Drawing Courses in London
At City Lit, we have a variety of drawing courses, delivered in our bright, modern studios for students to create and develop a body of drawing work. Supported by our team of experienced and expert tutors, we offer students both a practical guide and an informative insight, providing an opportunity for all levels to explore traditional and contemporary styles of drawing.
We have classes for everyone, whether you’re a complete beginner and you want an introduction to drawing; or you’re at an intermediate or higher level and you want classes that focus on developing advanced drawing skills such as mark making techniques, experimental approaches and use of colour, tone and shade within these disciplines.
Our courses are specially designed to offer you support in overcoming any frustrations, learning new skills and helping you achieve your personal creative goals.
We host exhibitions throughout the year at City Lit Gallery where our students showcase their amazing work.
To arrange a conversation with our drawing coordinator about your interests, options and courses available, please contact our Visual Arts team at visualarts@citylit.ac.uk
- Choosing the Right Career Path for youCourse start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lila VeltzeThe search for work that can bring you happiness and fulfilment is an important endeavour as it can contribute greatly to your sense of wellbeing. Come and explore how to identify the right career path for you.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Voiceovers: introductionCourse start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David ThorpeExplore the skills and techniques required across a range of audio/voiceover situations, from radio commercials to talking books. This course will be taught in the media studio, and is an intensive 5 week introduction, preparing you for more detailed study of this fascinating area of work.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £111.00 - Introduction to string quartetsCourse start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Pauline GreeneString quartets developed new musical forms and ensured success for many composers, whilst allowing an intimate conversation with their audiences. We trace the quartets of the masters from Haydn and Mozart to Shostakovich and beyond.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £104.00 - Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00
- Oil painting: focus on light and shadeCourse start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lindsay PickettThis oil painting course takes inspiration from the moody and luminous imagery of classic Film Noir such as ‘The Third Man’. Explore composition, tonal contrast and light transitions, using a range of different oil techniques to create visually dramatic paintings.
Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £181.00
- Beginners' bookbinding ICourse start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Alessia TumbioloStart your bookbinding journey with this accessible, 6 week introduction to techniques and structures. Learn how to make simple folded books progressing to a more complex stitched binding and explore the world of handmade books.Full fee £409.00 Senior fee £327.00 Concession £266.00 - Woodblock and lino printmaking workshopCourse start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Learn how to create multicolour or monochrome relief prints. You'll be encouraged to work from your own source imagery (sketches, magazine cuttings, photos etc) as an inspirational lead-in to producing relief prints to take home.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs: part 2Course start date: Fri 9 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Hugo CookFollow-on course from the Introduction. This four-week course uses British Museum objects related to ancient Egypt to broaden and deepen students' knowledge of Egyptian Hieroglyphs. The course will be held in Covent Garden, with frequent visits to the British Museum.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Painting: colour mixing for artistsCourse start date: Tue 18 Nov 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Amanda BrackenA concise study of colour usage. Investigate colour perception and how colour interacts. Explore a range of observational and expressive painting projects, relate colour theory to practice and develop confidence using colour. An emphasis on colour mixing using acrylics and oil paint.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00 - Friday Lates: the art of zinesCourse start date: Fri 21 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Christopher CollierUnderground passions and radical imagery have defined so-called fanzines for over 80 years. From the earliest examples to today, we explore their content, technique and the relation of DIY culture to wider artistic practices.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Drawing and mindfulness: introductionCourse start date: Fri 21 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Clare Barton-HarveyExplore how mindfulness can enrich drawing and give you more creative freedom. This course offers a great introduction to mindful drawing or ways to explore it more deeply. A practical drawing course from observation, and the imagination.
Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00 - Friday lates: Cook must fall! Portraits of Captain James Cook, new and oldCourse start date: Fri 28 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ben PollittExplore the portrayal of Captain James Cook from c. 1770 to the present day. Understand images of Cook provide us with a fascinating platform to think about the complicated relationships that have emerged out of British Empire and what used to be thought of as its imperial possessions.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Getting started in digital skills: becoming confident on Facebook and Instagram (complete beginners)Course start date: Fri 28 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Have you heard of Instagram but never used it? Have you tried it but are still unsure about its features? Is TikTok something you access but never really use? Then this is the course for you. It will start you on your journey towards digital communication in a supportive environment and help you learn the different ways you can connect to friends, family and the wider world and join the one billion users worldwide. And you will learn to do so safely and securely.
This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here
Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £35.00 - Interactions between the Mediterranean world and Anglo-Saxon EnglandCourse start date: Fri 5 Dec 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Stephen Pollington.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00
Can't see a course you want?
Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.
Add me to waiting list