Paint an icon in Russo-Byzantine style
Subject: | Painting, Icon Painting |
Dates: | 16 March 2019 - 17 March 2019 |
Time: | 10:00 -16:30 |
Location: | The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace |
Tutor: | Dr Irina Bradley |
This product is currently out of stock.
This course is now fully booked.
Icons in Orthodox Christianity are liturgical - that is to say they offer a means of communion between heaven and earth. Traditional icons suggest a material world transfigured, radiant with divine light and love, seen not only with bodily eyes but also with the ‘eye of the heart’.
On this course, students gain understanding of painting techniques and the principles underlying them.
We begin with a curator led tour of the exhibition, Russia: Royalty & the Romanovs, and a brief overview of the theology of the icon in Orthodox tradition.
Then with the guidance of a tutor from the School of Traditional Arts, paint an icon of the Virgin of Vladimir. Learn to use egg tempera made from earth and minerals, and decorate the painting with gold leaf.
Who is this course for?
All levels of experience and ability welcome
What should I bring?
You will need to bring two brushes with you to class.
The tutor recommends the L. Cornelissen and Son Kolinsky Red Sable series 80A in sizes 000 and 3.
All other materials will be provided.
What days do I attend?
Saturday and Sunday, 16 – 17 March 2019
There will be a guided tour of the exhibition on 9:00 am on Saturday 16th.
Image courtesy of Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2018
In collaboration with Royal Collection Trust
What if I need to cancel or change my booking?
You can view our policy here.

Tutor biography
Dr Irina Bradley
Dr Irina Bradley is an alumna of The Prince's School of Traditional Arts in London where she was awarded a PhD for her thesis Spiritual Striving in Icon Painting with a focus on the image of St George and the dragon. Irina is an iconographer who follows the traditional way of icon painting which is regarded as a contemplative practice.
Irina is a visiting tutor for icon painting at the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London, where she teaches at MA level. Irina’s work is in churches, places of private worship and collections worldwide. Irina has exhibited at several international exhibitions and has presented her research and icons at Christ Church, Oxford, the Temenos Academy, Boghossian Foundation, Villa Empain, Brussels and the V&A.
Upcoming Courses with Dr Irina Bradley
- Russo-Byzantine Icon Painting Begins 25 February 2019
- Russo-Byzantine Icon Painting Begins 3 June 2019