Unleash Your Inner Artist: Must-Try Workshops in London

In the hustle and bustle of city life and completing our responsibilities towards others and ourselves, we often forget the little joys of life. Amid hours of doom scrolling on our phones, we have pushed our hobbies to the back seat of life, or worse, abandoned them since after school.

Do you remember how fun it was to paint and colour wildly as a child in art and craft class? Trying to make an airplane or a flower out of coloured paper, participating in “best out of waste” competitions, or creating colourful charts for various subjects? Even if you weren’t the most creative child, remember the simple task of covering your schoolbooks with brown sheets?

It was mundane, but it consumed us. There was beauty in those small steps—putting a project together from scratch and dedicating time to it amidst our busy schedules. Though it was a student’s project, entire families would often get involved. From buying last-minute art supplies to printing images, sticking them together, and writing the relevant information, it was an all-consuming process filled with joy. It was like meditation, offering a sense of achievement upon completion.

Whether it was a project, art class, or craft session—sketching, painting, there’s something surreal about colours coming together, your imagination coming to life, or discovering something new in the creative process.

Art is also a form of expression. It can help release pent-up emotions of sadness, guilt, anger, or joy, or serve as an escape from harsh realities. More profoundly, it’s about diving deep within, being in one place, held by the colours, having your canvas all to yourself. And the best part? Not every piece has to be a masterpiece or shared with the world; some things can be just for you.

Spending an evening with loved ones, consumed by the creative process, reliving bits of childhood, letting the inner child live again—playing with colours and materials, letting curiosity guide you—is a beautiful experience. Workshops are the best solution when you can’t commit to a weekly art class as an adult.

London offers a variety of art workshops that will stimulate your creative side in unique ways. Here are a few classes I’ve attended in London, each a unique and enjoyable experience. Here’s my list:

# Kintsugi Class in London with Brandon Le

Concept of the Class: The first workshop I attended in London was a Kintsugi class with a friend, held by Brandon Le. Kintsugi is a Japanese art form that celebrates the beauty of imperfection by putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold. Brandon was very friendly, as were the other attendees—some were first-timers, and some were return students. Brandon explained that Kintsugi involves embracing the cracks in pottery to produce a beautiful piece of art.

What to Expect: We were provided with all the supplies. First, we were given a pot to break slightly with a hammer and drill, needing only a few pieces. We had the option to choose between plates and bowls. The next step was to make the gold solution by mixing metal pieces with epoxy resin and then applying it to the broken pieces to put them back together. This process created an imperfectly perfect piece of art. I hadn’t expected to use a drill or hammer in an art class, and the sense of accomplishment I felt while taking home my bowl, with gold lines running through it, was immense.

Takeaway: After this workshop, I took home not just a piece of Japanese culture but also a reminder that when you are put back together after breaking, you shine brighter and stand out more than before. Flaws should be accepted and celebrated; that’s how we learn in life. “To err is human.”

Booking Platform:  I booked the class through Eventbrite, and they still run workshops across various locations in London. Here are the links:

1. Eventbrite Kintsugi Class for Beginners – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kintsugi-class-for-beginners-tickets-450861868987
2. Brandon Le on Eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/brandon-le-5651431053                      

#Sip and Paint in Spitalfields Market

Concept of the Class: On my birthday, I attended a ‘Sip and Paint’ workshop in Spitalfields Market. This fun activity allowed me to relive my childhood by diving into the world of painting. Art Play London hosts studio classes in bars or coffee places, with optional add-ons for food. There were plenty of refreshments to start the day.

What to Expect:  We were given all our art supplies, including a canvas and paints to choose from. The art teacher guided us through the class, which was well-paced with sufficient breaks. We followed the drawing of the day and had the creative freedom to add our own touches. The two-hour class was just as described—sip and paint.

Takeaway: It was fun meeting like-minded people and indulging in the activity. Painting and shading the canvas left me feeling like a happy child. The class was inclusive, with participants ranging from young adults to seniors. I wanted a peaceful birthday, and this was a great start. It felt therapeutic, and I highly recommend it for easing into art workshops. Yes, you can take your painting home.

Booking Platform:

1. Class Bento: Sip and Paint Class London – https://classbento.co.uk/sip-and-paint-class-london-2
2. Art Play London – https://www.artplaylondon.com/book-online

#The Studio Art Café

Concept of the Class: Most recently, I attended two back-to-back classes at The Studio Art Café, which included a fluid bear session and a tote bag decoration session. The vibe of the class was EVERYTHING! The hosts were sweet, warm, and welcoming. They offered drinks and snacks accompanied by a live DJ. I spent approximately three hours in the class, and the time flew by.

What to Expect: The class started with the tote bag decoration session. We chose from a variety of designs, reflecting our personalities. We then painted using sponge brushes and decorated the bags with coloured beads. After leaving the bags to dry, we switched to the fluid bear segment, where we selected the size of our bears, placed them in trays, chose three colours, and poured the paint over the bears in a satisfying process.

Takeaway: The fluid bear session was the highlight of my evening. Playing with fluid art, meeting like-minded individuals, and exploring a new form of art was peaceful and fulfilling. The hosts were accommodating, and the art director was patient with all the students.

Booking Platform:

1. Studio Art Café: Creative Sessions – https://studioartcafe.co.uk/pages/creative-sessions

I highly recommend everyone to try an art workshop and occasionally visit a nearby art studio to heal your inner child and appreciate the small things in life. If you attend these workshops, please share your experiences in the comments below. What do you think about taking occasional breaks to do something just for yourself? Thank you!

Videos from classes: