Master the Basics, Find Your Style, Develop Your Skills, and Create with Confidence
You want to create art, but where do you begin?
Maybe you've tried online tutorials and struggled to find direction or felt lost when you got stuck on a tricky technique. You don't need to be naturally gifted – you just need clear guidance and a supportive environment where you can learn and improve.
That's what you'll find here: step-by-step lessons that build your skills, guidance on where to start and what to try next, encouraging feedback from experienced artists, and a welcoming community that celebrates every bit of progress.
No more wondering if you're "good enough", just the support you need to build confidence, enjoy making art again, and create work you're proud of.
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Guided by Artists Who Get It
Our tutors have combined over 30 years of experience to create a clear, supportive learning path for both beginners and returning artists. With lessons that guide you forward and a welcoming community that lifts you up, you’ll find the confidence to keep creating.
Everyone’s journey looks a little different, but here’s an idea of what your first month in the Academy might look like. We’ll help you take the first step, but you’re free to learn at your own pace, in the way that works best for you.
Start Your Journey
Sign Up and Say Hello
Create your account, watch the walkthrough video, and take your first look around the Academy. Don’t forget to introduce yourself in our community of learners – we’d love to meet you!
Begin with Clarity
Find Your Starting Point
Take our short introductory survey and we’ll point you to the best place to begin, based on your experience, interests, and creative goals.
Develop Skills
Start Learning
Get started with your first lesson! Once you’ve found your starting point, follow a step-by-step beginner pathway or build skills through our 150+ guided tutorials, all designed to help you make visible progress.
Gain Confidence
Share and Improve
Share your work in a safe, welcoming space and get personalised feedback from mentors and peers. Put that feedback into practice, see your skills improve, and build creative confidence.
Meet Your Tutors
Our artists are here to guide you with easy-to-follow lessons and encouraging feedback.
Steve Simpson
Hannah Thorpe
Paige Webb
Learn the Way That Works for You
Your membership gives you everything you need to grow as an artist, with the flexibility to learn in the way that suits you best.
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Start with the Basics
The Beginner Pathway is our recommended starting point for anyone who wants to learn drawing, colouring, and painting. Begin with graphite and coloured pencils, move on to acrylics and watercolours, and progress all the way to oil paints – or focus on the medium that excites you most. With five introductory courses of 10 lessons each, you'll build essential foundational skills that give you the confidence to keep creatin
Learn anytime, anywhere with our growing collection of 150+ art tutorials. Try new techniques, explore different mediums, and enjoy fresh content added weekly – all at your own pace. Filter by medium, skill level, or subject to find exactly what you want to learn next.
Connect with your Academy tutors in exclusive members-only live sessions. Follow along with demonstrations, ask questions in real time, and learn alongside fellow artists as you tackle new techniques and creative challenges together.
"I've completed the watercolour painting, coloured pencil, and graphite pencil courses so far, plus nearly all of the extra weekly lessons available. I have learnt so much while having fun in the process.
My confidence has grown in watercolour painting, especially in mixing colours and not being afraid to add more colour. The graphite pencil course has helped me develop my line values, shading and shadowing, and two-point perspective. The coloured pencil course has helped me understand layering, blending, and burnishing a lot more, and not to rush my work.
Hannah, Steve, and Paige are all fantastic instructors, making the lessons easy to follow and giving you support and welcome feedback on your work."
This was a subject I asked if you could do, so thank you for this Hannah. Took me a couple of days but I've enjoyed it.
HannahTutor
You did indeed! Hope you found it helpful Dawn. You've done a cracking job! It's very believable and looks silky. Lean on those dark values just a touch more to increase the depth of the deepest folds and it'll be perfect. Beautifully done though Dawn, as per!
DawnAcademy Artist
Thank you Hannah, yes it was very helpful. I've worked on those dark values, I think it looks better now.
HannahTutor
Oh I absolutely agree. Brilliant work Dawn. You've absolutely nailed it. Sometimes you have to almost go bolder than what you can see to make it work as a piece of art. Lovely work. That middle fold is especially good.
Academy Community - Join 15K+ Artists
Where Artists Inspire Each Other
Share your work, get feedback from tutors and peers, and find encouragement from thousands of fellow artists. Our community is here to motivate you, celebrate progress, and help you keep growing as an artist.
Enjoy making progress without pressure. Explore the Academy for 30 days, and if you’re not sure it’s right for you, you’ll get a full refund.
Founders Only: Lifetime Access
Join our founding community and unlock this special rate for a limited time.
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Started with 1000 memberships
ONLY 465 MEMBERSHIPS REMAINING
Choose Your Plan
All plans include 150+ lessons, personal feedback, and a supportive community.
Monthly Membership
£14.99
Flexible – cancel anytime
5 beginner-friendly courses in coloured pencils, graphite, acrylic, watercolour, and oil paint
150+ video lessons with new uploads weekly
Downloadable worksheets and reference images
Exclusive live lessons
Personal feedback from professional artists
Access to a supportive community of fellow learners
Learn at your own pace
Annual Membership
£119.99
Everything in the Monthly Membership, plus:
12 months access for the price of 8 months
Uninterrupted learning – no monthly renewals
BEST VALUE
Lifetime Access Membership
£249.99
Pay once, learn forever
5 beginner-friendly courses in coloured pencils, graphite, acrylic, watercolour, and oil paint
150+ video lessons with new uploads weekly
Downloadable worksheets and reference images
Exclusive live lessons
Personal feedback from professional artists
Access to a supportive community of fellow learners
Learn at your own pace
10% of your membership supports the charity Artolution
Flexible payment with Klarna
Lifetime Plus Membership
£399.99
Everything in Lifetime Access, plus:
Three 1-hour, one-to-one mentoring sessions with our professional artists
Choose the artist who best matches your interests and get tailored support
Ask questions, share your work, and receive personalised advice to help you progress between sessions
Flexible payment with Klarna
Trusted Payment Methods & Plans
A Message from the CEO
Aaron Bolesta
For ten years, Castle Arts has created products used by more than 3.5 million people. Many told us they wanted more than tools. They wanted a clear path to grow as creators. That is why we built Castle Arts Academy.
At its heart, the Academy is about connection. You will connect with your own creativity, with fellow learners, and with a welcoming community that offers clear steps, supportive feedback, and real progress.
That same spirit of connection is why we support Artolution, an international nonprofit that brings people together through collaborative murals. Where we connect people online, they connect communities around the world, using art to spark pride, hope, and belonging.
When you join the Academy, you are creating for yourself and helping others create a brighter future too.
About Artolution
Artolution is an international nonprofit that uses collaborative art to support communities affected by crisis, displacement, and inequality. Local teaching artists lead children, youth, and families in co-creating murals, performances, and digital stories. These programs are trauma-informed, inclusive, and rooted in lived experience, creating safe spaces for resilience, confidence, and belonging.
“This initiative equips students with voice, visibility, and the ability to reimagine their place in society.”
Young artist, Uganda
“I used to stay alone most times, but collaborative projects introduced me to many friends who have become a family to me.”
Student participant, Uganda
“When I was painting, I was not thinking about problems at home. I was just focused and happy.”
FAQs
Please see our frequently asked questions below
What Does “Lifetime” Mean?
Lifetime means the lifetime of Castle Arts Academy. Castle Arts has supported creators for over 10 years. If we ever had to discontinue the Academy, we’ll give fair notice and a remedy, and you’ll still have access to our lesson library for at least 12 months.
How Does the Donation to Artolution Work?
For the Founders Lifetime Launch, Castle Arts Academy will donate 10% of gross revenue (after refunds) to Artolution. This donation comes directly from us; there’s no extra charge added to your order.
We’ll also share updates and impact reports so you can see how your membership is helping support collaborative art projects around the world.
If you’d like to learn more about Artolution’s mission and programs, you can visit www.artolution.org.
Are the Courses for Beginners or More Experienced Artists?
Castle Arts Academy is designed for all skill levels. Every lesson comes with a skill-level guide, from beginner through to medium and hard. When you start learning with us, you’ll follow a clear path that helps you grow step by step, building confidence as you progress from the basics to more challenging techniques.
How Are the Courses Structured?
Our content includes a Beginner Pathway (five full-length courses, each with 10 lessons), a library of on-demand video tutorials, downloadable resources, and live sessions with our Resident Artists. This mix of structured and flexible content means you can learn at your own pace, with as much or as little guidance as you need.
What Type of Mediums Do You Focus On?
We cover a wide range of mediums, including graphite pencil, coloured pencil, watercolour, acrylic, oil, and mixed media – with new lessons and styles added regularly.
How Do Mentoring Sessions Work in Lifetime Plus?
Lifetime Plus subscribers will enjoy three exclusive one-hour, one-to-one sessions with the mentor of their choice, scheduled according to availability. These sessions are for the lifetime of the subscription, offering a unique opportunity to receive personalised guidance.
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