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
- Renaissance art at the National Gallery
Course start date: Wed 14 May 2025 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Emma Rose BarberThis course explores the Making, the Locating and the Viewing of Renaissance paintings in the collection of the National Gallery. This course takes place at the National Gallery.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00 - Sketching at the British Museum Course start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Mario Lautier VellaExploring the pleasure and challenge of sketchbooks; learn and improve your drawing skills and 'ways of seeing' and understanding, working from an exciting range of objects and artifacts in The British Museum.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £89.00 - Study Trip: Amsterdam - from Rembrandt to MondrianCourse start date: Wed 12 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayExplore Amsterdam, one of Europe’s most important art cities with an expert art historian. This three-day course is an opportunity to learn the art history of the city through its museums, historic houses and religious buildings.
Full fee £499.00 Senior fee £499.00 Concession £499.00 - Islamic art at the British Museum Course start date: Sun 16 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Anita ChowdryTake a Sunday afternoon to explore the British Museum’s newly refurbished Islamic galleries and learn the stories behind one of the world’s great collections of Islamic art.
Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - The meaning of light: symbolism and religious objects in world faiths Course start date: Sun 16 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Marilyn GreeneJoin this museum tour to explore world religions and the objects associated with light, from different faiths and festivals. NB: This course will take place at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The meeting point is the V&A grand entrance. - Introduction to the Wallace Collection Course start date: Wed 19 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Julie BarlowEach week, we'll explore a different aspect of the Wallace Collection looking at its fine and decorative art objects, including paintings, furniture, porcelain and even arms and armour.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00 - Sketching at the V&ACourse start date: Thu 20 Nov 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Amanda BrackenExploring the pleasure and challenge of sketchbooks; learn and improve your drawing skills and 'ways of seeing' and understanding, working from a fascinating range of objects and artifacts in The Victoria and Albert Museum.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £89.00 - Demystifying Tate Modern Course start date: Sat 6 Dec 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayGet an overview of Tate Modern with this straightforward and lively insight into the gallery’s current displays and the role of the gallery in the contemporary art world. #arthistory #tatemodern.Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00 - In Scrooge's Footsteps: A Christmas Carol & Dickens WalkCourse start date: Tue 9 Dec 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Eleanor JacksonJoin us for a festive walk in the footsteps of Scrooge, looking at the locations and impact of Dickens’s most famous work. We will also examine how Dickens’s story has influenced our ideas of Christmas.
Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - Lamplit HampsteadCourse start date: Mon 15 Dec 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Marilyn GreeneDiscover the mysterious atmosphere to Hampstead on a tour after-dark where the streets are lit by old-fashioned lamps. We will wind through the narrow back streets and catch glimpses of its fascinating history from the glow of lamps and lit buildings. This tour is particularly stunning over the Festive season where subtle Christmas lights add to the effect. We will end at the historic Holly Bush Tavern where we can warm up with a drink!
Tour starts outside Wagamama 58-62 Heath Street, NW3 1EN Ends Hampstead Tube Station.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - London photography: bridges in the city Course start date: Thu 30 Apr 2026
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Michael HardingExplore london and capture the beauty of the capitals bridges that span the Thames. This off-site photographic course will have you down to the river with your camera, exploring the diverse architectural designs and structures of bridges on the Thames that connect London. Learn about their history whilst learning the secrets to successful architectural and location photography.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £129.00 - Artists sketchbook walk Course start date: Sat 5 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Heidi WigmoreTake a sketchbook walk in Central London to observe, record and engage with the urban environment, both historic architecture, modern skylines, the river and parks. Quick sketching, supported by discussion and reflection along the way, will open up new ways of seeing and responding to your surroundings. Meet at City Lit main entrance.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £79.00 - Sketching at the National GalleryCourse start date: Thu 23 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Diane MartinExplore the pleasure and challenge of sketchbooks: learn and improve your drawing skills and ‘ways of seeing’ and understanding by working from some of the iconic paintings in the National Gallery.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £89.00 - An introduction to stained glass at the V&ACourse start date: Thu 5 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Andreas PetzoldStained glass has been described as the most original and important medium in the high Middle Ages. The Victoria and Albert Museum has one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of stained glass in the world, spanning the twelfth century to the modern period. The course will provide an introduction to this medium and the collection of it in the Victoria and Albert Museum.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Art Deco London walkCourse start date: Thu 19 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Diane BursteinTravel back to the 1930s to explore the Art Deco style that influenced a variety of designs, from radios and cutlery to places related to travel, entertainment and commerce. In addition to looking at the architecture of the period, your guide will tell stories of life in London from the time these buildings were being erected.
Meeting outside St James’s Park tube station (Broadway exit) and finishing at the coach station. Meeting outside St James’s Park tube station (Broadway exit) and finishing at the coach station.
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