STIRLINGSHIRE’S highly-regarded art school art4you gathers up its paint brushes and easels this month as it moves to a new home in the grounds of the Oakwood Garden Centre near Killearn on the edge of the Loch Lomond National Park.

Set up by Glasgow School of Art fine art graduate Ewen Duncan and his wife Claudia just under ten years ago, art4you started as an evening class in a local school before quickly expanding to offer regular art classes at Ballochruin Farm near Balfron Station in 2011.

Now, the couple are preparing art4you’s latest canvas at Oakwood which will double their studio space allowing for a range of new classes and will create a permanent gallery to exhibit students’ work as well as pieces by established artists.

Currently, the school hosts 15 two-hour courses a week in a range of fine art subjects from drawing and painting to calligraphy and sculpture. The school also hosts weekend courses half a dozen times through the year and also runs a week-long holiday art course once a year.

All levels of experience are welcomed, from total beginners picking up a pencil for the first time to people who are rekindling their love of art and professional artists looking to refine their practice.

The new studio will allow for the addition of new classes, including ceramic, pottery and printmaking.

art4you Scotland co-founder, Ewen Duncan, said: “We’ve had an amazing few years at Ballochruin Farm and have seen many, many students discover their talent and embrace creativity.

“We’re bursting at the seams, though, and being able to move to our new home at Oakwood will mean we’ll be able to do so much more: extra space, better light and more classes. There’s a new kiln going in which will be wonderful to be able to offer pottery and ceramic tuition and we’ve now got room for a press which means we can do printing work too.

“We’ll have permanent exhibition space as well which is incredibly exciting – being able to really show off what the students are doing, as well as guest artists. The key to what we’re doing is that art and the creative process should be fun. People wouldn’t come back if they didn’t enjoy what we do and people come back time and time again.

“Whatever the level of experience, we welcome everyone as we believe that we are all creative and can all make art.”

The teaching team is led by Ewen who followed up his painting and print making training at Glasgow School of Art with post-graduate studies in New York and subsequently worked in TV and film set design.

Frances Douglas, studied art & design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Edinburgh College of Art and has worked professionally as an artist and tutor for over 20 years. Frances’ main passion is watercolour.

Lorna MacKay, a ceramics expert, studied art and design at Loughborough Art College, Staffordshire University and Birmingham Institute of Art & Design and has been a practising artist and teacher for more than 20 years.

Classes will also be delivered by a range of visiting artists specialising in different fields.

art4you’s new home at Oakwood will open with a free exhibition of work by former and current students as well as tutors and local artists. All items will be available for sale and the exhibition will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 20 and Sunday October 21.

Classes commence at the new studio in the week beginning 29 October. For more information about art4you and the classes on offer, visit www.art4youscotland.co.uk.