A full class of children in aprons cheering behind a long row of their finished colourful paintings in The Art School studio

Art and pottery classes in the heart of Chester

Small, friendly classes for kids, teens and adults, taught by qualified art teachers. Plus wheel tasters, parties and team events, upstairs at Pictura on Eastgate Row.

★ SBA 2026 Finalist – Best Creative Arts Business ✔ DBS-checked teachers ✔ Official Arts Award Centre

What would you like to do?

Five clear routes into everything we offer. Pick the one that fits you.

Four children in paint-splashed aprons proudly holding up the clay cupcakes they made in class

Kids & teens

Weekly courses for ages 6–10 and 11–16, plus holiday art academies.
Kids’ Art Camp (Halloween half-term) 27–30 Oct: £60 a day
Light-up Christmas Canvas, Sat 5, 12 & 19 Dec, £65 per course
Explore kids & teens
Adult student painting a stormy seascape at an easel during a daytime class

Adult art

Drawing, watercolour and acrylic – beginners to improvers. Mornings and evenings.
Art Fundamentals from Thu 15 Oct, £150
Explore adult art
Four smiling adults in aprons around a table of clay at a pottery workshop

Pottery

90-minute wheel tasters, a 6-week beginners' course and clay workshops.
Next Intro to Clay courses: Tue 10 Nov and Wed 18 Nov, 6:30pm · £270
Explore pottery
Children cheering with balloons at a painting birthday party in the studio

Parties

Kids' birthdays, hen parties and adult celebrations – at our studio or yours.
Kids' studio parties from £310 for up to 10
Plan a party
A work team in aprons holding the Christmas baubles they painted at their team event

Corporate events

Team events for building, wellbeing and Christmas – onsite or at your venue. Chosen by the NHS, Lloyds and Cheshire West.
From £40pp + VAT
Get a quote

Coming up next

14Oct · Wed
Acrylic painting of a moonlit pond with lily pads and glowing reflections, from the Wednesday evening acrylic course

Acrylic Painting Level 2

Wednesday evenings from 14 Oct · £155
Find out moreBook
15Oct · Thu
Student acrylic still life of a blue teacup and green apples on an orange background, on an easel

Art Fundamentals (6 weeks)

Thursday evenings from 15 Oct · £150
Find out moreBook
16Oct · Fri
Watercolour landscapes in progress on a Friday morning studio table, with palettes and brushes

Friday Morning Art Studio

Fridays from 16 Oct · 10am · £140 · watercolour & mixed media
Find out moreBook
17Oct · Sat
A clay cupcake pot decorated with sprinkles, made in a children's class

6–10s term 2: Christmas adventure

From Sat 17 Oct · 10am · £110 · currently full – waiting list
Find out moreBook 6–10s term 2
27Oct · Tue
Six spooky Halloween paintings made at Kids’ Art Camp

Kids’ Art Camp (Halloween half-term), ages 6–14

Tue 27 – Fri 30 Oct · 10am–3:30pm · £60 a day · Book all 4 days for £225 (save £15 on 4 × £60)
Find out moreBook a day
10Nov · Tue
An adult student shaping clay on the pottery wheel

An Introduction to Clay (next courses)

Next courses start Tue 10 Nov and Wed 18 Nov, 6:30pm · £270
Find out moreBook the next course – £270
5Dec · Sat
Light-up Christmas canvas of a snowy night sky

Light-up Christmas Canvas, ages 6–10

Saturdays 5, 12 & 19 Dec · 10–11:30am · £65 per course
Find out moreBook
9Dec · Wed
Mini Light-up Christmas Canvas after-school class poster

Mini Light-up Canvas (after school)

Wed 9 & 16 Dec or Thu 10 & 17 Dec · 5–6pm · £40 per course
Find out moreBook

See the full timetable See everything for Christmas

Meet your teachers

Kate Riley

Kate

Founder & qualified art teacher

Ruth

Ruth

Art teacher, PGCE, 20+ years

Isobel Foley

Isobel

Ceramics teacher

What people say

5.0 on Google · 47 reviews

★★★★★
“Brilliant, relaxed and friendly art classes. As an adult: I have not drawn for many years (since school) and I found this so very helpful in getting some confidence to try again. Highly recommended and I will be back for me!”
Amanda C. · Adult classes · Google, Oct 2026
★★★★★
“My daughter did a home ed art trial session yesterday and really enjoyed it. Lovely, small, quiet group. The staff were all really friendly and the art teacher was so calm and great with them all (different ages)… Highly recommend.”
Emma W. · Home education · Google, Sep 2026
★★★★★
“Lovely t-shirt design party for my daughter’s 6th birthday! Kate and the team were really friendly and helpful. Pulled out all the stops to make the party special!”
Kirsty M. · Kids’ party · Google, Aug 2026
★★★★★
“The Art School Chester runs a lovely art club with a great variety of creative projects… The sessions are well organised, and the teachers are friendly and encouraging. It’s been a great way for my child to explore their creativity and try different techniques.”
Suzanne Y. · Kids’ art club · Google, Jul 2026
★★★★★
“This was a really fun way to spend an hour. I’ve always wanted to try a pottery wheel so I jumped at the chance. I will definitely be going back.”
Sarah H. · Pottery wheel · Google, Jun 2026
★★★★★
“Went on the beginner acrylic painting course and it was great… Loads of good references and techniques on display and taught throughout the 6 weeks I was in the lessons.”
George B. · Acrylic course · Google, May 2026
★★★★★
“We had an absolutely wonderful experience at the clay animal mug making workshop. My two children thoroughly enjoyed every part of it and came away so proud of what they created… Highly recommend to anyone looking for a creative, hands-on activity for children (and adults too!)”
Hannah M. · Animal mug workshop · Google, Feb 2026
★★★★★
“I really enjoyed my 6 week course learning with Deb. Class sizes are small which is great for one to one learning. Each week you are able to learn something new to add to your skill set and it’s really enjoyable.”
Katie V. · Pottery course · Google, Nov 2025

Student work

A few recent pieces made by our students – kids, teens and adults – in painting, drawing and clay classes.

Octopus in fine ink line over a blue watercolour wash
Acrylic painting of a yellow swallowtail butterfly on pink echinacea flowers
Hand-built clay Highland cow with a textured shaggy coat
Acrylic painting of a white-crested wave crashing onto rocks
Graphite drawing of a giraffe’s head against a leaf-patterned background
Glazed clay cupcakes with colourful icing and cherries, made by children
Loose watercolour of an orange butterfly with paint splashes
Bright acrylic painting of boats in a sunny harbour with palm trees
Coloured-pencil drawing of a robin perched on a branch
Clay model of a black and white cat with green eyes
Watercolour of pink protea flowers with blue-green leaves
Vivid acrylic landscape of hills and a white farmhouse above orange fields

Find us

1st Floor, Pictura Studios
5 Eastgate Row North, Chester CH1 1LQ

On the Rows, next door to Shrub. Come up the stairs next to the O2 shop.

01244 328 976 · contact@theartschoolchester.co.uk

Visit & contact details

The Tudor-style building on Eastgate Row North