London contains the highest concentration of people working in the creative and cultural sectors in the UK, making Waltham Forest perfectly situated to help you start a new career in these industries. We provide a range of specially equipped studios for printmaking, painting, photography, fashion, textiles, computer graphics, mixed media design and ceramics sculpture.
Our exciting range of courses and workshops are suitable for people of all abilities and are designed to inspire you and develop your skills.
If you’re on a low wage or receiving certain benefits, you may qualify for a 100% or 70% discount off the price of our courses.
Speak to a member of our team to find out if you are eligible.
Our accredited creative courses allow you to blend your creativity with the opportunity to gain valuable qualifications. Explore a range of courses designed to ignite your imagination and equip you with tangible skills. Our accredited programmes offer the perfect blend of hands-on learning and recognised qualifications, ensuring that your creative journey is not only enjoyable but also leads to tangible achievements opening doors to new opportunities.
- Fashion - NCFE Level 1 Award in Creative Craft
- Fashion - NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Creative Craft
- Art and Design - NCFE Level 2 Certificate
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Millinery refers to the craft of designing, making, and selling hats, particularly women's hats. Millinry often involves using various materials such as felt, straw, fabric, and feathers to fashion elaborate or simple designs. Millinery can encompass a wide range of styles, from elegant and formal to casual and whimsical and has been an important aspect of fashion throughout history.
- Millinery - Create a Fashionable Fascinator - Workshop
- Millinery - Create a Felt Hairband - Workshop
- Millinery - Create a colourful Headpiece - Workshop
- Millinery - Create a Felt Hat - Full Course
- Millinery - Create a Sinamay Straw Hat - Full Course
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Have fun exploring the possibilities of working with clay. From ceramic beginners to improvers including jewellery making, we have a range of exciting courses. You maybe new to ceramics or refreshing your existing skills. We also offer a studio space to explore your individual self-directed projects.
- Ceramics - Taster Sessions (Free)
- Ceramics - Beginners
- Ceramics - Intermediate
- Ceramics - Handbuilding
- Ceramics - Jewellery Making
- Ceramics - Ceramics Inspired by Nature
- Ceramics - Masterclass
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We offer a range of creative drawing courses to suit all abilities from beginners to more experienced learners. Our lecturers are specialised and experienced at delivering courses that enhance the experience and enable you to progress.
- Drawing - Tester Sessions (Free)
- Drawing - Charcoal and Pastels
- Drawing - Still Life
- Drawing - Inspired by Nature
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Our painting courses range from basic skills in Painting where you are guided through initial composition to line, tone colour and texture techniques to more specific oil, watercolour and Inks. We will enable you to explore impasto, glaze, and layering. We will also introduce you to a range of artists to enhance your learning experience.
- Painting - Tester Sessions (Free)
- Painting - Watercolours.
- Painting - Watercolour Landscapes (On Location)
- Painting - Watercolours for all
- Painting - Oil Painting - Beginners
- Painting - Oil Painting - Improvers
- Painting - Oil Painting - Landscapes
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Explore the possibilities that printmaking can offer. You will be introduced to the materials, the different techniques and processes to develop your own unique designs ideas. From Monoprints, to drypoint, woodcuts, stencil printing and lino cutting courses. Produce a variety of hand printed outcomes such as original prints and cards.
- Printmaking - Tester Sessions (Free)
- Printmaking - Drypoint and Monoprinting
- Printmaking - Using Stencils and Lino
- Printmaking - Wood Engraving
- Printmaking - Personal Projects
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Capture the world through your lens and unlock the secrets of storytelling through photography with our immersive classes. Whether you're an aspiring photographer eager to learn the fundamentals or a seasoned shutterbug seeking to refine your techniques, our classes cater to all skill levels.
- Photography - Introduction
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Learning to sew or to develop craft skills can open up a completely new world of opportunities.
Sewing is a versatile skill, as it's challenging, therapeutic and useful all at the same time.
We have a range of courses to suit all abilities and levels of experience, from absolute beginners to Level 1 and Level 2. These courses could progress you to employment, or further learning.
- Textiles - Taster Sessions (Free)
- Textiles – Repairs, Alterations and Upcycling
- Textiles - Punch Needle Craft
- Textiles – Working with Felt
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Sewing is an adaptable craft, offering both a challenge and a therapeutic escape, while also being incredibly practical. Waltham Forest Adult Learning Service currently offer a range of beginner and intermetiate classes.
- Sewing – Hand Embroidery (Taster Session)
- Sewing – Introduction to using the Sewing Machine
- Sewing – Textile Fabrics
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Transform pieces of furniture with a variety of traditional and modern upholstery techniques. Learn skills to use upholstery tools and materials through working on personal projects. From stripping down to finishing trims, you will enjoy working with form, textures and colours to create desirable pieces of furniture.
- Upholstery - Introduction to Traditional Upholstery
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Learn basic skills to manipulate different small shapes and forms in clay and use a range of recycled materials to create bespoke wearable jewellery.
- Jewellery Making – Using Polymer Clay - Taster Session (Free)
- Jewellery Making – Using Polymer Clay
- Jewellery Making – Using Felt
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Click on the button below to explore the available courses
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