Calligraphy courses in London
Students on City Lit calligraphy courses can explore the art of fine handwriting, and develop skills in contemporary and traditional calligraphy. On our courses, you can choose from a range of scripts to study, including Modern calligraphy, Copperplate, Illuminated lettering, brush lettering and Gothic.
You can learn how to create layouts, analyse historical scripts, and work on specialised, individual projects. City Lit offers inspiring and creative short and term-long courses for beginners through to advanced level, and all our classes are taught by professional practitioners and industry specialists.
We offer day, evening and weekend courses in well-equipped rooms with access to a range of reference books and materials and where group and one to one teaching allows for the exchange of ideas and individual development with maximum hands-on time for projects.
- Try it out: calligraphy
Course start date: Sat 18 Jul 2026 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sharon ShawFancy having a go at this beautiful art form? This short weekend course will introduce you to two different calligraphy pens: a broad edge nib used for scripts such as gothic and italic and a flexible nib used for modern calligraphy and Copperplate.
Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £179.00 - Calligraphy: Spencerian scripts Course start date: Mon 27 Jul 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Veiko KespersaksLearn how to use a pointed pen for writing in copperplate hand. Spencerian script developed from the English Cursive and stands out for its delicately shaded lowercase and prominent capitals. With very intense shadows, obtained with a pointed pen, it is famous for its fine lines, hand-made quality and romantic overtones. Suitable for both beginners and improvers, left and right handers.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00 - Calligraphy summer intensive Course start date: Mon 27 Jul 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sharon ShawGilded initials make perfect gifts for family and friends. You’ll learn painting techniques and how to apply a PVA mordant and use real leaf. You will be provided with a number of decorative alphabet templates and then taken step-by-step through the stages of drawing, painting and applying real gold to create your own illuminated decorated letterform.Full fee £369.00 Senior fee £295.00 Concession £240.00 - Try it out calligraphy: modern copperplate Course start date: Mon 7 Sep 2026 (and 1 other date)
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.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00 - Try it out calligraphy: brush lettering Course start date: Thu 10 Sep 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ivo GrantinsThis short course will introduce you to the tools, materials and techniques that you will need to start lettering by hand. You will focus on creating basic letterforms using a brush pen and leave having completed your own sample. Suitable for beginners or those wishing to learn a new calligraphy skill.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £69.00 - Try it out calligraphy: formal and modern Course start date: Fri 11 Sep 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sharon ShawWould you like to find out about the difference between formal calligraphy and modern calligraphy? Come along to this session and have a go at writing both styles. Beginners and improvers welcome.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00 - City Lit calligraphy Course start date: Mon 14 Sep 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Emiko Hashiguchi, Veiko Kespersaks, Sharon ShawStudy calligraphy with this in-depth, three term programme that will equip you with the essential techniques required for beautiful cursive handwriting. The course will cover specialist skills-based training in Calligraphy with Design, blending traditional skills with an introduction to the latest trends in the calligraphy and design world. An exciting, challenging, and thorough introduction to the art of calligraphy.
Please note this course runs on Monday evenings from 18:30 - 21:00, plus one Saturday per term from 10:30 - 16:30.
Term dates:Term 1
- Monday 14/09/2026 – 19/10/2026
- Half-term week 26/10/2026
- Monday 02/11/2026 – 07/12/2026
- Saturday 05/12/2026
Term 2
- Monday 04/01/2027 – 08/02/2027
- Half term week 15/02/2027
- Monday 22/02/2027 – 22/03/2027
- Saturday 27/02/2027
Term 3
- Monday 12/04/2027 – 26/04/2027
- Bank Holiday 03/05/2027
- Monday 10/05/2027 – 24/05/2027
- Half term 31/05/2027
- Monday 07/06/2027 -12/07/2027 and 26/07/2027
- Saturday 22/05/2027
Full fee £1,469.00 Senior fee £1,175.00 Concession £955.00 - Calligraphy for beginners Course start date: Fri 18 Sep 2026 (and 1 other date)
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 to create scripts such as gothic, italic and Carolingian. Advice will be given on other tools and materials you can use for calligraphy. This course is suitable for left and right-handers. Please read the course outline carefully as you will need to bring some things with you to the first session.
Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00 - Calligraphy: modern copperplate Course start date: Mon 21 Sep 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Veiko KespersaksLearn how to write elegant letterforms using a pointed pen with ink. Once you have learnt how to write a basic copperplate alphabet, we will begin breaking the rules of traditional calligraphy to find a style that is all your own. The course is suitable for beginners as well as improvers, and both left-handers and right-handers.Full fee £499.00 Senior fee £399.00 Concession £324.00 - Modern and historical calligraphy for improvers Course start date: Mon 21 Sep 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Veiko KespersaksStep into the world of calligraphy and discover the beauty of both historical and modern letterforms. This course is designed for improvers who wish to refine their technical skills while exploring creativity. You’ll study elegant scripts from the past, develop a personal modern alphabet, and bring your ideas to life through expressive projects.
Full fee £499.00 Senior fee £399.00 Concession £324.00 - Calligraphy and illumination Course start date: Tue 22 Sep 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Emiko HashiguchiLearn how to write beautifully with a dip pen and design and produce a piece of work with illuminated letters using colour and gold leaf. All levels.Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00 - Try it out calligraphy: old English script Course start date: Thu 24 Sep 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ivo GrantinsThis short course will introduce you to old English script which is also referred to as Gothic. You will focus on creating the basic letterforms using a dip pen and ink and leave having completed your own sample. Suitable for beginners or those wishing to increase their knowledge of calligraphy scripts.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £69.00 - Try it out calligraphy: Roman capitals Course start date: Thu 8 Oct 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ivo GrantinsThis short course will introduce you to the tools, materials and techniques that you will need to start creating beautiful Roman capitals by hand. You will focus on creating basic letterforms using a dip-pen and ink and leave having completed your own sample. Suitable for beginners or those wishing to increase their knowledge of calligraphy letterforms.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £69.00 - Modern calligraphy Course start date: Sat 31 Oct 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Veiko KespersaksLearn how to write elegant and stylish letterforms using a flexible pointed nib with ink. Once you’ve learnt how to write a basic alphabet, we’ll begin breaking the rules of traditional calligraphy to find a style that is all your own. The course is suitable for beginners as well as improvers.Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00 - Elegant capitals in modern calligraphy Course start date: Sun 1 Nov 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Veiko KespersaksCapital letters are the jewels of calligraphy - bold, graceful, and endlessly expressive. This course invites you to master the art of elegant capitals, blending technical precision with creativity to elevate your calligraphic work. Whether you are looking to refine your skills or bring a modern edge to traditional forms, this six-week class offers the perfect space to experiment, practise, and create beautiful capital letterforms.
Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00
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