t need to feel like you know exactly what you are doing.
Just be willing to make the leap, and be open to where it might lead.