Secondary Art Course – Stuart Jarvis
This course is led by Stuart Jarvis, a renowned artist and educator, is designed to captivate and inspire. Stuart is a professional exhibiting and commissioning artist who has been featured on Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Year and will present two exclusive episodes of Sky Arts Masterclass this February 2025, showcasing his mastery in urban landscapes.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for educators teaching subjects where drawing is essential, including design technology, fine art, photography, and textiles at GCSE and A Level. Whether you are an experienced art teacher or seeking to enhance your drawing instruction, this course will refine your approach and improve student outcomes.
What You’ll Gain
With a full understanding of all major awarding body assessment criteria Stuart’s interactive sessions will help you:
- Teach students to record experiences and observations: Learn how to guide students in documenting their surroundings through sketchbooks, observational tasks, and research.
- Use knowledge of other artists to inform student work: Introduce key artists and movements to inspire creativity and critical thinking.
- Support practical skill application: Apply effective feedback and critique methods to help students improve and refine their work.
- Foster communication of creative ideas: Help students present their work effectively through sketchbooks, portfolios, and exhibitions.
By integrating these core principles, Stuart ensures educators leave equipped to nurture creativity, critical thinking, and technical proficiency in their students and help meet academic standards.
Course Dates
Day 1: October 29th 2025, Arcadia British School Dubai
Day 2: October 30th 2025, Arcadia British School Dubai
But don’t just take our word for it!
“Stuart’s masterclass was incredibly inspiring! His techniques for using charcoal brought my art to life.”
Emily Thompson
“A wonderful balance of technical guidance and creative freedom — I learned more in two days than I ever thought possible.”
James Harrington
“Stuart has a unique ability to break down complex concepts like perspective, making them approachable and enjoyable to learn.”
Rachel Patel
Course Outline:
Expect two days of immersive, practical workshops designed to boost teaching skills, confidence, and creative inspiration.
Day 1 Highlights
Morning Session: Exploring Textures and Surfaces in Urban Landscapes
Capture the essence of urban textures using charcoal. Stuart will support the session with contextual references, connecting historical and contemporary examples to practical exercises. Key techniques include:
- Charcoal manipulation for texture and realism
- Subtractive drawing (erasing, blending, and highlighting)
- Expressive representations of urban settings
Objective: Equip teachers with methods to guide students in exploring texture and surface using charcoal and related media.
Afternoon Session: Exploring Perspective in Urban Landscapes Break down linear perspective and teach its classroom application using practical demonstrations. Contextual references to influential works and movements will enhance understanding. Key areas include:
- Understanding vanishing points and horizon lines
- Translating 3D environments to 2D surfaces
- Enhancing depth using tonal variation and light/shadow techniques
Objective: Provide educators with the knowledge and tools to teach perspective drawing, enabling students to confidently depict space and form.
Day 2 Highlights
Morning Session: Dynamic Charcoal Portraits
Explore methods for teaching realistic portraits, supported by references to relevant portrait artists and movements. This session covers:
- Proportion and observation techniques
- Blending and shading with various charcoal types
- Building tonal layers for lifelike depth
Afternoon Activity: Peer critiques and final portrait refinement Refine work with guided feedback and practice conducting critiques that foster improvement. Further discussions will cover awarding body expectations and how to meet their standards.
Objective: Equip educators to teach portrait drawing with an emphasis on observation, accuracy, and expressive shading.
Pricing
£245 – One-day workshop, including lunch and refreshments
£395 – Two-day workshop, including lunch and refreshments
£990 – Two-day workshop for 3-5 teachers from the same school, including lunch and refreshments.
Register your interest
Meet your Trainer: Stuart Jarvis
Stuart Jarvis is a highly acclaimed artist and educator known for his expertise in urban landscapes and dynamic portraits. With a 20-year career leading departments in both maintained and independent school sectors, Stuart combines professional artistry with effective teaching strategies.
His work has been selected for the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) and the Pastel Society (PS) exhibitions for the past three years running. His workshops bridge the gap between technical mastery and creative exploration, empowering educators to inspire their students.
Join us for this transformative course and elevate your teaching of art and design to new heights!
