Course Outline

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A question I often ask myself when painting is: What makes an artist unique? I believe the artist’s hand is one of the most personal and individual tools we have, alongside the instincts that guide how we use it. On this course, we will work from a live model, and I will introduce a foundational approach to portrait painting that you can adapt to your own practice. We will explore palette mixing, brushwork, and practical tips and techniques for navigating the challenges of realistic painting. However, rather than following a rigid set of rules, this approach is designed to encourage a deeper engagement with your instincts. After all, our instincts, guided by a method, can lead us to paint in a far more personal and individual way. Throughout the course, I will encourage you to step outside your usual habits and, with guidance, respond instinctively to what you see rather than what you think you see. We will explore mark making, texture, and the expressive possibilities of paint, learning to use them with intention while remaining open to experimentation and discovery. The aim is to develop a way of painting that feels natural to you, allowing your own sensibilities and individuality to emerge within the framework of a broader methodology.

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Artist Bio

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Nicholas Chaundy is a classically trained British artist specialising in portraiture, figurative painting and still life. His practice is grounded in traditional techniques, with a particular focus on 19th-century methods of oil painting and draftsmanship.

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Nicholas began his formal training at Central Saint Martins in London, where he completed a Foundation Diploma in Fine Art. He went on to study Fine Art at Falmouth University in Cornwall, using the three-year programme to rigorously explore historical techniques in drawing and painting, despite having no prior formal instruction.

This period of intensive, self-directed study laid the foundation for his commitment to classical methodologies.

Following graduation, Nicholas established himself as a portrait painter in Bristol before relocating to Florence to study at the renowned Florence Academy of Art. There, he deepened his understanding of academic painting, focusing on portraiture, the human figure and still life. Awarded a scholarship for his work, he completed the Academy’s three-year programme in just over two years.

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After returning to the UK, Nicholas founded and ran his own art school in Bristol while continuing to develop his career as a painter. He was later invited back to the Florence Academy of Art, where he taught for four years.

Today, Nicholas works internationally as a commissioned portrait artist and independent painter.

 

Website nicholaschaundy.com

Instagram @nicholaschaundy

 

Students are also welcome to contact me at anytime for clarification and more info on the course