Life Drawing & Portraiture Courses in London
Life drawing shows you how to see and interpret the structure and proportions of the human form through observation of the unclothed live model. It’s a fantastic discipline that can underpin all other drawing practices.
Whether you’re interested in the technical and analytical aspects of scale, volume and methods of measurement or a more intuitive, expressive approach, there are classes to suit all levels and approaches. Beginners are introduced to simple, user-friendly exercises to make the complexities of figure drawing fun and accessible to all.
If you’re a more experienced student, you can explore a more personal approach, experiment with materials and work with dynamic and challenging poses. A fascinating aspect of life drawing is the portrait, using the same skills to develop character and likeness of the individual face through focusing on structure, volume and expression.
For more information about courses available, please contact our Visual Arts team at visualarts@citylit.ac.uk
- Portraits 1
Course start date: Mon 8 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Alex Hanna, Joe RichardsonThis course aims to introduce you to this fascinating genre in both drawing and painting portraits through practical experience of the basic skills and concepts involved, including structure and proportion of the head and features, tone, colour, pose and expression. Working from direct observation of the live model.Full fee £479.00 Senior fee £383.00 Concession £311.00 - Life drawing after work Course start date: Tue 9 Sep 2025 (and 6 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
A 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 £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - Portrait drawing: expression in the face Course start date: Wed 10 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This short course will develop your existing knowledge and skills in drawing portraits to meet the challenge of creating expression. Bring your portrat drawing to life by exploring character, personality and emotion in the face of your subject, working from the life model.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - Anatomical life drawingCourse start date: Fri 19 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Andrea VoiseyEnhance your portraits by uncovering what lies beneath the surface. Through demonstration and direct observation of the model you will examine proportion, rotation and the key anatomical structures of the head and neck that denote likeness.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00 - Portraits 2 Course start date: Fri 26 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Luke Jones, Andrea VoiseyDevelop your knowledge of the technical aspects of portraiture further and expore your understanding of what makes a convincing portrait. Undertake practical projects which enable you to develop a personal approach to the subject as the course progresses.Full fee £479.00 Senior fee £383.00 Concession £311.00 - City Lit year of the figure and portrait Course start date: Mon 29 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rebecca Allen, Desmond Haughton, Joe Richardson, Kim ScoullerThis is a year-long course that explores the endlessly fascinating subject of the human form through various aspects of drawing and painting the figure and portrait. For those interested in building real progress and confidence in practical skills and taught by a team of specialist tutors, you will be inspired by stimulating projects that explore historical and contemporary artists' contexts to support your creative work.Full fee £2,899.00 Senior fee £2,319.00 Concession £1,884.00 - Life drawing into life painting Course start date: Thu 9 Oct 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tony HullLearn or develop life drawing skills and approaches to painting the nude figure. Including use of tone and colour selection, composition and paint handling to develop solidity, atmosphere and expression. Some experience of drawing is recommended.Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00 - Anatomical life and portrait drawing Course start date: Tue 21 Oct 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Andrea VoiseyDiscover the extraordinary construction of the human body. Through direct observation of the model you will examine the fundamental anatomical structures that underlie both portrait and life drawing. For those with some drawing experience.Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00 - Life drawing for beginners Course start date: Thu 15 Jan 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Henry Gibbons GuyThis short course is a great introduction to drawing directly from the nude model, both male and female. Using simple excercises, you will explore different ways to represent the human form in drawing, with encouraging, helpful guidance from an experienced tutor. Suitable for absolute beginners.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00 - Portraits 3 Course start date: Fri 16 Jan 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Luke Jones, Andrea VoiseyAimed at more experienced students: take your existing knowledge of poraiture further and build your understanding of the genre. Undertake practical projects which enable you to develop a more personal approach to the character and identity of your subject. This course ideally follows Portrait 2.Full fee £479.00 Senior fee £383.00 Concession £311.00 - Life drawing: mixed media approachesCourse start date: Sun 8 Feb 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Annie AttridgeExplore imaginative, dynamic approaches to drawing the figure with a variety of media: be inspired by new ways of seeing and access innovative ways of approaching your drawing.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Life drawing: focus on movement Course start date: Thu 19 Mar 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This exciting short course is an introduction to the figure in movement. You will learn how to make quick responses to the life model using a variety of 'ways of seeing' and different sketching techniques.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - Anatomical life drawing weekend Course start date: Sat 28 Mar 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Discover the extraordinary construction of the human body over an intensive weekend. Through direct observation of the unclothed model you will examine the fundamental anatomical structures that underlie the human figure. For those with some drawing experience.
Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00 - Anatomical portrait drawing Course start date: Fri 26 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Andrea VoiseyEnhance your portraits by uncovering what lies beneath the surface. Through demonstration and direct observation of the model you will examine proportion, rotation and the key anatomical structures of the head and neck that denote likeness.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00 - Life drawing: focus on hands and feet Course start date: Wed 15 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This short course is aimed at those with some previous life drawing experience who would like to meet the unique challenge of drawing hands and feet. Explore how to make sense of their complex structure and form and to draw these parts of the anatomy convincingly. You'll never leave hands and feet out of your life drawings again!Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00
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