Create energetic abstract paintings through structure, decision-making and controlled experimentation.

Inspired by Matthew Collings’ BBC programme The Rules of Abstraction, and the work of artists such as Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee, this workshop investigates whether abstraction is ever really ‘anything goes’. Starting with carefully drawn observations of a still life, you will experiment with simplifying these studies into ‘abstract building blocks’ – limited palettes and simple shapes.

You will develop a simple set of rules to work by, such as repeating forms, shifting scale or interrupting patterns. Within these self-imposed constraints, you will spend time creating a sustained oil or acrylic painting, exploring how abstraction balances order, disruption, rhythm and hierarchy.

All core materials and equipment included. Concession rates are available for those in receipt of income-assessed benefits.