Course details
Would you like to explore colour more deeply? Join Alice Mumford to see how the shifting relationship between light, space and our point of view transforms the colours we see. Come on the journey to translate that understanding into paint.
Begin your exploration of colour and light from the comfort of your home or studio. Using just a few simple objects and the natural light of a sunlit window, you’ll create a series of light scenarios that deepen your understanding of how colour changes with light and the viewer’s perspective.
Throughout the self-paced course, Alice will reference her own paintings and those of artists such as Ken Howard, Winifred Nicholson, Van Gogh, and Bonnard—painters whose work beautifully reveals the many ways light transforms colour.
In her demonstrations, Alice paints from everyday subjects like apples and jugs, arranged near a window, and explains her process and observations as she works. You can recreate Alice’s arrangements or design your own, experimenting with how the direction and quality of light affects colour and depth.
Although Alice teaches in oils, you are welcome to work in acrylics, watercolour, or another medium—just remember that while the colours may differ, the principles of light and your position relative to it remain the same.
How long is the course? The course includes over 4 hours of video footage which is broken down into smaller films. We have structured the course so that the first part is about Colour and Light, and the second part covers Colour and Depth.
Overall, the course contains;
- 11 painting demonstrations where Alice paints and talks as she goes along, describing her process of translating what she is seeing into oil paintings on board
- 7 videos of Alice talking about the use of colour, light and depth in her own and other artists’ paintings
- 4 introductory and setting up videos
We recommend watching each of Alice’s painting demonstrations in full first, listening to Alice’s insights, before setting up your own arrangements to explore these ideas in practice. We have provided reference images for all of Alice’s still life set ups in case you would rather use these to paint from.
By the end of this course, you’ll have had the chance to explore how colour shifts with light and to build confidence in observing what you see. With Alice’s guidance, you can approach your own still lifes and landscapes with fresh curiosity, experimenting with colour, light, and placement to create paintings with atmosphere and subtle nuance, while gradually developing sensitivity, technique, and an appreciation for the visual language of painting.
How Long Will it Take to Complete
How long the course takes to complete will depend on your own schedule and pace. We’ve designed it so you can move through the lessons whenever it suits you. As a general guide, we recommend allowing at least a couple of weeks to work through the demos and exercises, as there’s a substantial amount to explore. You’ll have on-demand access to all content for 365 days after purchase, so you can revisit it as often as you like.
Who is this course for?
This course is ideal for anyone at any stage of their creative journey who wants to explore colour, light, and depth in their work. Through observation, experimentation, and hands-on painting, you’ll discover how the position of light and your own viewpoint can transform a scene.
Guided by Alice, you’ll gain confidence in your approach to painting, learning to capture atmosphere, vibrancy, and subtle nuances while enjoying the process of seeing and creating in new ways.
How long will the course take to complete?
How long the course takes to complete will depend on your own schedule and pace. We’ve designed it so you can move through the lessons whenever it suits you. As a general guide, we recommend allowing at least a couple of weeks to work through the demos and exercises, as there’s a substantial amount to explore. You’ll have on-demand access to all content for 365 days after purchase, so you can revisit it as often as you like.
What will I learn?
1. Understand how your position relative to the light source affects what you see and how you paint it.
2. Observe and interpret subtle variations in tone, hue, and shadow in simple objects like fruit, jugs, and everyday still lifes.
3. Experiment with arranging objects and compositions to see how light direction and intensity influence colour relationships and depth.
4. Build confidence applying these principles in paint and developing a more thoughtful and responsive approach to painting.
5. Develop a better understanding of how referencing the work of other artists can inform your own use of colour, light and depth.
How does an online course work?
Upon purchase, the course will be available to view in your account.
We recommend watching each demonstration in full first, listening to Alice’s insights, before setting up your own arrangements to explore these ideas in practice. We also provide a reference image for each still life set up so you could paint from these to practice from too, if you prefer.
While painting, Alice explains the challenges she encounters and her strategies for addressing them, offering helpful insights to observe and learn from.
You will be invited to join our Facebook Alumni group so you can share your discoveries with fellow students from around the world. You can also share your work live with others on social media using the #schoolofpainting and tagging us @stives painting
You can watch on demand, as often as you like, for up to 365 days after the purchase date. You can watch on a PC, laptop or tablet and if you have chromecast or miracast you could even cast to your SmartTV from your phone.
Taught by
What to Bring
A list of materials will be available to see in your account upon purchase of the course along with any reference material relevant to the course.
nb: Although Alice teaches in oils, you are welcome to work in acrylics, watercolour, or another medium—just remember that while the colours may differ, the principles of light and your position relative to it remain the same. (the materials list will cover the oil colours that Alice uses. If using other mediums then you will have to match colours as close to the listed colours as you can)
You will need access to the internet and ideally a PC, laptop or a tablet with audio.
Timings and Breaks
Watch now at your leisure with plenty of opportunity to watch again as often as you like and let the ideas percolate and the painting begin.
1hr Live Broadcast Interview/Q&A: Early 2026, exact date TBC
You can revisit as often as you like for up to 365 days after purchasing the course.
FAQs
Art Courses
Do you have to be experienced to come to the School?
No prior experience is required to join most of our art courses. The School of Painting is a friendly and welcoming environment for all ages and abilities, including complete beginners.
Our drop-in life drawing classes and short workshops are perfect if you’re trying painting for the first time. Many of our longer courses are also suitable for beginners, as our tutors are experienced in supporting mixed ability groups. If a course requires previous experience, this will be clearly stated on the course page.
Online Art Courses
Do I need a webcam/any equipment?
For our webinar sessions which are broadcast on the internet and no webcam or microphone is needed as you just need to be able to see/hear hosts and you can communicate using the chat function. You can watch using a PC, Smart TV or tablet. A phone isn’t ideal as you will struggle to see enough unless you can miracast to a screen or smart TV.
For the longer online courses on Zoom you will need a laptop or tablet with audio and camera enabled so you can have a screen near where you are working. If you have a PC without camera or speakers, you can purchase a plug and play webcam for approx £25 which connects to a usb port. You will also need reasonable broadband connection and speed.
All the art materials and equipment needed to participate in the course will be listed in full on the online learning platform, for live webinars this will be a minimum of two weeks before the session starts.
I have registered for the webinar but I can't find my joining link
You can access all the resources and joining link for your webinar via our online learning platform. You will need to have set up an account on our online learning platform in advance. You can do this during the checkout process when purchasing your webinar. If you are having trouble accessing your online account, please contact [email protected]. You can use a PC or tablet or even cast from your phone to watch on your Smart TV.
I paid for the session but missed it, how can I watch?
Currently all our online sessions are recorded and you can access the recording on our online learning platform until it expires. Usually 60 days for a webinar, 90 – 180 days for multipart webinars or online courses.
Studio Courses
Can I bring my dog?
The studios are busy places with lots of equipment and not suitable for bringing a pet dog. We can accommodate assistance dogs with prior notice so we can make suitable adjustments. If you wish to bring an assistance dog please call 01736 797180 or email [email protected]
Can you help me choose the right course?
Yes, our friendly and knowledgeable team are always happy to help you choose the best course for your needs, whether you’re a beginner or looking to develop specific skills.
Please call us on 01736 797180 to discuss your options.
How do I get my work home?
Tutors have special techniques for transporting oil paintings and for our 3 day courses we will give you a plastic folder with a handle. These are also available to purchase for £3.50 or do bring a portfolio.
Please note: For the course Bigger, Bolder, Braver with Boo Mallinson, we will provide a large A1 size plastic folder for your work but please consider how you will be able to transport the larger canvases home safely before signing up for the course as we will not be able to store large paintings in the studio. On this course you will be painting on a 50cms x 50cms and a 1m x 1m canvas alongside smaller pieces.
For international students we are happy to arrange transportation of your work back home, postal costs will be borne by you.
What do I need to bring?
Absolutely nothing! All materials and aprons are provided although some people do like to bring their own set of brushes.
What do I do for lunch?
Courses allow an hour’s break for lunch and there are numerous places nearby or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch into the studio.
What times do courses run?
Most of our courses start at 10am and end at 4.30pm on the first day. Subsequent days we start at 9.30am ending at 4pm.
Short workshops start at 10am in the Summer and 9.30am/ 1.30pm during September festival
Booking a Course
How do I reserve a place on a course?
You can book your place online or by calling us on 01736 797180.
If you need time to arrange accommodation, we can hold a provisional booking for 24 hours. To secure your place, a £100 deposit is required, with the remaining balance due 12 weeks before the course start date.
About St Ives
Where can I park near the School?
The nearest long-stay car parks are:
Island Car Park
Barnoon Long Stay Car Park
Both are approximately a 5-minute walk from the School.
During the busy summer months, you may find it easier to park at Trenwith Car Park near the leisure centre and walk into town. A shuttle bus often runs back up the hill from near Tate St Ives.
How do I get to the School of Painting in St Ives?
By train:
The nearest mainline station is St Erth, which is approximately a 15-minute taxi journey away. From there, you can also take the St Ives Bay Line, which runs every 30 minutes. The School is a 10-minute walk from St Ives station.
By car:
Take the M5 to Exeter, then follow the A30 into Cornwall. After passing Hayle, exit at the St Erth roundabout towards St Ives. Continue through Lelant and Carbis Bay into St Ives..
Where can I stay in St Ives?
St Ives offers a wide range of accommodation, including hotels, guest houses, and self-catering options. You can explore options on our website, or contact us directly on 01736 797180 if you’d like personalised recommendations.
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