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Alice Mumford
“The school of painting is an oasis; a place to share ideas, enthusiasm and adventures into painting. Teaching has helped me to translate my thoughts and reflections about art into practical courses. In doing this I have learnt so much and shared in that adventure. It’s an opportunity to pass on the wonderful sense of being part of a bigger ‘family’ of painters.”
“Alice’s paintings are characterised by lively and immediate surfaces. Vibrant colour is balanced and composition considered, but not forced. Strong abstract qualities within the negative space suggest intrigue. Soft edges shimmer, yet the object remains defined
and tactile. The works have a dreamlike, almost ghostly quality to them as they evoke a connection with memories and past lives. The feeling of a moment interrupted.”
– Richard Selby, Director, The Redfern Gallery
Have a look at her series of inspirational videos HERE
What our students say
Alice is an inspirational teacher. She gave us solid practical advice, and a good demonstration. She was encouraging and although my painting must have been the worst she did not make me feel despondent – quite the opposite! I like the smallish group and the amazing space to work in.
This course was wonderful. It was well planned and structured, with a step by step approach, clear progression each day, enabling us all to achieve our very best. Alice is a great teacher, she is positive and finds constructive comments for each individual in the group, all at our different levels, and her enthusiasm and commitment are real motivating forces in the group. She worked as hard was we did, and while that might have felt intense, there were moments of laughter and shared enjoyment of our learning – and I learned so much.
Alice is an inspirational teacher. She gave us solid practical advice, and a good demonstration. She was encouraging and although my painting must have been the worst she did not make me feel despondent – quite the opposite! I like the smallish group and the amazing space to work in.
This course was wonderful. It was well planned and structured, with a step by step approach, clear progression each day, enabling us all to achieve our very best. Alice is a great teacher, she is positive and finds constructive comments for each individual in the group, all at our different levels, and her enthusiasm and commitment are real motivating forces in the group. She worked as hard was we did, and while that might have felt intense, there were moments of laughter and shared enjoyment of our learning – and I learned so much.
To have the focus and guidance of a fabulous tutor who is also a lovely painter was great. A privilege to meet Alice Mumford and lovely staff and inspiring environment.
What a fantastic session – one I would definitely like to try again. Thank you Alice Mumford, Jo and Treve for a very inspired session!
Excellent session. Thank you so much Alice and Eleanor for your honesty and sharing such personal details of your own and the women in your family’s experience of being artists.
Alice is super. Her enthusiasm, energy and inspiring words and voice….l’ll certainly do another course with her!
What a great session. Thank you Alice and the team.
Alice is a wonderful teacher. She is so generous with her knowledge and insights and was a great privilege to spend three days with her. She was instructive, interesting and very encouraging. She worked us hard over three days and the result was an astonishing collection of work from all participants.
More than! It was inspirational, informative and very enjoyable. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. It was also exceedingly well organised.
Alice was informative, engaging, and the environment was inspiring. The course was pacy and absorbing in equal measure. It was brilliant.
Alice is an exceptional teacher and brings out the absolute best from all her students. Coming to the school is always a joy.
Alice is a talented painter and teacher. She’s enthusiastic and generous with her knowledge. We all learned a lot.
The building, the views, the excellent organisation, Alice’s expert teaching, the other members of the group – everything really.
I looked forward to the lessons each week. I also enjoyed that Alice illustrates the points with her own art work, including real-time demonstrations, as well as showing examples from other artists . I really learnt a lot from her.
I always enjoy Alice’s presentations, she got a lovely warm and natural way about her. The content for each topic was generous and and well given. Inspiring and insightful overall. The course has been very helpful and I’m using what I learnt in my own paintings. I feel it’s improved my artwork.
This class was something I looked forward to each week and it never disappointed. When the summer’s over and the nights are long, I will definitely take this course all over again before it expires.
Firstly Alice’s natural, entertaining, thoughtful and enthusiastic presentation. This made it one of the best on line courses I have ever watched. The wide scope of material made it so educational for me – now in my 70’s and having not ever studied art. It encouraged me to learn more and to think about composition in new ways. So helpful.
I just loved it.
All of it!
1. Alice taking us through artworks in search of composition approaches she wished to highlight each week
2. Demonstrating her thoughts using paper/paint
3. I loved when she brought her own work in, showing how she might solve a particular composition challenge she saw in her painting
4. So helpful to have an “assignment” each week to apply a lesson
5. I loved Alice’s engaging lessons and appreciate her generosity as a tutor
Just to say how much I have enjoyed the Saturday Live sessions. Each one has led me into new ideas for how to work. They are so worthwhile and greatly appreciated.
I found this talk fascinating, reassuring and extremely helpful. I loved the concepts of composting, life shaping and creating worlds.
I have missed life drawing so much in lockdown and your class was just an excellent way of re-connecting!
I learnt so much to take forward. Alice is a wonderful teacher and I loved every minute.
Courses with Alice Mumford
Bonnard + the Electric Light
Online Pre-recorded - Oil
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000ITTRt
Active Instance: a024J00000CRz2MQAT, 01-Sep-2026
Take a journey with artist Alice Mumford to explore the intimately lit domestic spaces of Bonnard's paintings. Learn how to capture the warm diffused light of Bonnard's tabletop settings and see how he captured the poetry of everyday life as it played out in living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms.
| £55 | Book |
Figure - Inspired by Matisse
Online Pre-recorded - Drawing - Figure
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000BqUbr
Active Instance: a024J000008QN2MQAW, 01-Sep-2026
Join us and enjoy a recording of our wonderful two hour online figure class inspired by the work of artist Henri Matisse looking at energetic line, pattern and form.
| £30 | Book |
Figure - Matisse Part 2
Online Pre-recorded - Drawing - Figure
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000FGzTK
Active Instance: a024J00000CkZAWQA3, 01-Sep-2026
Join us for the second part in this online figure class inspired by the work of artist Henri Matisse. Extending from the last session, this time we'll be adding rich colour to Matisse's lively compositions.
| £30 | Book |
Inside Outside
Art Courses - Oil - Still Life
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00w000000bCVjT
Active Instance: a02Nz000009BiTZIA0, 10-Feb-2025
Artists are fascinated with using windows in their paintings to frame, open and contrast. Paint from a still life with views of town and sea from the studio windows.
| 10 - 12 Feb 2025 - 3 days - £645 | Last 2 places | Book |
Introduction to Matisse - Pattern + Illusion
Online Pre-recorded - Oil - Still Life
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000Fzcu4
Active Instance: a024J00000B1tRIQAZ, 01-Sep-2026
In this 2 part course led by artist Alice Mumford, learn how Matisse used pattern to create the illusion of three dimensions and immerse yourself in the joy of looking and painting in oils.
| £55 | Book |
Postcards from St Ives - Christopher Wood
Online Pre-recorded - Oil - Landscape
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000K4o2U
Active Instance: a024J00000CS8XDQA1, 01-Sep-2026
Join artist Alice Mumford as she explores Christopher Wood's quest for a lyrical way of describing the world through line and rhythm.
| £30 | Book |
Silver Light
Art Courses - Oil - Still Life
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00w000000bCUrN
Active Instance: a02Nz000009Bo62IAC, 03-Nov-2025
Working from still life, explore Scottish artist Anne Redpath's mastery of light and use of different greys, enlivened by jewel like notes of colour, to produce paintings of unexpected vitality.
| 3 - 5 Nov 2025 - 3 days - £645 | Book |
Unpicking Paintings (rec)
Online Pre-recorded - Mixed Media - 10 week course
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000Fnjl1
Active Instance: a02Nz000008ElYkIAK, 01-Jul-2026
Do you sometimes wonder why a composition works in some paintings and not so well in others? Join Alice Mumford to investigate the common themes that underpin paintings from different eras in Western Art and how this can help your work.
| £195 | Book |
Alice Mumford
Stories
Thinking Allowed with Alice Mumford
We invited artist and St Ives School of Painting tutor, Alice Mumford, onto a free interactive webinar where she grappled with some of the key burning questions for artists. Is Competition Good for Creativity? Discussion led by Alice Mumford Picasso and Braque forged a relationship that was part intimate friendship, part rivalry. The two artists...
Bonnard The Revolutionary with Alice Mumford
Join Alice in our studio, as she takes her students on a gallop through the history of art, to demonstrate what a revolutionary Bonnard was. Part One Part Two Part Three