City Lit Art School — Art Classes in London
Explore new and exciting subjects within a range of art and design disciplines, develop your skill set, get the support required to change career or launch yourself as a freelance artist or designer. All this and more delivered through our practical and engaging art and design courses at City Lit.
Our range of part-time, weekend and evening art and design classes are taught by successful artists and practitioners to ensure you get the skills, knowledge and experience you want and deserve. From experimental painting and drawing to contemporary jewellery making, there is sure to be a course for you. Study from 1 day to 2 years, whether you are a complete beginner or a practising artist preparing for an MA. Our courses are designed with you in mind, so you get to spend more time doing what you love.
Set a new goal, start your next creative adventure with City Lit and let us support you to realise your ambitions.
We host exhibitions throughout the year at City Lit Gallery where our students showcase their amazing work.
Any questions? Contact our visual arts team on visual.arts@citylit.ac.uk
- Try it out: bookbinding
Course start date: Sat 9 Aug 2025 (and 3 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kate RochesterDip your fingers into bookbinding. Learn a little about the materials and craft of bookbinding while making an attractive book to take home. A chance to discuss further study in bookbinding at City Lit.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £129.00 - Textiles: polychromatic printing Course start date: Sat 9 Aug 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Dawn DupreeExperiment with polychromatic print onto fabric and paper, exploring the creative potential of Procion dyes and silk screen printing. Processes include mark making, hand painting, resists, stencils and layering. Develop personal designs, textile samples and artwork.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £169.00 - Try it out calligraphy: modern copperplate Course start date: Mon 8 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Veiko KespersaksThis short workshop will guide you through the basics of Modern Copperplate Calligraphy, as influenced by historical copperplate handwriting. Once the artform of expert craftsman, calligraphy is now a popular artistic outlet, flexible enough to reflect the personality, style, and creativity of every individual – everyone can learn it and have a lot of fun while doing so! Suitable for left-handers and right-handers. - Drawing 1 Course start date: Mon 8 Sep 2025 (and 10 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Brian SayersAn introduction to drawing from observation through a carefully structured approach in a studio environment. Suitable for beginners.Full fee £449.00 Senior fee £359.00 Concession £292.00 - Basketry: weaving in willow Course start date: Mon 8 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Christiane GunziExplore basic willow basketry structures and weaves. This course will guide beginners through a simple project to make a small, round, functional basket. - Try it out: jewellery makingCourse start date: Mon 8 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Elizabeth BoneBasic jewellery-making techniques such as texturing and cutting out shapes in sheet metal.
Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £129.00 - Painting for beginners Course start date: Mon 8 Sep 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Amanda BrackenThrough simple exercises you will explore basic methods of painting in acrylic from still-life, mixing and matching the colours and textures observed. Learn how to set up your workspace and begin to enjoy painting in a studio environment, using a variety of brushes and tools.
Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - Drawing for beginners Course start date: Thu 11 Sep 2025 (and 13 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Andrea VoiseyExplore traditional and less traditional methods of drawing simple objects. Using structured activities, you will be introduced to key concepts such as line, tone, composition and mark-making. Ideal if you have little or no drawing experience; a great way to learn the basics or prepare for longer courses.
Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - Drawing into painting Course start date: Thu 11 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tony HullGain an understanding of the creative journey from a drawing to finished painting. Explore the creative potential when drawing and painting activities are combined.Full fee £389.00 Senior fee £311.00 Concession £253.00 - Pottery: beginners' throwing course Course start date: Sat 13 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Carina CiscatoDiscover how to throw and produce interesting forms on the wheel. Learn the basic methods for making simple bowls and vases, ideal for beginners.Full fee £599.00 Senior fee £479.00 Concession £389.00 - Introduction to using the sewing machine Course start date: Sun 14 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Renata MinoldoIdeal for beginners, you will learn how to use a sewing machine, its different components, how to troubleshoot and look after your machine. You will also learn different basic sewing techniques to start your journey into the world of sewing.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £129.00 - City Lit basketry Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John PageLearn a wide variety of basketry techniques: stake and strand, plaiting, twining and coiling in materials such as willow, cane, rush, cords, string, paper and possibly other less traditional ones.
This course is suitable for beginners, though some craft experience is expected. Payment plans will be available.
This course will reopen for applications in February 2025. To register your interest for this course, please contact visualarts@citylit.ac.uk.Full fee £3,999.00 Senior fee £3,199.00 Concession £2,599.00 - Metal sculpture: beginners to intermediate Course start date: Mon 19 May 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Andrew RevellLearn the techniques required in making sculptural/functional objects in steel: cutting, bending, welding and joining small scale metal. Please bring ideas, inspiration and scrap metal. This course is for beginners and those at intermediate level.Full fee £449.00 Senior fee £359.00 Concession £292.00 - Clay sculpture: life and portraitCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Valerie MerloFollow in the footsteps of Michelangelo and Rodin and learn how to capture the human figure, both physically and emotionally, on this fascinating practical sculpting course. You will work from a life model to develop your own clay sculpture of the human form.Full fee £599.00 Senior fee £479.00 Concession £389.00 - City Lit ceramics Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Alex SimpsonLearn a wide variety of techniques including throwing, handbuilding, decoration and glazing. Ideal for beginners to pottery or for those with some experience.
NOTE: Applications will be reviewed in May 2025.
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