Course Leader - Advanced Painting
The Essential School of Painting (ESOP) Closing date: Mon, 24 Aug 2026
- Part time
- £50k+
- Apply now
Mon, 03 Aug 2026 "> published -
Job Summary
Job Description
The Essential School of Painting is one of London's leading independent art schools dedicated to painting. For over twenty years we have offered an atelier-scale model of art education founded on sustained studio practice, intensive individual tuition and the belief that painters develop through rigorous making and critical conversation. At its heart is our two-year Advanced Painting Course, a postgraduate programme in which every painter has their own studio.
We are seeking an outstanding practising painter and educator to lead the Advanced Painting Course. Working closely with the Artistic Director, you will shape the artistic life of the programme: leading individual tutorials, coordinating visiting tutors, programming visiting artists, delivering seminars and workshops, and overseeing the School's exhibitions. It is a rare chance to lead a studio-based postgraduate painting programme while sustaining your own practice.
You will be an established painter with a significant exhibiting record; an experienced, generous teacher able to mentor across many approaches without imposing your own; deeply engaged with contemporary painting; attentive to each student's development; well-organised; and comfortable representing the School publicly.
Remuneration: £47,000-£52,000 per annum, full-time equivalent. The role is part-time; two and a half days a week (two teaching days plus a half-day for preparation and administration) across a 30-week academic year, September to June - the pro-rata salary is £18,000-£20,000 per annum, depending on experience, renewable after a probationary first term.
To apply, please see the How to apply section.
Closing date: Monday 24 August 2026, 23.59hrs.
ESOP welcomes applications from painters of all backgrounds; reasonable adjustments are available at every stage.
Job Requirements
We are looking for an outstanding practising painter and educator who is: an established painter with a significant exhibiting record, including solo and group exhibitions; an experienced teacher, preferably in Higher Education or postgraduate art education; able to mentor across a wide range of painting practices without imposing their own; deeply engaged with contemporary painting and equally committed to material practice and critical enquiry; a generous, collegiate colleague with the temperament and pastoral judgement to support a diverse cohort, including students with disabilities or additional needs; an excellent communicator, well-organised and able to manage a complex studio programme; comfortable representing the School publicly; and able to commit to the academic-year pattern and to be in post for the start of the year.
Job Responsibilities
Working closely with the Artistic Director, the Course Leader leads the artistic and academic life of the Advanced Painting Course. You will: deliver regular one-to-one tutorials and keep an overview of each painter's development; coordinate and book the core team of visiting tutors and timetable the weekly tutorials; source and programme the fortnightly visiting artists, hosting talks and discussion; plan and deliver seminars and practical workshops across the year; oversee the interim and graduate exhibitions and off-site visits to studios and galleries; sustain a generous, ambitious studio culture; contribute to the School's public profile, including a weekly course post; and represent ESOP as an ambassador. A half-day each week is allocated for preparation and administration.
Useful Links
Job Overview
- Job Title: Course Leader - Advanced Painting
- Salary: £50k+ (pro-rata)
- Hours: Part time
- Artform: Visual arts
- Role: Teaching
- Contract: Contract
- Closing date: Mon, 24 Aug 2026
- Location: UK-wide
How to Apply
To apply, please click the apply now link to visit the application page on our website:
There you will find full details and how to send your application. You will be asked to provide a CV including your full exhibition history; a portfolio, website or images of recent work; a short statement (up to 500 words) on your approach to teaching and mentoring painters and your interest in ESOP; and the names of two referees (not contacted before the interview stage without your consent).
The Essential School of Painting warmly welcomes applications from painters of all backgrounds, and reasonable adjustments are available at every stage.
Closing date: 23.59hrs Monday 24 August 2026.
- Contact name: Alison Harper / Andrew Wamae
- Contact email: [email protected]
About The Essential School of Painting (ESOP)
ESOP is one of London's foremost independent art schools, with over twenty years' experience offering high-quality art education taught by leading contemporary artists. Courses range from the two-year, Master's-level ESOP Advanced Painting Course to several year-long advanced and postgraduate courses, and courses at BA, Foundation and beginner levels. Numbers are deliberately limited, ensuring every student receives the best technical guidance and intellectual support for their practice.