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
- Beethoven's ViennaCourse start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Katy HamiltonLudwig van Beethoven’s music has come to stand for the greatest and best-known aspects of the Western classical tradition. But who was he? And what exactly did he do? Come and discover more about this most famous Viennese composer.
Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Symphonies in productionCourse start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pauline GreeneStudy symphonies coming up in the 2026–27 season, we will discuss their composition, context and style, and then hear a selection ofmusical examples. NB Break week: 30 May 2027.Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - English for deaf people: Communicating confidently at work (entry 2) - part 2Course start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you want to develop your communication skills to participate, express and progress at work? This course will use a range of techniques to teach you how to get ahead in work situations. You will be introduced to practical language, vocabulary and skills. You will learn through realistic activities that are based on various work situations. This course has no exam.
This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in English. For more information Click here
Full fee £0.00 - Iconography and iconology: secrets of the old masters revealed
Course start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Leslie PrimoEver wondered whether there’s a hidden meaning behind paintings? Discover why there are signs and symbols in paintings and how to find and interpret their meanings, in paintings from medieval to Baroque and beyond.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00 - Collage and mixed media: book artsCourse start date: Thu 15 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ruth FranklinAn exciting short experimental course working with found books and individual book constructions to explore and combine a variety of creative techniques. Including collage, drawing, painting, mono-printing and paper as interventions into the pages of a book to create unexpectedly beautiful or powerful new work.Full fee £339.00 Senior fee £271.00 Concession £220.00 - Exploring classical music 3Course start date: Thu 15 Jan 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil LuckDo you want to know more about Western classical music? Explore selected topics and key works in Romantic and modern music on this informative 10-week course. Ideal for people with no specialist knowledge. NB: Break week 19 Feb 2026.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £153.00 - City Lit contemporary collage projects 2Course start date: Thu 15 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
City Lit contemporary collage projects 1 initiates a year-long set of collage and mixed media projects designed to experiment with and examine the interplay between the two and three dimensions. You will work with a wide range of materials, on and off the wall, extending our pictorial practice into the realm of collage, painting, drawing, assemblage, bricolage, decoupage, photomontage, small scale constructions, printing and text within the context of mixed media.
Note* the course is designed in a way to enable students to either complete all three courses over the year or to come in at any stage in no particular order.Full fee £839.00 Senior fee £671.00 Concession £545.00 - Drawing and painting portraits: traditional techniquesCourse start date: Thu 15 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Steve WrightThis structured course introduces traditional approaches to drawing then painting portraits from observation of the life model. Suitable for all levels but some previous drawing experience an advantage.Full fee £319.00 Senior fee £255.00 Concession £207.00 - Appraising jewellery and gemstones Course start date: Sat 26 Jul 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Judith Crowe, Derek JhinnooWish you knew more about the jewellery you were buying, or could value the heirlooms in your drawer? Join this fascinating two-day course to learn how to appraise gem set jewellery and stones. Explore precious metals, hallmarking, common gemstones found in jewellery and how to identify antique pieces, and bring your own jewellery for assessment by the tutor.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £169.00 - Use your voice assertively (online)Course start date: Sat 17 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Allis MossDo you want to sound more confident, grounded, self-assured and assertive? Improve your vocal skills through a series of exercises that will support you to become more vocally confident, expressive and dynamic without appearing arrogant. This course will be delivered online.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Starting your novel: intensive Course start date: Mon 19 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah LeipcigerGot a great idea for a novel? Jump start your project in this supportive, intensive course that covers craft basics such as character and plot. For fiction writers with some experience, and for those comfortable working at a fast pace.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Freelance writing and blogging Course start date: Thu 22 Jan 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Laura SilvermanGet inspired to write on this practical course for freelance journalists and bloggers. Learn to carry out research, interview people, pitch and publish stories, and build your presence on social media.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Art and environment in Ice Age Europe Course start date: Thu 22 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Simone ChisenaDiscover the artistic treasures of our most remote past, when our ancestors in the Ice Age created beautiful cave paintings and astounding sculpted works. - Communicating effectively at work (online)Course start date: Thu 22 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Jonathan MulquinHow skilfully do you manage the impression you make on people both in person and in online meetings and interviews? Develop your personal effectiveness by looking at voice and body language, assertiveness, sensitive listening, interviewing techniques and communication skills for business meetings. This course will be taught online.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £111.00 - Life painting: experimental approaches Course start date: Thu 29 Jan 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Amanda BrackenExplore imaginative, dynamic approaches to painting the figure using a variety of approaches: be inspired by new ways of seeing and access innovative ways of approaching your life painting. Suitable for those with some previous life drawing experience.
Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00
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