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
- Painting 1Course start date: Fri 9 May 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Begona Morea RoyPainting 1 offers an introduction to the basic principles and skills associated with painting. Focus on differing approaches to observational and imaginative work, whilst learning how to organise a palette, mix colours and create different textures.Full fee £429.00 Senior fee £343.00 Concession £279.00 - Introduction to watercolour paintingCourse start date: Sat 17 May 2025 (and 6 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rebecca AllenGain a grounding in the rich possibilities available when working with watercolour paint. Through a series of practical studies, you will investigate the potential of this versatile medium.Full fee £319.00 Senior fee £255.00 Concession £207.00 - Ways into abstract paintingCourse start date: Tue 20 May 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rebecca AllenEncounter different approaches to making abstract paintings while developing your skills in using a range of painting materials. With reference to the work of a variety of abstract artists explore the visual language common to both representation and abstraction, eg. colour, composition, tone and paint application.Full fee £369.00 Senior fee £295.00 Concession £240.00 - Drawing 1Course start date: Thu 22 May 2025 (and 10 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Andrea VoiseyAn introduction to drawing from observation through a carefully structured approach in a studio environment. Suitable for beginners.Full fee £429.00 Senior fee £343.00 Concession £279.00 - Photography for beginnersCourse start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 17 other dates)
Location on this date: Kean Street Photography Studio
Tutors: Sara Leigh LewisAlways wondered what half the buttons on your camera actually do? Discover how to use them properly and produce impressive photographs, even as a complete beginner. Gain useful technical knowledge and get expert creative guidance in easy-to-understand language. An ideal first step before enrolling on our intermediate courses.Full fee £369.00 Senior fee £295.00 Concession £240.00 - Life drawing after workCourse start date: Thu 5 Jun 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Joe RichardsonA fun, relaxed and shorter life drawing class better suited for people coming straight from work. You will be able to work from a variety of life models, in a range of materials and with a variety of poses. You will be working from the unclothed model, both male and female.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £149.00 - Drawing: ink and wash techniquesCourse start date: Fri 6 Jun 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jack DuplockThe immediacy and versatility of ink and wash is perfect for those sketching on location, for designers and for students interested in watercolour techniques. Take the opportunity to explore the basic techniques of this exciting process.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Introduction to quiltingCourse start date: Mon 9 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Beverley SellLearn how to design and make a contemporary quilt using a range of construction and embellishment techniques. Work with simple shapes from recycled fabrics or bring your own fat quarters to create a personalised quilt. Suitable for beginners.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00 - London street photographyCourse start date: Tue 10 Jun 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Kean Street Photography Studio
Tutors: Michael HardingWish you could capture those spontaneous moments of urban life like a pro? Learn the tricks of the skilful trade of street photography and build your confidence in snapping candid, unobtrusive photographs on the street, shooting in some of the most dynamic and vibrant areas of London to tell powerful stories in single images.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00 - Procreate for illustrationCourse start date: Fri 4 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lucia VintiProcreate is an innovative digital drawing software taking the illustration world by storm! In this workshop you will explore a number of different techniques to create striking illustrations on Procreate.
Please note* you will need your own iPad with Procreate installed, and a stylus such as an Apple Pencil.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00 - Introduction to clothes makingCourse start date: Mon 21 Jul 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Silvia SacrestanoLearn how to make your own clothes. This beginner's course will teach you how to use the sewing machine, as well as basic sewing techniques and processes. Start by sampling, then construct a simple garment.Full fee £379.00 Senior fee £303.00 Concession £246.00 - Explore printmakingCourse start date: Wed 30 Jul 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Esther HeyhoeCome and get inky with this fun one day workshop exploring printmaking. This course will give you a basic understanding of monoprinting, relief printing and screen printing and is aimed at those who would like to explore different printmaking techniques before going on to other courses.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £79.00 - Design your own gardenCourse start date: Fri 3 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Alison WorsterDesign your own garden and turn your valuable outside space into a private sanctuary. On this online course you will discover how to create a secluded garden using considered layout, landscaping and planting to create an extension of your home. - Calligraphy for beginnersCourse start date: Fri 10 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sharon ShawLearn how to write formal calligraphy scripts using a 3.8mm Pilot parallel calligraphy pen. The parallel calligraphy pen is a versatile, transportable broad-edged cartridge pen which allows you to write thick and thin strokes. Advice will be given on other tools and materials you can use for calligraphy. This course is suitable for left and right-handers.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £181.00 - Introduction to using a SketchbookCourse start date: Fri 10 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
A sketchbook is a great place to try things out, make mistakes and take risks - all in the nature of experimentation. An introduction to exploring creative mixed-media, drawing and mark-making techniques with confidence which can build personal ideas for further development.
Suitable for beginners as well as those with some previous drawing experience who would like to start using a sketchbook.Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00
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