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
- Drawing and mindfulness: morning meditation
Course start date: Mon 2 Jun 2025 (and 3 other dates)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Helen BurgessJoin us and set up your day in a tranquil, reflective way with our 5 day Drawing and mindfulness: morning meditation course. As daily life is full of uncertainty and with our attention getting pulled in many directions why not take some personal time to reset and focus combining meditation with some simple drawing exercises. You will be guiding your mind to settle and to look with care at the world around us and our inner experience. Whether you want to do something nourishing before you go to work or are setting up for a day of creative activity, the practices of drawing and mindfulness will bring a positive start to each morning, helping you begin the days with fresh eyes and mind. Suitable for all levels.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £79.00 - Writing a memoir Course 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 - Autobiographical writing: intensive Course start date: Mon 28 Jul 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Paul LaffanThis shorter version of our introductory autobiographical writing course covers the basic elements of the genre, drawing on memories, diaries, photos, dreams and fantasies with a focus on the forms of autobiography, memoir and the personal essay.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - Lipreading and managing hearing loss: beginners module 1Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Nicola HicksThis class is suitable for total beginners who have little or no experience of lipreading or who have completed a lipreading class at any level in the past, but want to go back to basics. You will learn how to recognise some sounds that are visible on the lips and how to use other tactics to support lipreading and how to manage hearing loss.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.
See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £110.00 Concession £85.00 - Lipreading and managing hearing loss: beginners module 3Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Christine HathwayThis class is suitable for if you have completed beginners modules 1 and 2 or have completed a lipreading class in the past and already have a basic understanding of lipreading theory and fingerspelling. You will develop your lipreading and fingerspelling skills and build your confidence.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.
See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £85.00 - Developing your novel Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 6 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah LeipcigerHave you started work on your novel? This course is suitable for experienced creative writers who want to make progress with a novel draft. Learn more about the art of novel writing and move your project forward in a supportive workshop environment.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £130.00 - Advanced fiction writing workshop Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Claire CollisonFor experienced writers, this supportive but rigorous workshop offers the perfect opportunity to develop your novel or short story. Receive in-depth feedback and benefit from detailed group discussions on the art of fiction.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £130.00 - Ways into poetryCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cecilia KnappRelatively new to writing poetry? This inspiring course offers an opportunity to experiment with language and a variety of poetic devices alongside fellow emerging poets. Discover the key elements of a poem in a friendly and interactive class.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £125.00 - Writing for magazines Course start date: Wed 7 May 2025 (and 6 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Phyllis RichardsonGet 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 £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - Starting your novelCourse start date: Wed 14 May 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sophie McKenzieGot a great idea for a novel? Jump start your project in this supportive course that covers craft basics such as character and plot. Ideal for writers of fiction with some experience who have an idea for a novel.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £120.00 - Ways into creative writing Course start date: Wed 7 May 2025 (and 18 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Claire CollisonWant to have a go at creative writing in a supportive environment? Join one of these introductory courses. Guided exercises will give you the tools to explore language creatively and find your own writing voice.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £120.00 - Writing fiction Course start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Develop your creative writing skills on this practical intermediate course. You'll explore the fundamentals of fiction-writing craft, such as character and structure, and unlock your imagination to produce compelling prose. Suitable for those with some creative writing experience.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £130.00 - Writing creative non-fiction Course start date: Thu 8 May 2025 (and 11 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Paul LaffanExplore practical and imaginative approaches to creative non fiction, including travel writing, life writing and the essay. Analyse published work, produce your own pieces, and benefit from detailed feedback.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £125.00 - Lipreading and managing hearing loss: beginners module 2 Course start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This class is suitable for if you have completed module 1 or have completed the one term introduction to lipreading class or have attended a lipreading class at any level in the past, but want to go back to basics. You will develop your lipreading and fingerspelling skills and build your confidence.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.
See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £85.00 - First Steps in Reading and WritingCourse start date: Thu 8 May 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Blended (learn both online and in-person)
Do you need help with reading and writing English? Can you write the letters of the alphabet or do you need to practise? Do you need to improve your spelling? Can you use numbers and count up to 100 or do you need help? On this course you will learn how to write individual letters, spell whole words, write simple sentences, read whole words, read simple sentences and understand notices. You will become confident in your speaking. And you will also practise the maths you need for everyday life so you can shop, use money and measure things correctly.
You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page. Log on with your email address (not name).
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 £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £90.00
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