Accomodation and other Info
Our Studio
In 2021 Scenic Painters moved out of Surrey to Gloucestershire. Our studio is in Wickwar, a village a few miles north east of Bristol. The studio is about 950 square feet, and gives plenty of space to teach six students. The space forms part of an old ceramics factory which is now home to a number of businesses including a props company and cabinet makers workshop.
The Village
Wickwar is a village of about 2000 people situated between the small Gloucestershire towns of Yate and Wotton Under Edge. The village has a coffee shop and a village pub.
Wotton Under Edge has shops and cafes, restaurants and a small arts centre. The area is great for walking with fine views across the Severn valley.
Wotton Under Edge has shops and cafes, restaurants and a small arts centre. The area is great for walking with fine views across the Severn valley.
Local Accommodation
Weaver's Cottage in Wotton. A room in a cottage in Wotton under Edge.This B and B has received very good feedback from our students and is reasonably priced. You'll need a car to get from here to Wickwar.
The Old Stables Guest House is in Wickwar a short walk from the studio and near the pub and cafe.
Granary Cottages are a group of converted farm buildings near Wickwar. Would best suit students with their own transport but we have had students stay here without, as you can walk to the Wotton to Yate bus stop. It's also an easy bike ride and the hosts have a bike shed you can use. There is a range of accommodation on offer and good rates for our students on longer courses.
The Shepherds Hut is in Inglestone Common, two miles down a winding lane from Wickwar. It has a gas ring, solar lights and USB charger and a wood burning stove. Unless you are a hardy camper this might not be the best option for the depths of winter but a very peaceful and lower cost option for the rest of the year, if you have your own transport. Bathroom in the nearby house. Call or email Ann for more info
There are a number of other B and B's on offer in nearby villages. Visit airbnb for more info.
Reviews
Click on a year to find reviews from students who have taken our courses.
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
"I feel this course has given me a really good understanding of what to expect from the world of scenic art. James provides great insight not only into the technical aspects, but also into the business side of the industry."
Rebecca McDowell 2009
Rebecca McDowell 2009
"I found the course extremely productive and hugely enjoyable. James and his staff offered a level of technical support far greater than i expected. The knowledge they shared with us regarding scenic art processes and finishes combined with their insight and contacts in the industry, has put me in good stead to go forward as a scenic artist."
William Bianchi 2010
"Considering so much was condensed into such a short amount of time; I believe this course far exceeded any academic course I have studied in recent years."
Elaura Chuter 2010
William Bianchi 2010
"Considering so much was condensed into such a short amount of time; I believe this course far exceeded any academic course I have studied in recent years."
Elaura Chuter 2010
The DAP Scenic Art course was just what I was looking for, it was very thorough, 100% practical and jammed full of valuable technical effects. It has been great to train with James, he's a very approachable teacher and knows his stuff. I found the course really useful and have been busy using what we learned.
Hazel Fearnley 2011
Hazel Fearnley 2011
I absolutely loved it. I came away with a huge amount of knowledge around the principles of scene painting and scenic art and more importantly I felt as if I could go out there and look for work at the end of it.
Holly Cameron 2012
I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to find out more about the core principles of a Scenic Artist’s work. The first week was brilliant, packed full of techniques that are always asked for in this job. The second week I found challenging, but was also a good and very rewarding week. I had never worked on cloth before and was interested to learn about how to scale up, prime and how to make marks.
The advice and help with the preparation of CV’s, portfolios, and websites was invaluable. I can honestly say the course was brilliant and a lot more then I had hoped for or expected.
Caroline Weaver 2012
Holly Cameron 2012
I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to find out more about the core principles of a Scenic Artist’s work. The first week was brilliant, packed full of techniques that are always asked for in this job. The second week I found challenging, but was also a good and very rewarding week. I had never worked on cloth before and was interested to learn about how to scale up, prime and how to make marks.
The advice and help with the preparation of CV’s, portfolios, and websites was invaluable. I can honestly say the course was brilliant and a lot more then I had hoped for or expected.
Caroline Weaver 2012
The DAP Scenic Art Course was recommended to me by a friend who took part last year. I was already sure that it would be a good idea for me to do it too, but did not realise just how many different scenic effects and techniques we would cover, with such excellent teaching and support from James. I was really impressed that he included help with CV writing, as well as tips on approaching employers and general advise about starting out in the industry. I have a new confidence now to go looking for work and will in turn encourage anyone with an interest in scenic art to enrol
Ed Gifford 2013
The DAP scenic painting course really has proved to be an amazing investment. I went in with no knowledge of the industry, let alone any technical knowhow, and after an action packed, fully practical two weeks, emerged with much better chances of starting a career as a scenic painter. Not only does James teach loads of really useful painting processes, but offers constant advice and insight about the other sides to the business, such as who to approach for work, and how to present yourself professionally. The advice he gave on CV writing, portfolios and websites was invaluable, as is his continued support, long after the course has ended.
Charlotte Bownass 2013
Ed Gifford 2013
The DAP scenic painting course really has proved to be an amazing investment. I went in with no knowledge of the industry, let alone any technical knowhow, and after an action packed, fully practical two weeks, emerged with much better chances of starting a career as a scenic painter. Not only does James teach loads of really useful painting processes, but offers constant advice and insight about the other sides to the business, such as who to approach for work, and how to present yourself professionally. The advice he gave on CV writing, portfolios and websites was invaluable, as is his continued support, long after the course has ended.
Charlotte Bownass 2013
I've just completed James Rowse's Scenic Painters course and it was absolutely worth doing -I recommend it to everyone who is considering finding out more about the profession. Without overwhelming, James packs a huge amount of information about working in the industry into the two weeks and teaches a vast amount of techniques. He demystifies everything from working processes, to applying for jobs and finding work, in an informative and matter of fact way -so it all seems more manageable and obtainable. You really benefit from James' own experience in the industry. He wants to impart as much useful knowledge as possible and has clearly thought a lot about the structure of the course, and getting across what the work will really entail. I thought the way he broke it down for us was brilliant. We covered a huge amount -which was ideal, because you learn a mental library of techniques to refer to. You can then start to build upon that and work out options for putting them to use with anything that is then thrown at you. Its a great way to find out whether you would want to pursue this line of work further, but most importantly, James gives you the tools you need to start thinking like a scenic painter. The variety of techniques he demonstrates, as well as working discussions, prepare you to enter the industry with a great working understanding of how to approach each job.
Selina Moore 2014
Selina Moore 2014
I would 100% recommend these courses. The courses teach you the skills and techniques you will use day to day as a scenic. I have completed all the courses, over a few months. After not having any other scenic training at uni and only having done a bit of relevant work experience, with these courses, I have managed to get work at places such as Set up scenery and Belgrade production services. James who runs the courses is well known by many in the industry, and I feel doing his courses can really impress employers.
Milly Dagnell 2015
Milly Dagnell 2015
'I definitely recommend the Scenic Painting courses at DAP studio, James gives you brilliant teaching, advice and support. I originally studied Illustration at Uni, so have a creative background but had no experience or knowledge of the scenic painting industry.
I did all the weekend courses and a cloth painting week, which was perfect for me to fit in around work. We covered loads of different painting processes and effects, but also learnt loads about the industry. James' experience is invaluable, he is always giving advice on how to get work, who to contact, where to buy brushes, how to write your CV and its all tailored to each persons needs. I finished the courses with lots of photos to start my portfolio, a lot more knowledge and confidence, ready to apply for work as a scenic painter.'
Claire Burns 2016
I did all the weekend courses and a cloth painting week, which was perfect for me to fit in around work. We covered loads of different painting processes and effects, but also learnt loads about the industry. James' experience is invaluable, he is always giving advice on how to get work, who to contact, where to buy brushes, how to write your CV and its all tailored to each persons needs. I finished the courses with lots of photos to start my portfolio, a lot more knowledge and confidence, ready to apply for work as a scenic painter.'
Claire Burns 2016
I took several workshops with James. He is very knowledgeable and shares his information with all his students. With each workshop you learn in detail different techniques to achieve different effects. It is a very fast paced course so you have to be prepared to give your all. I highly recommend his courses to anyone who want to enter in the scenic art world, wants to reinforce previous knowledge or just want to learn more about this amazing profession.
Natalia Vieytes 2016
I've done 4 courses so far with James, and got another booked in. Been really enjoying the courses and found James a wealth of information, and very friendly and open about everything. He really takes things at your speed to make sure you are getting the most out of it. The classes are small and so he can devote a good deal of attention to everyone.
I've been working as a freelance Set Builder for nearly 10 years now, mostly working on photo shoots, and wanted to develop more skills in textural effects. I really have learnt a lot from these courses and have begun getting much more work using these new skills as a result.
I would definitely recommend these to anyone considering work in this industry.
Matt McManus 2016
I did a lot of research before I booked; I had been doing a variety of creative industry courses to broaden my skill-set. I wanted to be at a level which I would feel comfortable entering this world of work and I needed to add 'scenic painting/art' to that list. Some courses were only a week (and looked very basic) or were full-time year long courses which I couldn't afford for time and money, but the choice here was perfect for me.
I was really drawn to the variety of effects on the curriculum, i.e: not just one type of brick and one type of metal, but a huge range. With cloths and distressing on top, everything felt covered. Personally I loved transforming piles of MDF or Vac-form into: textured brick walls; distressed wood; rusty metal and ageing interiors - they are wonderful techniques of fakery!
It is very fast-paced so you get a lot done, and you have to keep track of what's-in-which-bucket as by the end of the day it is quite a mish-mash collection! However you're provided with very detailed 'how-to' notes and written advice to refer back to, which is a fantastic resource, and allows you to just focus on the demo's and your work.
The real extra bonus in this course, which I didn't know before I booked, was how geared it is into getting students into work. There is a lot of focus on your approach to employers who they are and where to find them. It was really useful having James' perspective guide us with CV, letters, approach and general advice about the type of companies you could work for; it really does boost your confidence which is important when you are just starting out.
During the cloth weeks we worked with an experienced theatre designer and were also introduced to one of Scenic Painters alumni who has started his own scenery painting business. They were both fascinating to listen to and really shone a light on working in the industry. From these meetings I got my first couple of jobs!
I loved this course, and highly recommend it as it's not just about teaching you 'how to paint or draw,’ it goes above and beyond.
Charlii Banks
James is an excellent teacher and generously shares his extensive knowledge of theatrical scenic paint techniques ie wood, metal and stone, as well as teaching cloth painting (on the floor and on a frame), making sure he also challenged us all, on the 5 week intensive!. He is committed to helping his students find work in the industry, so also advises on CV's, making helpful suggestions regarding places to send them to, with a view to finding interesting and rewarding work. Thanks James.
Georgia Wisbey
Georgia Wisbey
I decided to quit my job to pursue my love for Scenic Painting, James' course was a great place to start as it gave me the knowledge I needed to begin my new career. The 5 week course is packed full of different techniques and processes which really helped to boost my confidence and taught me so much. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in Scenic Art, whether they're a beginner or more experienced, James is a wonderful tutor and a great laugh!
Iona Howard
"The five week scenic painting course with James Rowse at DAP Studios was an amazing experience which has given me the skills and confidence to go into a career in scenic painting. James is an incredible and patient teacher who is easy to be around and brilliant at explaining more difficult skills to master. The studio itself is the perfect size for five people and has all the tools and materials you could need. Overall it was brilliant value for money, fantastic teaching and i would recommend to anyone looking to push forward into a career as a scenic artist!"
Carys Jones
Iona Howard
"The five week scenic painting course with James Rowse at DAP Studios was an amazing experience which has given me the skills and confidence to go into a career in scenic painting. James is an incredible and patient teacher who is easy to be around and brilliant at explaining more difficult skills to master. The studio itself is the perfect size for five people and has all the tools and materials you could need. Overall it was brilliant value for money, fantastic teaching and i would recommend to anyone looking to push forward into a career as a scenic artist!"
Carys Jones
Having been to university and taken another college course, I can honestly say I’ve never felt so engaged as I was in the Scenic Painters class. The amount of information to take in during the 5 weeks is overwhelming, however it has been enriching and inspiring and has given me a real push since returning to work. I left the course feeling confident and excited to make my own samples and get to work.
Harriet Sharp
I was fortunate enough to get a place on the Scenic Painters 5 week course recently, and couldn't have found it more worthwhile!
With a great selection of modules, each covering a wide variety of skills/methods and introducing all the relevant tools and materials, the course was immensely informative. It provided an invaluable overview of the types of work one is likely to encounter in the scenic world.
Fairly fast paced learning not only meant we were able to produce a large amount of samples, which was ideal for building a portfolio, but also served as great practice for realistic working conditions and expectations. With a limited group size, our focus and productivity was increased, and individuals were able to have more one-on-one time with the tutor. Likewise it enabled students to form strong bonds, providing moral support, increased learning from each other, and potential for links/opportunity in the future.
Willing to share his contacts and information about the industry, James was genuinely invested in helping us to find work, going above and beyond to assist us with CV and application writing, and even offering future guidance/advice should we need it. He is a motivational, patient, committed, and highly skilled tutor, with extensive knowledge and experience, whom it was a real pleasure to learn from.
It was such an enjoyable and enriching experience, I would absolutely recommend it to anyone interested in developing creatively within scenic painting/artistry!
Beth Lines
James’ encyclopaedic knowledge of various scenic painting techniques made this course an absolute joy to take. He is extremely generous with his recommendations, stories and advice and I greatly appreciated the time and space he gave to each of us. The small class size ensured that we each got as much attention from him as we needed. He has really developed a well structured course which, although packed with information and quite intensive, has room to adapt given the size and requirements of the class. I left the course with a lot of confidence and a very strong foundation of techniques that I can see myself expanding on as I work and grow my experience. To anyone wondering if this course is worth the investment - If scenic painting is a path you would like to pursue as a career this is a fantastic space to learn the fundamentals that you will need to carry through to any job and jump-start your career. James is a fantastic and patient teacher and my best advice would be to pick his brain as much as you can!
Sasha Mani
Harriet Sharp
I was fortunate enough to get a place on the Scenic Painters 5 week course recently, and couldn't have found it more worthwhile!
With a great selection of modules, each covering a wide variety of skills/methods and introducing all the relevant tools and materials, the course was immensely informative. It provided an invaluable overview of the types of work one is likely to encounter in the scenic world.
Fairly fast paced learning not only meant we were able to produce a large amount of samples, which was ideal for building a portfolio, but also served as great practice for realistic working conditions and expectations. With a limited group size, our focus and productivity was increased, and individuals were able to have more one-on-one time with the tutor. Likewise it enabled students to form strong bonds, providing moral support, increased learning from each other, and potential for links/opportunity in the future.
Willing to share his contacts and information about the industry, James was genuinely invested in helping us to find work, going above and beyond to assist us with CV and application writing, and even offering future guidance/advice should we need it. He is a motivational, patient, committed, and highly skilled tutor, with extensive knowledge and experience, whom it was a real pleasure to learn from.
It was such an enjoyable and enriching experience, I would absolutely recommend it to anyone interested in developing creatively within scenic painting/artistry!
Beth Lines
James’ encyclopaedic knowledge of various scenic painting techniques made this course an absolute joy to take. He is extremely generous with his recommendations, stories and advice and I greatly appreciated the time and space he gave to each of us. The small class size ensured that we each got as much attention from him as we needed. He has really developed a well structured course which, although packed with information and quite intensive, has room to adapt given the size and requirements of the class. I left the course with a lot of confidence and a very strong foundation of techniques that I can see myself expanding on as I work and grow my experience. To anyone wondering if this course is worth the investment - If scenic painting is a path you would like to pursue as a career this is a fantastic space to learn the fundamentals that you will need to carry through to any job and jump-start your career. James is a fantastic and patient teacher and my best advice would be to pick his brain as much as you can!
Sasha Mani
Even without knowing much about scenic painting, with James' support, you leave the courses with so much information and develop scenic skills that give you the confidence you need for future jobs. James is up to date with everything that is happening in the industry and if needed he will be able to guide you in the right direction.
The courses cover various finishes (wood, stone, metal - you name it), cloth painting, spray painting and much more.
I recommend this course to anyone interested in entering the industry as well as people that look into refining their already existing skills.
* Warning *
-It could be a bit overwhelming in the first few days if you have no previous knowledge but it all makes sense as you go along. Just keep painting..Just keep painting ..
Lizette Stanica
'I cannot recommend Dap Studio highly enough, as a place to learn the art of Scenic Painting. I took James Rowse's two week Finishes Course and in that time he taught us everything you could want to know about, the tools, the paints, the materials, the techniques, the industry knowledge and the odd other things you would never think to ask about the world of Scenic Painting. James Rowse has spent his life working in this industry and you get the feeling that he really wants to share as much of the knowledge he has acquired as possible to his students, it is a very generous course, it is without question the best value for money I have ever had out of a course. I really feel that if you are interested in a career as a scenic painter, this is a really great place to start.
Joshua Wirz.
I completed the two week Finishes Course and I can honestly say it is one of the best things I have done. James is a friendly, passionate, professional and patient teacher who not only shows you a wealth of techniques to get desired results but also introduces you to a plethora of equipment and resources you may not have know even existed. Aside from teaching you methods for how to achieve a huge variety of finishes, James also teaches you how to deconstruct something you see so that you are ready to recreate any finish you require. James is also passionate about building a community making the industry feel a lot less daunting if you are starting out. I would highly recommend the courses that James runs.
Adam
Seager
The courses cover various finishes (wood, stone, metal - you name it), cloth painting, spray painting and much more.
I recommend this course to anyone interested in entering the industry as well as people that look into refining their already existing skills.
* Warning *
-It could be a bit overwhelming in the first few days if you have no previous knowledge but it all makes sense as you go along. Just keep painting..Just keep painting ..
Lizette Stanica
'I cannot recommend Dap Studio highly enough, as a place to learn the art of Scenic Painting. I took James Rowse's two week Finishes Course and in that time he taught us everything you could want to know about, the tools, the paints, the materials, the techniques, the industry knowledge and the odd other things you would never think to ask about the world of Scenic Painting. James Rowse has spent his life working in this industry and you get the feeling that he really wants to share as much of the knowledge he has acquired as possible to his students, it is a very generous course, it is without question the best value for money I have ever had out of a course. I really feel that if you are interested in a career as a scenic painter, this is a really great place to start.
Joshua Wirz.
I completed the two week Finishes Course and I can honestly say it is one of the best things I have done. James is a friendly, passionate, professional and patient teacher who not only shows you a wealth of techniques to get desired results but also introduces you to a plethora of equipment and resources you may not have know even existed. Aside from teaching you methods for how to achieve a huge variety of finishes, James also teaches you how to deconstruct something you see so that you are ready to recreate any finish you require. James is also passionate about building a community making the industry feel a lot less daunting if you are starting out. I would highly recommend the courses that James runs.
Adam
Seager
I wanted to thank you and Caroline again for the wonderful course, I enjoyed it so much and felt it really prepared me for work.
This week I started my first job as a painter on a major Amazon series. I am loving it, and my boss is really impressed with my level of knowledge of finishes, I put it all down to you what you were able to teach me, so thank you so much.
Hannah Edge
I attended a few of James’s weekend courses (brick, stone, metal and wood) following a friends’ recommendation. I thought they were brilliant! Having worked in the food industry for 8 years, and in a search for a career change for something more creative, I took the courses to get more of an insight into the world of Scenic Painting. Each course was so interesting, fun and insightful and helped me make the jump into a new career. I am now working in Set Dec at Pinewood Studios, learning on the job but making good use of all the techniques and information James taught me during the courses. Highly recommend James’ courses whether you’re a newbie or just want to brush up and improve your skills!
Lydia Ducker
This week I started my first job as a painter on a major Amazon series. I am loving it, and my boss is really impressed with my level of knowledge of finishes, I put it all down to you what you were able to teach me, so thank you so much.
Hannah Edge
I attended a few of James’s weekend courses (brick, stone, metal and wood) following a friends’ recommendation. I thought they were brilliant! Having worked in the food industry for 8 years, and in a search for a career change for something more creative, I took the courses to get more of an insight into the world of Scenic Painting. Each course was so interesting, fun and insightful and helped me make the jump into a new career. I am now working in Set Dec at Pinewood Studios, learning on the job but making good use of all the techniques and information James taught me during the courses. Highly recommend James’ courses whether you’re a newbie or just want to brush up and improve your skills!
Lydia Ducker
Teaching Staff
The courses at Scenic Painters are run by James Rowse. James has been painting scenery for over thirty years. He has worked in most sections of the industry including film, TV events exhibition and the music industry, but most of his work has been for the stage.
During the 1990's James taught scenic painting at the Welsh College of Music and Drama. More recently he also taught scenic painting at the University of Creative Arts Rochester.
James set up DAP Studio in 2006 and continues to paint scenery for productions in between the program of courses.
During the 1990's James taught scenic painting at the Welsh College of Music and Drama. More recently he also taught scenic painting at the University of Creative Arts Rochester.
James set up DAP Studio in 2006 and continues to paint scenery for productions in between the program of courses.
