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.
Courses available both in-person and online
We offer a range of courses allowing you to choose between online and in-person learning. All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, you’ll receive the same great City Lit experience. See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.
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
- Mindfulness sketchbook walkCourse start date: Thu 23 Mar 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Helen BurgessJoin us for a sketchbook walk in Central London to observe, record and engage with the busyness of urban life. Using mindfulness techniques combined with drawing we will be examining our experience and opening up to the magic and surprises that an evening in the city has to offer. It can be difficult to keep grounded and aware in urban environments but drawing offers a helpful way to direct our minds to the here and now, keeping a sense of purpose and deepening our attention.Full fee £39.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £39.00 - Drawing and mindfulness: the art of seeingCourse start date: Sun 26 Mar 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Clare Barton-HarveyExplore the enriching relationship of drawing and mindfulness and how this can support new ways of seeing to stimulate new directions in your drawing. Suitable for those with experience in mindfulness and/or drawing who wish to re-fresh their practice or stimulate new approaches, as well as enthusiastic beginners.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £89.00 - Drawing: charcoal techniquesCourse start date: Tue 28 Mar 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Shelley WilsonExplore the creative possibilities that this fragile medium affords. Learn and develop the components of drawing with charcoal’s subtle yet dynamic lines. This is a course for beginners. No experience is necessary.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Drawing and mindfulness: beginners guide to approaches and techniquesCourse start date: Fri 31 Mar 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Clare Barton-HarveyAn opportunity to explore the enriching relationship of drawing and mindfulness and how when practised together they can support greater confidence, lightness and creativity in drawing. Through a variety of guided exercises, explore how the two disciplines relate and how each can enrich the other. This course is suitable for beginners to drawing and/or mindfulness.Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £49.00 Concession £49.00 - Drawing for beginners: intensiveCourse start date: Tue 4 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Luke JonesLearn and develop basic drawing skills on this thorough and intensive course. Each day will focus on an aspect of drawing, covering key concepts such as line, tone, composition and mark making. Ideal if you have little or no drawing experience.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Sketching at the museum: V&ACourse start date: Thu 6 Apr 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Ro SylvesterExploring the pleasure and challenge of sketchbooks; practice and improve your drawing skills and 'ways of seeing' and understanding, working from an fascinating range of objects and artifacts in The Victoria and Albert Museum.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00 - Drawing: colour pastel techniquesCourse start date: Mon 17 Apr 2023 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ro SylvesterExplore the versatility and rich colours of this beautiful drawing and painting medium. Through practical exercises, discover its potential to create a variety of surface effects and its suitability for sketching and outdoor colour work.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Drawing: ink and wash techniquesCourse start date: Mon 17 Apr 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lisa IvoryThe immediacy and versatility of ink and wash is perfect for those sketching on location, for designers and for students interested in watercolour techniques. Take the opportunity to explore the basic techniques of this exciting process.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Drawing from plants and flowersCourse start date: Mon 17 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Hilary RosenExplore a variety of artists’ approaches for painting flowers from observation. Discover the rich history of this genre while getting inspiration from contemporary artists who use flowers as their starting point in painting.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Collage and mixed media: expressive colourCourse start date: Mon 17 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ute KreymanUse mixed media and colour to enrich your understanding of drawing; engage with different drawing techniques and materials, collage, mono print, simple models of spaces and a short introduction to colour theory.
All levels welcome.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Life drawing: a contemporary approachCourse start date: Mon 17 Apr 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Amanda BrackenThis 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.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00 - Sketchbooks: ideas, materials and techniquesCourse start date: Sat 17 Jun 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ruth BrisonA fantastic introduction to creative processes using a variety of different media to develop an exciting sketchbook. A sketchbook is a great place to try things out, make mistakes and take risks - all in the nature of experimentation. Suitable for beginners as well as those with some previous drawing experience.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00
- Contemporary sketchbook: mixed media, ideas and projectsCourse start date: Fri 27 Jan 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ruth BrisonDevelop a creative and experimental sketchbook. Explore materials and techniques with confidence, including mark making, drawing and mixed media. Produce a collection of work or ideas for composition. Drawing experience is an advantage but not essential.Full fee £389.00 Senior fee £311.00 Concession £253.00 - Life drawing for beginnersCourse start date: Sun 23 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Alex HannaThis short course is a great introduction to drawing directly from the nude model. 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
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