About Us
The Essential School of Painting (ESOP) is an alternative, artist-led Art School based in Wood Green, London, specialising in 1-2 year long and short courses taught by leading contemporary artists. The ESOP offers practically and intellectually rigorous courses with the intention of advancing painting and fine art practice in the 21st Century. Courses are available for all levels of experience.
Established in 2004, by artist Alison Harper and Andrew Wamae, ESOP has over 20 years experience of offering flexible, high quality art education. Our courses range from our Masters level 2 year Advanced Painting course to one year-long advanced and post graduate programmes at BA, Foundation and beginner levels.
For the past six years we have offered Young Artists Scholarships sponsored mainly by the Janet and Andrew Newman Family. We would like to extend this Scholarship scheme and a percentage of the funds raised through his project will go to extend and sustain our Scholarships provision.
ESOP provides excellence in courses both in studio and online; all our classes are taught by practising professional artists. Classes are all small in size and our studio courses are held in our spacious Woodgreen studios. We deliberately keep our classes limited in number to ensure that each student gets a good level of attention with regards to technical guidance and intellectual support for their practice. Simply put our intention is to provide you with opportunities to develop your skills, foster your creativity and imagination and encourage you to move into new territory in your practice with the guidance of expert tutors and a supportive artistic community.
We hold an End of Year Exhibitions for the students on our weekly yearlong courses and we are in the fourth of our two-year masters level course the ESOP Advanced Painting Course. With the help of our tutors the standard of work produced has continued to impress culminating with several of our students appearing and winning prestige awards and participating in various public exhibitions across the country.
Our Tutors:
Our Faculty of 22 incredible tutors are all practicing artists and between them clock up a vast experience of making artwork and teaching at BA and MA, postgrad and Phd levels. We have strong links to Glasgow School of Art and our Advisory Board includes the former Head of Painting at GSA: Dr Sandy Moffat OBE RSA and Dr Sam Ainsley RSA.
Our Students and Alumni:
Our student cohort and alumni come from all walks and stages of life. Many are going to and coming from mainstream art education. We provide a flexible and more affordable alternative by offering a range of levels of courses from beginners to post grad to professional mentoring. You can design your own art education over a short period or several years that fits with your life and responsibilities..Many of our students have been with us for several years starting from beginners classes up to postgraduate level and indeed one of our students who had been with us since 2018 won the Royal Academy Summer Exhibiition Student prize in 2020. Our students wishing to go on to an accredited BA or MA programme have been offered places at the Royal College of Art, ranked number 1 in the world, the Slade and Chelsea Schools of Art amongst others.