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
- The 60 minute writerCourse start date: Wed 21 Jan 2026 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosie FioreFit creative writing into your busy day: a relaxed, informal rolling programme for writers of all levels of experience who enjoy being thrown new ideas and experimenting with poetry and prose.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £70.00 - Photography for beginnersCourse start date: Mon 26 Jan 2026 (and 16 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
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 £389.00 Senior fee £311.00 Concession £253.00 - Ways into creative writing: intensiveCourse start date: Wed 28 May 2025 (and 9 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Lucy PopescuNot sure whether creative writing is for you? Give it a try on one of these fun and supportive short courses covering the basics of fiction and poetry. Increase your confidence and produce work through guided exercises and discussion.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - Introduction to watercolour paintingCourse start date: Tue 6 Jan 2026 (and 12 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lindsay PickettGain 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 £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00 - Introduction to illustrationCourse start date: Wed 28 Jan 2026 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Adam Graff, Lucia VintiThis course is an introduction to the practical and conceptual skills integral to the discipline of Illustration. Learn about the movements and styles which have shaped the field of Illustration over the years, and how to find your place there.
Full fee £389.00 Senior fee £311.00 Concession £253.00 - Introduction to BSLCourse start date: Mon 12 Jan 2026 (and 10 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Carolina Delgado EspejoInterested in learning British Sign Language? Learn some basic vocabulary and grammar, and decide if you want to progress to the level 1 qualification.Full fee £289.00 Senior fee £289.00 Concession £202.00 - Picture framing and mounting for beginnersCourse start date: Thu 5 Jun 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Esther HeyhoeLearn picture framing and mounting skills for the home or workplace. Using professional framing tools and equipment you'll be taught all the skills you need to work in a busy studio or alternatively how to set up your own small scale practice from home.Full fee £329.00 Senior fee £263.00 Concession £214.00 - Life drawing after workCourse start date: Thu 5 Jun 2025 (and 7 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 6 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 - Calligraphy: modern copperplate variationsCourse start date: Wed 11 Jun 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Veiko KespersaksLearn how to use a pointed pen for writing in copperplate hand, which is famous for its fine lines, hand-made quality and romantic overtones.This fun class is an introduction to Spencerian script and its connection to basic strokes and letterforms. You will also learn the history of Spencerian script and it will give you some new knowledge of penmanship. Suitable for both beginners and improvers, left and right handers.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00 - Picture book writingCourse start date: Sun 15 Jun 2025 (and 6 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeWould you like to write a picture book text for young children? This course is designed for children's writers and for illustrators wishing to write their own stories; a starter course to develop both your ideas and your technique.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - Painting 1Course start date: Thu 29 Jan 2026 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Amanda BrackenPainting 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 £449.00 Senior fee £359.00 Concession £292.00 - Writing a memoirCourse start date: Thu 19 Jun 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie GartonSome moments in our lives are so powerful they beg to be shared with the world. This course will help you plan and craft a memoir that will resonate and inspire.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - Introduction to graphic designCourse start date: Thu 19 Jun 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pam WilliamsOur 'Introduction' courses provide a perfect way-in to a creative field.
Graphic Design is everywhere; in our books, magazines, and newspapers. Emblazoning packaging at the corner shop to the mall. On our screens- phones, TVs, computers and tablets. To say it’s important would be an understatement.
Don’t just consume. Learn how to use image and type to communicate your messages, emotions and ideas. Beyond this, learn about the movements and styles which have shaped the field of Graphic Design over the years, and how to find your place there.Full fee £369.00 Senior fee £295.00 Concession £240.00 - Creative image editing with Photoshop and LightroomCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Kean Street Photography Studio
Tutors: Michael HardingLearn how to use and apply the key features of Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop to develop your image editing skills.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
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