Our mission is to teach people of all ages and backgrounds how to make fantastic art from learning the essential artistic skills of drawing and painting from observation regardless of their experience or abilities. Anyone can learn them from any age, regardless of their experience, as creating great pictures requires learning and developing techniques. Once the techniques are learnt on a basic level, we continue to progress our students in each new project they embark on. We harness their skill development, encourage and support each student on their own artistic journeys to fulfil their unique artistic potential. The results will leave you amazed of what can be achieved. We deliver term time and holiday classes for children and teenagers and morning, evening and weekend courses for adults. 

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We use the traditional methods of copying from masters and photographs as our learning resources. Each is carefully chosen to suit our student's level and teach a topic while placing focus on different drawing and painting techniques. Amongst others, our topics include: animals, landscapes, portraits, abstract and still lives.

 

We are passionate about helping our students to develop confidence, focus, creative and analytical thinking. Engaging in creative process has a holistic power to improve wellbeing for all students, including those experiencing mental health difficulties. We are an anti - racist organisation, committed to inclusion and diversity, providing equal learning opportunities to students to represent the diverse ethnicities, religions, cultures, gender identities and socio-economic backgrounds which enrich our local community.  We are an inclusive art school and welcome disabled and neurodiverse students, providing SEND teaching assistants when needed. 

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Through the work of our Community Interest Company , we deliver free of charge and affordable courses for eligible Hackney and Tower Hamlets residents on low incomes, benefits, retired and those who cannot normally afford our private courses. Our aim is to equip people with artistic skills, enhance their wellbeing and help contribute towards improving community cohesion. 

 

Hackney Fine Arts was founded and is directed by Noel Basualdo, a local mother, fine art painter and teacher with experience teaching in schools, colleges and charities.  We have a very high ratio of teacher per students, 5/6 students per teacher, each student is taught individually. Our talented team of teachers are professional artists who regularly exhibit their work and are painting and drawing specialists, have Fine Art degrees & up to date DBS checks.