Sunny Art Academy

Sunny Art Academy Sunny Art Academy in Central London offers drawing & painting courses for kids, teens & adults. Join us and let your creativity shine!

Learn classical techniques, build your portfolio & grow your skills in a supportive studio environment. Our art centre is located in the heart of London only a minutes walk from Chancery Lane Tube Station on the Central line. With two whole floors of exhibition and studio space, as well as large display windows, we are simultaneously a contemporary art gallery and a studio for learning fine art te

chniques. The art exhibitions in our central London gallery are dedicated to fostering an understanding of the fine arts from various perspectives and social viewpoints. This allows us to stimulate debate, address questions of cultural diversity and reach out to a wide audience. We house fine paintings, sculptures, ceramics and jewellery. Our cutting-edge art courses and workshops are led by professional artists and are drop-in classes for students of all ages and skill levels. Our aim is to bring the beauty of art to life through an extensive educational programme which is constantly developing in order to provide the best knowledge available at present. Our art centre has also an extensive experience collaborating with large-scale institutions and enterprises including the BBC, ITV, SKY TV, Selfridges & Co, HSBC, Giorgio Armani, Royal Academy of Arts, School of History and Cultures at the University of Birmingham, PwC, Harrods and many others. Additionally, our client base includes a range of over 2000 registered students.

31/08/2026

Sunny Studio Methods: Underpainting

A strong painting starts beneath the surface.

Underpainting helps establish composition, proportion, light and values before colour and detail take over.

Structure first. Colour second.

Want to try it yourself? Join our painting classes at Sunny Art Centre in Covent Garden and learn with guidance from professional artist-tutors.

Sunny Studio Methods: Painting from Still LifeStill life painting is one of the best ways to train your eye.Working from...
29/08/2026

Sunny Studio Methods: Painting from Still Life

Still life painting is one of the best ways to train your eye.

Working from real objects helps you understand:

�→ Shape and proportion�→ Light and shadow�→ Colour relationships�→ Form and depth
The aim isn’t just to copy what’s in front of you, but to observe carefully and make deliberate choices about what to emphasise, simplify or leave out.

Look closely. Simplify. Paint what you actually see.

Want to try it for yourself? Join one of our painting or drawing classes at Sunny Art Centre in Covent Garden and develop your skills with guidance from our professional artist-tutors.

"Using a reference is cheating" is one of the most common and incorrect beliefs in art. Most working artists use referen...
26/08/2026

"Using a reference is cheating" is one of the most common and incorrect beliefs in art. Most working artists use reference in some form. The real question isn't whether, it's how.

A reference removes the "drawing from memory" problem, so you can focus on the skill that actually matters: observing accurately. Without one, most beginners default to drawing symbols instead of what's really there.

Referencing ≠ copying. Copying reproduces the photo stroke-for-stroke. Referencing uses it as information for proportion, light, structure, while you make the decisions.

A few habits that help: → Do a quick value thumbnail before you get pulled into copying the photo's exact tones → Combine 2–3 references so you're synthesising, not tracing → Simplify by deciding what to leave out is where your voice shows up

Next time you paint from a photo: look for 60 seconds before you make a mark. Ask what it's telling you about light and mood. Then paint from that understanding rather from tracing it line by line.

That shift is most of what separates a copy from a painting with life in it.
Want feedback on how you're using your references? Come paint with us by booking a class on our website or visit us for a consultation if you still have questions.

22/08/2026

It’s all in the details.

Colour, texture and character - brought to life one mark at a time.

19/08/2026

A space to slow down, focus and create.

Our studio offers a relaxed and inspiring environment where you can work on your own individual projects, while creating alongside fellow artists and students on their own creative journeys.

Learn, experiment and progress at your own pace with professional guidance whenever you need it.

📍 Sunny Art Centre, Covent Garden

Join us for the Sunny Art Centre Annual Exhibition 2026We are delighted to announce the return of the Sunny Art Centre A...
17/08/2026

Join us for the Sunny Art Centre Annual Exhibition 2026

We are delighted to announce the return of the Sunny Art Centre Annual Exhibition, bringing together an exciting selection of work by our students, tutors and artists from across our creative community.

📅 7 September – 8 October 2026
🥂 Private View: Monday 7 September, 6pm
📍 Sunny Art Centre, Covent Garden, London

We warmly invite our students, friends, families and the wider London art community to join us for the Private View on 7 September and celebrate another year of creativity at Sunny Art Centre.

Find out more and book your place for the Private View through the link in our bio.

We look forward to welcoming you!

There’s nothing quite like the beauty and unpredictability of watercolour. Discover how to work with the medium, not aga...
12/08/2026

There’s nothing quite like the beauty and unpredictability of watercolour.

Discover how to work with the medium, not against it. Learn to control washes, build luminous layers, create depth, and know when to let the paint flow naturally.

Whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or looking to refine your technique, our Watercolour Course will guide you from the fundamentals to creating confident, expressive paintings.

All levels welcome
Flexible start dates
Join at any time and learn at your own pace.

Book your place via the link in our bio.

Slow down, and let the painting come together layer by layer. Oil paint's long drying time means more room to blend, adj...
10/08/2026

Slow down, and let the painting come together layer by layer.

Oil paint's long drying time means more room to blend, adjust and refine. It's the medium generations of painters have relied on for a reason. Our Oil Painting Course covers everything from mixing and blending to building a finished piece with confidence.

All levels welcome, flexible start dates.
Link in bio to join a class.

Every great painting starts with a strong drawing underneath it.Our Drawing Course builds the fundamentals: proportion, ...
08/08/2026

Every great painting starts with a strong drawing underneath it.

Our Drawing Course builds the fundamentals: proportion, perspective, light and shadow, that every other medium relies on, whether you're picking up a pencil for the first time or brushing up on the basics.

Small classes, flexible start dates and tutors who give you real, individual feedback. All levels welcome.
Ready to get started? Link in bio to join a class.

Address

Kemble Street
London
WC2B4AN

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+442086165990

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