An introduction to pastel painting online course with Robert Dutton

Unlock the power of pastel painting with this immersive pre-recorded art course designed for artists who crave the spontaneity and magic of creating en plein air. Across six richly detailed modules, you'll join your instructor on location, learning not just how to paint, but why certain moments in light, colour, and composition matter.

Module 1 begins on-site, introducing you to the environment and tools—carefully chosen pastel colours and support materials. You'll learn the essentials of working outdoors, selecting compositions, and gaining confidence through quick, expressive marks—perfect for fading light and fleeting inspiration.

In Module 2, deepen your practice with layering techniques using both hard and soft pastels. Discover how to develop colour harmony, midtones, and light direction, all while refining your composition with fixative and considered mark-making.

Module 3 takes your work further into mood and drama, focusing on deepening darks and bringing contrast to life. Learn how to manipulate surface texture and harness rich, dark hues that make the light sing.

By Module 4, you'll push your painting toward a balanced glow—using warm tones, dynamic contrasts, and expressive strokes to evoke atmosphere and emotion.

Module 5 offers critical in-the-field final touches, encouraging expressive freedom beyond photo-realism

Module 6 brings your painting to professional completion in the studio—layered, luminous, and fully your own.

Whether you're a beginner or experienced artist, this course is a heartfelt journey through landscape, light, and personal expression. Be bold. Be inspired. And let your pastels tell the story.

About Robert Dutton

Robert is a professional artist and lives in North Yorkshire; a move he made with confidence from Leeds in March ‘21, to be closer to his ever popular painting and expressive drawing subject matter - the North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales, East Yorkshire Coast, and The Lake District.

Having qualified with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (with Honours), Robert worked as a professional Graphic Designer and illustrator for over 30 years in the commercial sector. Following successive shows in London and sell out shows in the North of England, in 2013 Robert took the decision to become a full time artist when his expressive style of painting became popular and in demand.

Since then, his unique style has grown with increasing respect and he has won numerous and continual awards in leading national galleries and open art competitions. His work has been exhibited at ‘The Mall Galleries’ in London with the prestigious ‘Pastel Society’ and the Society of Graphic Fine Art, with whom he is an Associate Artist.

Robert also teaches popular and regular sell out residential art holidays in the Lake District at independent adult education colleges and with HF Holidays and more recently with The National Trust. He is a regular demonstrator nationally for art groups, a popular online art tutor and a regular contributor to The Artist magazine, as well as running his own workshops in North Yorkshire.