About Us

It began with Japanese sketchbooks, a minibus, and pouring watercolour onto sheets of handmade paper...

Back in 2009 we established The Studio Art School with the aim of providing the art-school experience to anyone who would like to try their hand at any art media under the  tuition of an professional artist. It began with a small workshop - eight artists painting with poured watercolour and pastel out in the beautiful landscape of south Dorset and soon became  a range of regular weekly classes. Specialist workshops in historic painting techniques and different media such as lino printing were added. 2020 saw the addition of online classes and 2021 sees our first downloadable masterclasses. 

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If you cannot join us in Dorset, make your desk your studio; your kitchen table, your home, the great outdoors, even your commute. Whether  you want to work together  in a group or need a moment of much needed me time; make your studio with us and we'll help you be the creative artist you have always wanted to be.

As founders and tutors we believe it is important to inspire through our own work too.  We continue to show at exhibitions such as the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions, Royal West of England Academy Exhibitions as well as independent and public galleries throughout the UK .

The Studio Art School, established in 2009 by Justin and Nicola Cooke offers a varied set of studio and online courses in painting, drawing and printmaking. 

At The Studio Art School we have gathered together a complete resource to help you with your painting and drawing. Alongside our courses and workshops which we run locally in Dorset, UK; we also run zoom classes online. On this site you will find tips to improve your skills, some of which we have developed into our masterclasses.