Tips & Tutorials
Adding Detail with Fine Liners
Layers of careful looking become storytelling — learn how to define the key elements that give your sketch character and
Learn Urban Sketching, Watercolour & Pen-and-Ink Drawing
Step-by-step art courses and tutorials that help you simplify complex scenes and capture places with expressive line and colour.
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Explore free tutorials and beginner-friendly lessons covering urban sketching, expressive watercolour and pen-and-ink drawing.
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Follow structured step-by-step courses designed to help you simplify scenes, strengthen your drawing and develop confident colour.
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See original paintings and discover the expressive style behind the techniques taught by Mike in his step-by-step courses.
Featured Course
Painting Beddgelert Bridge
A beginner-friendly step-by-step course designed to help you simplify a complex scene into strong shapes, expressive pen work and vibrant watercolour.
• Beginner friendly
• Step-by-step video lessons
• Focus on shape, line and colour
• Learn at your own pace
Latest Tutorials
Tips & Tutorials
Adding Watercolour to the Big Shapes Outline
Apply vibrant colour washes that set the mood and emotion of your sketch, without overworking the paint.
Tips & Tutorials
Adding Tone & Depth with Brush Pens
Use tone and shade to push your sketch from flat to three-dimensional — adding structure and depth with every mark.
Tips & Tutorials
Mixing Watercolours Using a Limited Palette
Simplify your colour choices with a limited palette so your colours always work together and complement each other naturally.
Tips & Tutorials
How to Simplify a Scene Into Big Shapes
Take a complex scene and break it down into its main compositional elements — the foundation of every confident sketch.
Ready to start sketching?
Explore the full range of urban sketching and watercolour courses and start building your own expressive sketching style.