Wanting to express yourself in the form of art? Well, grab your paint brush and get creative in Manchester as there are a wealth of painting classes, suitable for beginners and art aficionados, with some of them even being booze-filled for a fun social occasion. Whether you want to be the next Frida Kahlo or L.S. Lowry, here are some of the best painting classes taking place across Manchester where you can make a splash on a canvas or piece of pottery.
1. Pop-Up Painting
With events across the UK as well as multiple venues in Manchester, Pop-Up Painting is one of many painting classes which has made its mark. From classes replicating the likes of Gustav Klimt’s Tree of Life to Van Gogh’s Starry Night, there’s bound to be one that takes your fancy, all of which are accompanied by a themed playlist to immerse yourself in the experience. All art supplies, including paint, brushes, canvas and apron, are provided and painters will receive guidance from a practicing artist, but feel free to go off-piste if you wish. Pop-Up Painting takes place across a number of Greater Manchester venues including some in the city centre, Salford, Rochdale, Worsley and Didsbury. Drinks are also available for purchase.
📍Multiple locations across Greater Manchester
🍷 Yes
Classes start from £32.99, which you can book here.
2. Neon Brush
After great success in bringing its fluorescent neon-lit ambience to cities like Paris, São Paulo, and Berlin, Neon Brush has now opened in Manchester. This one-of-a-kind sip and paint event invites you to tap into your creative side with the help of brilliant and luminous glow-in-the-dark paint. Explore vivid colours and paint whimsical waves or whatever your inner artist tells you while sipping a drink. The adults-only workshops encourage you to follow the rhythm of the soundtrack playing upbeat hits to create your own vision without obeying the lines of a standard template or restrictive rules.
📍AATMA, 14-16 Faraday St, Manchester, M1 1BE.
🍷 Yes
3. The Place To Potter
Tucked away within Heaton Park Garden Centre is The Place To Potter, a cosy log cabin where you can let your creativity run wild. Offering a variety of crafts from pot painting, teddy bear building and slime making workshops, there’s something for all ages. The Place To Potter is very family-friendly and offers a wide range of birthday parties to suit all interests and preferences. As well as this, they have built quite a reputation for hosting themed and seasonal workshops, think paint your own Easter decorations and Jack-o-lantern candle holders. The cabin at Heaton Park also offers light bites and refreshments such as tea, coffees, juices, scone with butter and jam and soup and a roll.
📍The Place To Potter, Heaton Park Garden Centre, Heaton Park, St Margarets’ Road Entrance, Off Bury Old Rd, Prestwich, M25 2GT.
🍷 No
Prices start from £5, which you can book here.
4. Paint Away
With the slogan “put the art in your party”, Paint Away events are a way to show off your artistic flair in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Whether you think you are the next Picasso or you are just looking to try something new, Paint Away’s workshops are the perfect release from day to day life. From pop art to a 90s Old School R&B paint party, you can eat, sip, dance and paint the night (or day) away as you add colour to your canvas with a cracking playlist in the background. Paint Away hosts events from a number of venues in the Manchester city centre such as 20 Stories, YOTEL and Casa Mexica, as well as venues in Alderley Edge, Bury, Chorlton, Didsbury, Prestwich and Stretford.
📍Multiple locations across Greater Manchester
🍷 Yes
Prices start from £29.99, which you can book here.
5. Cocktails ‘n’ Canvas
Challenge yourself artistically with Cocktails ‘n’ Canvas’ painting classes where you can put paintbrush to canvas and create works of art themed around nature. From Highland cows to dandelion clocks, rainbow birches to coastal scenes, you’ll be able to produce something wonderful to either gift or put up on your own wall at home. Everything from easels to paints, canvases and aprons are provided so simply bring yourself and your artistic skills. At Cocktails ‘n’ Canvas events there is always plenty of scope to ‘do your own thing’ and are ideal for beginners and artists alike.
📍Multiple locations across Greater Manchester
🍷 Yes, can be purchased at venues
Prices start from £33.22, which you can book here.
6. Blank Studio
At Blank Studio you can ditch the paint brush and just get pouring your design instead. This unique paint pouring workshop involves selecting a sculpture of your choice in a range of shapes and sizes, including bears, clowns and bunnies, starting from a keychain size to 75cm tall sculptures. Simply layer your chosen colours together in a cup and pour over your sculpture to create an amazing dripping effect. And with so many colour combinations to choose from, it means you’ll have a one of a kind designed sculpture, which you can collect later to take home.
📍Blank Studio, Kampus, Makers Quarter, Studio 4, 42 Aytoun Street, M1 3GL.
🍷 No
Prices start from £20, which you can book here.
7. Northern Realist
Northern Realist offers structured workshops and courses in realist drawing and painting as well as regular open sessions. The courses are structured to allow you to concentrate on time honoured principles one at a time, building yours skills progressively. Northern Realist caters for all levels in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. The studio provides a great place to meet like minded artists while developing your artistic ambitions. If you want to get out of the studio and paint outside this summer, Northern Realist is also hosting a series of workshops held outdoors.
📍Northern Realist, AWOL Studios, Hope Mill, Pollard St, M4 7JA.
🍷 No
Sessions start from £15, which you can book here[/trackLink].
8. Pottery Corner
If you’re after somewhere to potter away, quite literally, then head to Pottery Corner in Chorlton. At this spot on Beech Road, you can sit contently painting your very own ceramics that you can then take home and admire. From torpedo vases to teapots, you can give them your own magic touch with a lick of paint and unique designs. Pottery Corner offer everything from an intimate clay experience to evening clay and painting group classes with a glass of bubbly. Once you’ve completed your painted masterpiece, leave it with the team and they will professionally finish, fire and have it ready for you to collect within one and a half weeks.
📍Pottery Corner, 34 Beech Road, Chorlton, M21 9EL
🍷 Yes, BYOB policy for adult group parties.
Prices start from £13, which you can book here[/trackLink].
9. Cork & Canvas
Cork & Canvas is another pop-up event hosting painting classes in Manchester, offering a fun environment where no experience is required and the drinks flow! Sit back and relax as the resident artist guides you step by step to paint your canvas painting with acrylic paints. If you’re looking for birthday party ideas or activities for corporate events, Cork & Canvas can pop up at your home or office and transform it into a fun art studio or you can come to one of our handpicked venues in Manchester city centre. With the organisers able to produce bespoke art events complete with music and plenty of prosecco, you can simply get creative and have a good time.
📍Various Manchester locations
🍷 Yes
Prices start from £25 per person, which you can book here[/trackLink].