PORTRAIT PAINTING
Workshop
Learn how to paint accurate, realistic portraits and head studies using colour, light and tone.
This workshop gives you the full experience of developing portrait paintings in a structured, professional setting. You’ll learn how to construct the human face using proportion, symmetry, and accurate placement of features, building a strong foundation for realistic portrait work. You’ll explore key painting techniques including colour mixing, light, and tonal values, developing the skills to create depth, form, and a convincing sense of likeness.
After a short introduction to core painting principles, it’s completely hands-on. From the moment you begin, you’ll be working from photographic references, mixing skin tones and experimenting with brushwork to see how subtle changes impact your results. Working alongside other participants, you’ll share ideas, refine your approach, and receive real-time feedback. By the end, you’ll have completed a developed portrait painting, ready to build on as part of your growing artistic practice.
What You’ll Learn
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Proportion and structure of the human face
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Accurate placement of facial features
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Mixing realistic skin tones
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Understanding light, colour and tonal values
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Brush techniques for depth and form
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Building confidence in portrait painting
Group Size & Format
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Maximum 7/8 people
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Practical and interactive
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Learn by doing, not just watching
What’s Included
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All painting materials provided for participants
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Step-by-step guidance on portrait painting
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Demonstrations of colour mixing and brush techniques
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Workshop slides provided as a PDF for reference
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Note-taking materials provided
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Individual feedback during the session
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Supportive peer feedback throughout
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A completed portrait painting to take home
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A strong foundation to build your skills further
Who It's For?
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Beginners wanting to learn portrait painting for the first time
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Artists looking to refine colour mixing and painting techniques
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Creatives interested in capturing realistic human features
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Anyone wanting to build confidence in painting people
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Aspiring artists exploring portraiture as a skill or career path
Dates, Times & Location
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All Dates are Below
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Duration: [2 hours]
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Location: Whitworth chambers, Northampton
Marco Drillings
Marco Drillings is a Northampton- based painter and draughtsman, originally from Düsseldorf, Germany. He holds a Master’s degree in Fine Art from the University of Northampton and has developed a strong focus on portraiture and the human form.
His work centres on capturing people in real, unfiltered environments, from self-portraits and close acquaintances to individuals encountered in everyday settings such as streets, workplaces, and social venues. This observational approach gives his work a raw, honest quality, grounded in human connection and lived experience.
Alongside his practice, Marco has taught portrait and life drawing courses, bringing a thoughtful and reflective approach to both creating and teaching art. His philosophy, “Painting people allows me to observe myself from a distance,” underpins both his work and his teaching, encouraging participants to explore identity, perception, and expression.
Marco is also actively engaged in community work, delivering art workshops in collaboration with an equality organisation supporting victims of hate crime, using creative practice as a tool for expression, reflection, and empowerment.