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Welcome to Paint School

Lots of exciting short courses in decorative arts including gilding, venetian plastering, paint effects, faux finishes, marbling, woodgraining, tadelakt, furniture and mural painting in London.

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About Paint School

Paint School was established in 2002 by Jo Poulton as part of Jo Poulton Studio, a Decorative effects company est in 1994. Jo has vast experience in the industry, teaches most of the classes herself and absolutely loves passing on and sharing her wealth of knowledge.
Classes are suitable for all levels and are designed to allow students to be able, when they have finished the course, to apply the finishes taught on the course at a professional level. The courses are therefore suitable for those who are already decorative professionals, painters or plasterers and want to improve and extend their repertoire of finishes and up their game, those looking for a career change, interior designers who wish to understand the process so they can specify more creative finishes or those who just want to try out the crafts or wish to decorate their own home using decorative faux finishes, gilding, venetian plaster, paint effects, marbling, woodgraining, tadelakt or any number of other finishes we teach. Everyone will take home a number of sample boards and other items depending on the class to show potential clients.

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Paintschool polished plastering and decorative effects courses

Venetian Plaster

Learn Venetian plastering in the following finishes: Venetian polished plaster, Travertine, Marmorino, Banded Finish , Lime plaster with Riverstone, Polished plaster with metallic highlights.
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Woodgraining

Learn Straight grain, Oak, Mahogany and Walnut, Birdseye maple, Burr walnut effects and also a trompe l’oeil panel.

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Marbling

Learn marbling techniques such as Carrara marble, Egyptian green marble, and Sienna marble before moving onto some advance techniques.

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Gilding

Learn about all the different types of metal leaf, surface prep and application as well as varnishing and antiquing techniques.

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Paint Effects

A 2 day course introducing the world of paint effects by learning about mix & matching colours and glazes as well as basic techniques before moving onto the more advanced effects.
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Beginners Chinoiserie

Learn about creating backgrounds, traditional brushwork techniques, creating transfers and painting a cherry blossom mural in the chinoiserie style.
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Tadelakt

Discover more about the traditional Moroccan waterproof plaster that is growing in popularity across the design world.

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Marbling and stencilling with polished plaster

An advanced course to our Venetian Plaster, learn how to achieve stunning marble effects and stencil designs.
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Mural

An amazing opportunity to come and learn how to paint a mural with international artist, Ross Lewis.
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Book a Course

Private Tuition

Jo offers private tuition in her Chiswick studio subject to availability
please discuss individual requirements.
 

Per person:

Half day: 9am – 12.30pm: £350
 
Full day: 10am -16.00 pm: £450
 

Two persons or couples:

Full day : 10am – 16.00pm: £600
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About the Studio

Situated in a beautiful part of Chiswick, West London, a stones throw from the river Thames our fantastic studio is ,light and airy and has multiple spacious work stations where you can work standing or seated on a work bench. In a nutshell a great creative space you will love and feel comfortable!
There is also a showroom area where you can view lots of different finishes and be inspired!!

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Where We Are

The studio is easy to get to:

Public transport:
0.7m Gunnersbury tube, district line
0.5m Kew Bridge overground
10m Heathrow airport

Driving: There is parking nearby, but contact us for current restrictions and parking options.

Nearest free parking behind Kew Green, not around the Green
7 mins pleasant walk over Kew bridge and along the river to the studio

Just Park: if you go to Just Park there is a drive around the corner you can reserve
for about £3,50 a day, remember you can park free in street at weekends.

Jo Poulton Studios
66 Thames Road
Chiswick
London
W4 3RE

CONTACT US

Places to stay

The studio is situated in a beautiful part of london. If you need a place to stay there are many options in all price brackets nearby. Best to book ahead at certain times of the year as we are near many popular tourist spots including Kew gardens and Syon House so prices can rise at certain times of the year.
Here are a few of the nearest places although of you have a car there are plenty more options
The Coach and Horses

Kew Bridge, TW9 3BH

lovely location and place to stay with private parking
12 mins walk

Travellodge

Kew Bridge, TW8 0BD

usually pretty economical , but area not particularly interesting .
16 mins walk along the river

Premier Inn

Kew Bridge, TW8 0BB

Another economical option,
21 min walk along the river

Posh:

Hilton Syon Park TW8 8JF

if you want to splash out, extend your break and have a car then Hilton Syon
Park may be just up your street.
15 min drive from studio.

Then of course there are the usual Airbnb around so please check on website for nearby affordable options.

What are people saying

Please read the great feedback we are getting off all of our courses

Sonja Dimitrova
Sonja Dimitrova
2021-08-21
I've recently completed a two day course on Polished Plaster with Jo at her lovely studio by the river and I am still overwhelmed by the whole experience. Her amazing personality and great teaching methods made everything even more enjoyable. The sample boards we all produced are unbelievable and some of us were complete beginners. I would highly recommend to anyone to join any of the courses that she has to offer.
Ben Long
Ben Long
2021-07-22
I learned a lot by going on Jo's tadelakt course. She's a knowledgable and cheerful teacher, and I came away feeling confident enough to give it a go, despite never having picked up a trowel before. Thanks Jo!
Mark Woolnough
Mark Woolnough
2021-07-07
Did this course a few weeks ago and it was a brilliant couple of days. Jo is very passionate about her work and takes the time to explain everything in real detail so even after a couple of days you end up really feeling like you've learnt a new skill. The Studio is right next to the river, very laid back and relaxing..stress free basically. Felt totally inspired afterwards to do polished plaster everywhere..a great experience. Thanks to Jo for her patience!
hubert reid
hubert reid
2021-06-01
Course was excellent the tutor Jo was on point we made some lovely sample boards with her guidance good value for money covered all aspects of venison plaster and we were given two tubs of plaster when course had finished to take home loved it
pistolpete Mac
pistolpete Mac
2021-05-22
Jo's passion and enthusiasm let's you instantly you are on the right course. I attended the 2 day paint effects course to add some extra finishes to my business. Jo doesn't hold back on sharing her knowledge and experience. Recommend for anyone wanting to add extra skill sets to there business, or wanting to give there own home a professional look.
Luke Temple
Luke Temple
2021-03-25
I attended the Venetian Plastering course with Jo so I could plaster my own walls at home. Having no experience in was anxious if I would be out of my depth. Immediately Jo's lovely personality shone through. The course felt so homely and was delivered with such passion and care. My home looks great and I'm eternally grateful.
Ryan Jones
Ryan Jones
2020-11-08
I completed The Viero 2 day course and the 2 Day Venetian plaster course with Jo Absolutely loved the courses and will be doing more in the near future. Jo is such a great teacher and makes sure that you get everything you absolutely can out of every aspect of the course, I have since gone on to do lots of sample boards and a couple of Venetian Plaster installs, these courses have broadened my services I provide. If your looking for a thorough, professional and friendly environment to further your skill set then look no further than Paint School.
Christina Cammarota
Christina Cammarota
2020-09-16
I have now completed the Gilding, Venetian Plastering, Wood Graining and Marbling course and have thoroughly enjoyed all of them! Jo has really perfected the course so that you really do get the most out of your time with a concise and detailed explanation, whilst also putting it all into practise. This means for every course you leave with a good variety of samples and notes so that you feel confident in carrying out the discipline when you leave. I am a Scenic Artist working in the Film and TV industry and I'm so glad that I found Jo's course to help improve my skills to a higher level. So worth doing, I couldn't recommend these courses more highly and for every painter or enthusiast it's so worth it! Thanks Jo
Google rating score: 5 of 5, based on 8 reviews.

News/Events

Learning

Learning

Although I have been a decorative artist for many years I am still learning and improving my skills, there are always challenges and creative solutions that need to be found.
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Venetian Plaster

Venetian Plaster

This has to be one of the biggest trends right now. I was very lucky to be introduced to venetian plaster back in the early 1990’s,
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Trends in the industry

Trends in the industry

Having set up my decorative effects company in 1994 I have seen a great deal of changes in the industry, obviously trends but also materials used.
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