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
- Life drawing: focus on movement
Course start date: Thu 19 Mar 2026Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sisetta ZapponeThis 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 - Life drawing after workCourse start date: Thu 30 Apr 2026 (and 4 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 £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - Life drawing: mixed media approaches Course start date: Sun 10 May 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Annie AttridgeThis course introduces exciting contemporary approaches to life drawing using a variety of processes including using wire to draw with, clayslip for mark-making and plaster. You will be encouraged to explore creative and imaginative approaches in your response to the life model. Suitable for all levels but some previous drawing experience an advantage.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Life drawing: focus on hands and feet Course start date: Wed 15 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Mario Lautier VellaThis 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 - Portrait drawing: expression in the face Course start date: Wed 9 Sep 2026 (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 £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00
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