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
18 courses available
Portraits 1This 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 £499.00 Senior fee £399.00 Concession £324.00- Life drawing after workA 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 £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £179.00
- Anatomical life drawing
Discover the extraordinary construction of the human body. Through direct observation of the model you will examine the fundamental anatomical structures that underlie life drawing. For those with some drawing experience.
Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00 - Portraits 2
Develop your knowledge of the technical aspects of portraiture further and explore 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 £499.00 Senior fee £399.00 Concession £324.00 - City Lit year of the figure and portraitThis 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.
Keeley Street
Mon 28 Sep 2026 (and 1 other date)Mario Lautier Vella, Lindsay Pickett, Sisetta ZapponeFull fee £2,949.00 Senior fee £2,359.00 Concession £1,917.00 - Life drawing into life paintingLearn 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 £439.00 Senior fee £351.00 Concession £285.00
- Anatomical portrait drawing
Discover the extraordinary construction of the human head. Through direct observation of the model you will examine the fundamental anatomical structures that underlie portrait drawing. For those with some drawing experience.
Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00 - Portrait drawing: expression in the face
This short course will develop your existing knowledge and skills in drawing portraits to meet the challenge of creating expression. Bring your portrait 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 - Portraits 3
Aimed at more experienced students: take your existing knowledge of portraiture 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 £499.00 Senior fee £399.00 Concession £324.00 - Life drawing for beginners
This short course is a great introduction to drawing directly from the nude model, both male and female. Using simple exercises, 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 £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00 - Life drawing from the clothed model
Life drawing from the clothed model offers fantastic opportunities to create character and narrative through different clothing and props. Explore how texture, pattern and colour and the folds of cloth can enhance your life drawing and how dramatic poses can inspire personal expression.
Keeley Street
Sat 23 Jan 2027 (and 1 other date)Full fee £369.00 Senior fee £295.00 Concession £240.00 - Life painting: contemporary approachesThis course introduces contemporary contexts for life painting using acrylic paints to explore different creative approaches using the imagination alongside observation of the model. Suitable for all levels but some previous life drawing experience an advantage.
Keeley Street
Thu 28 Jan 2027Steve WrightFull fee £409.00 Senior fee £327.00 Concession £266.00 - Anatomical life and portrait drawingDiscover 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 £459.00 Senior fee £367.00 Concession £298.00
- Life drawing: mixed media approachesExplore 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 £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00
- Life drawing: focus on movementThis 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 £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00
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