Cultural Layer is a creative space in Reading where art becomes a form of self-care.
We host weekly oil painting classes, guided sketching sessions and small cultural gatherings. Our events are calm, friendly and beginner-friendly — you don’t need experience to join.
Art helps you slow down, focus and reconnect with yourself. We simply guide you through the process.
Materials included. Small groups. A warm community.
Ready to try? Scroll down to upcoming sessions.
What we offer
We work hard every day to make life of our clients better and happier
Oil Painting Lessons
Relaxing evening classes with a professional artist. Learn colour mixing, composition and oil technique in a supportive atmosphere. All materials included.
Guided Sketching
A mindful drawing practice for curious minds. Urban sketching, visual diaries, gentle guidance. Perfect for beginners and returning creatives.
Art Talks over Coffee
Small cultural gatherings about art, ideas and visual thinking. Informal, inspiring, open to everyone.
book your slot here
Upcoming Events
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A Unique & Original Art Gift for the Winter Holidays
Surprise someone special with a gift that truly stands apart. Our holiday collection features handmade mezzotint prints — created using one of the most intricate and demanding printmaking techniques in the world.
2 December 18:00 Sketching in Café. Visual Diary Sessions.
A gentle creative pause in the middle of the week. Learn to observe, capture moments, and build your own visual diary — all in a calm, atmospheric café setting in Reading.
16 December 18:00 Sketching in Café. Visual Diary Sessions.
A gentle creative pause in the middle of the week. Learn to observe, capture moments, and build your own visual diary — all in a calm, atmospheric café setting in Reading.
£
15
£
18
Book
More products
29 November 10:00 Oil Painting Class “Purple Palette”
Discover the richness of the purple palette in this calm and inspiring oil painting session. During the class we will explore how to mix a wide range of deep violets, soft mauves, and warm plum tones using only a basic set of colours — perfect for those who want to understand colour harmony without complicated theory.
Your instructor will guide you step by step: * how to build clear, confident brushstrokes * how to layer paint for depth and glow * how to create smooth transitions within a limited palette
This session is beginner-friendly — no previous experience needed. All materials are provided, and you will take your finished artwork home.
Details
Venue: Reading Biscuit Factory
When: 29 November 10:00
Duration: 2 hours
All materials included
Suitable for absolute beginners
Full 100% refund available up to 24 hours before the event
A Unique & Original Art Gift for the Winter Holidays
Each work is printed and hand-finished by Andrey Novikov, an artist selected through the curatorial jury of the Woolwich Contemporary Print Art Fair, the leading international showcase for contemporary printmaking.
What makes this gift exceptional?
Original hand-pulled print (not a reproduction)
Strictly limited edition of 30 — a true guarantee of rarity
Professionally framed and ready to display
Luxury magnetic gift box, with filler and presentation details
Special Christmas Collection — curated for the season
In mezzotint, a plate can only withstand 30 high-quality impressions before losing its depth — meaning the edition is not just declared, but physically limited by the nature of the copper plate itself.
Give a gift with meaning, craftsmanship, and artistic value — something that will be cherished long after the holidays.
Your instructor will guide you step by step: * how to build clear, confident brushstrokes * how to layer paint for depth and glow * how to create smooth transitions within a limited palette
This session is beginner-friendly — no previous experience needed. All materials are provided, and you will take your finished artwork home.
Details
Venue: Reading Biscuit Factory
When: 3 December 18:00
Duration: 2 hours
All materials included
Suitable for absolute beginners
Full 100% refund available up to 24 hours before the event
2 December 18:00 Sketching in Café. Visual Diary Sessions.
Your instructor will guide you step by step: * how to build clear, confident brushstrokes * how to layer paint for depth and glow * how to create smooth transitions within a limited palette
This session is beginner-friendly — no previous experience needed. All materials are provided, and you will take your finished artwork home.
Details
Venue: Reading Biscuit Factory
When: 3 December 18:00
Duration: 2 hours
All materials included
Suitable for absolute beginners
Full 100% refund available up to 24 hours before the event
16 December 18:00 Sketching in Café. Visual Diary Sessions.
please bring your own sketchbook (any size or type you love)
a few spare sheets will be available if you’re new and don’t have a sketchbook yet
Atmosphere
The setting matters — we meet in a cozy café, where:
warm lighting and ambient sounds help you relax
you can enjoy your drink while drawing
sketching becomes a mindful, creative ritual
you connect with like-minded people gently and naturally
100% refund for cancellations made 24 hours in advance.
Moments from our sessions
We work hard every day to make our customers' lives better and happier
What our clients say about us
Alena
Total beginner
Absolutely loved it - peaceful, creative and surprisingly meditative. I work as software tester, and I was genuinely surprised by how deeply I relaxed during the session. For the first time in a long while, I completely switched off from my work and daily tasks. It was such a refreshing change of pace.
Emma
Hobbie seeker
Fun and easy to follow! Maybe next time will need to bring an apron!
Emily
Total beginner
Wonderful - I'd love to come again! It was lovely to have time just painting and not thinking about anything
M*****
I’ve always dreamed of trying painting, but you know how it is — it seems too complicated, like something you need years of training for. I’m so glad I finally joined the workshop. The result turned out so much better than I expected, and I went home with my very first painting. I’m incredibly proud of myself!
How a session works
Oil painting Lessons work
Every 30-minute demo with the artist
Step-by-step guidance
Individual support
Relaxed creative atmosphere
All materials included
Take your painting home
Come once. Stay to grow!
Sketching Session
Find a cosy spot in the café, settle in with your favourite drink, and let your sketchbook open the door to quiet observation. We begin with a short introduction from the tutor on how to start your composition. Throughout the session, the tutor will move around the room, offering personalised guidance and gentle feedback.
The aim of this format is simple: to help you build a habit of keeping a personal visual diary — a space for impressions, small discoveries, and your own way of seeing the world.
Art Talk Over a Coffee
Always been curious about art? It can feel magical — and yet, at times, as if your exhibition ticket should have come with a manual. Our Art Talk sessions are not lectures in the traditional sense. They are practical, engaging conversations that help you navigate the vast and fascinating landscape of art.
Expect vivid examples from art history, memorable stories, and clear visual explanations. Become that effortlessly interesting person at a party — the one who can talk about Michelangelo’s temperament or the emotional depth of Rothko.