About
This course will give students a thorough understanding of the materials, procedures and skills required to make a traditional Indian Mughal miniature painting. Students will follow a process that has remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years since the time of Akbar and the Mughal ateliers of northern India.
Students will be taken step by step through the various stages: preparing handmade paper; grinding and mixing paint; tracing subject matter using pigment paper; colour filling; burnishing with agate stone; learning how to use a squirrel hair brush for fine detailing; applying liquid gold; further fine shading (perdacht), and how to apply a decorated border. Finally, students will burnish one last time to create a finished painting ready for display.
Students will choose between three designs selected by the tutor, and they will work on prepared A4 vasli paper. There will be no provision for larger design and paper. For the purpose of the course, we ask students to not bring outside projects and their own paper to the class.
Key Information
Who is this course for?
This course is beginner-friendly, experienced participants welcome. You must be aged 18 or over to participate in our programmes.
What days/times do I attend?
Monday – Friday, 12 – 16 October 2026, 10:00 – 16:30
How many students can attend?
14 people
Where will this course take place?
This course will take place at our studios at The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts, 19-22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG.
What should I bring to class?
All students will need:
- A palette with wells
- A selection of pointed round watercolour brushes
- You may find it useful to bring a notebook or sketchbook for taking notes
- An A3 folder to store work home
All other materials, including paper, pigment, and an Indian miniature squirrel-hair brush will be provided.
Wear comfortable clothing that you do not mind getting slightly messy. Avoid wearing: Baggy clothing (especially sleeves); Loose jewellery; Short sleeve t-shirts (when there is a chance of contact with hazardous materials); High heels or open-toed shoes.
FAQs
Do you offer concessions?
Yes, we offer concessions for Seniors/60+, full-time students and people who are unemployed/in receipt of benefits.
Concessions cannot be applied in retrospect. To receive a concession, please apply via our online form. We will then send you a discount code to use when booking your space.
Terms & Conditions
The School reserves the right to discontinue or suspend a Course up to fourteen (14) calendar days before the advertised start date of the Course. This course requires a minimum number of enrollments to run.
Our normal terms and conditions apply.
Tutor Biographies:
Ajay Sharma
Ajay Sharma is a traditional miniature painter from Jaipur, Rajasthan. Having been an apprentice to the master miniaturist Mehendra Sharma, he follows a rigorous traditional working practice and has been painting almost every day for 34 years. Ajay has an extensive knowledge of all the aspects of Indian painting, from the beginning stages of catching the squirrels needed to make brushes (no squirrels are killed) to the final stages of adding exquisite details and decoration. Ajay has taught around the world and every year teaches Fulbright scholars from his home studio in Rajasthan.
Vinita Sharma
Vinita Sharma, born in Jaipur, India, mastered the art of miniature painting under the tutelage of Ajay Sharma in 1993. Renowned for her expertise in pigments, brushes, and gold leaf, Vinita has conducted workshops worldwide, including at The Heenat Salma Farm in Doha, Qatar, and Les Beaux-Arts de Marseille-Paris. She has also taught at Virginia Commonwealth University in Doha.
Her art is featured in prestigious collections, including Kala Bhavana, Nandan Museum, and Buckingham Palace.
