City Lit Art School — Art Classes in London
Explore new and exciting subjects within a range of art and design disciplines, develop your skill set, get the support required to change career or launch yourself as a freelance artist or designer. All this and more delivered through our practical and engaging art and design courses at City Lit.
Our range of part-time, weekend and evening art and design classes are taught by successful artists and practitioners to ensure you get the skills, knowledge and experience you want and deserve. From experimental painting and drawing to contemporary jewellery making, there is sure to be a course for you. Study from 1 day to 2 years, whether you are a complete beginner or a practising artist preparing for an MA. Our courses are designed with you in mind, so you get to spend more time doing what you love.
Set a new goal, start your next creative adventure with City Lit and let us support you to realise your ambitions.
We host exhibitions throughout the year at City Lit Gallery where our students showcase their amazing work.
Any questions? Contact our visual arts team on visual.arts@citylit.ac.uk
- Fine art photography: focus on black and whiteCourse start date: Fri 19 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sara Leigh LewisShape, form, pattern and texture take on added significance in black-and-white photography. Without colour to guide the eye, contrast, lighting, and composition take on even more importance. Discover these elements and the basic rules of black and white photography.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - City Lit bookbinding: intermediate
Course start date: Mon 22 Sep 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gavin MoorheadAn intermediate-level course for students with some experience. Learn new skills and techniques. Develop and build on existing knowledge in traditional and contemporary bookbinding, including leather paring and fine binding.
Term 1 22/09/2025 – 20/10/2025 (half-term week 27/10) 03/11/2025 – 01/12/2025
Term 2 12/01/2026 – 09/02/2026 (half-term week 16/02) 23/02/2026 - 30/03/2026. - Typography, typefaces and fonts Course start date: Mon 22 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Andrew McCartenAll designers know, images are powerful. But have you ever considered the look of your text? In other words, the typeface? It’s amazing how many designers overlook this powerful aspect of communication. Words are powerful (of course), but it’s not just what they say, it’s how they say it. On this workshop, learn how to harness the power of type.
Take a deep dive into a specific process, media or tool, with our Visual Communication Workshops.
Workshops throw the spotlight onto niche areas of the visual communication field, enabling you to hone higher-level skills and gain deeper insights.
Workshops tend to have a practical focus, with little or no conceptual or contextual elements, although this varies by course.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Illustration into printmaking Course start date: Wed 24 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This course is a playful, explorative and creative introduction into the collaborative world of illustration and printmaking.
Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Jewellery: stone setting ICourse start date: Thu 25 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rae DuncanEnjoy making your own jewellery, but want to develop your mount-making and stone-setting techniques? Discover essential techniques in setting a gem stone, including round bezel and tube settings, with the guidance of an expert tutor.
Full fee £419.00 Senior fee £335.00 Concession £272.00 - Portraits 2 Course start date: Fri 26 Sep 2025
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: Wed 1 Oct 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 £1,299.00 Senior fee £1,039.00 Concession £844.00 - Contemporary printmaking studio: focus on colour Course start date: Tue 7 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kath CastilloA course for intermediate and experienced printmakers wanting to build on previous experience and experiment with process to consolidate and hone technical skills. The focus is on colour application, advanced intaglio processes, realising personal projects and the production of high quality prints.Full fee £449.00 Senior fee £359.00 Concession £292.00 - Advanced printmaking: practice and discourse Course start date: Wed 8 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Blended (learn both online and in-person)
Tutors: Claire HyndsThis year-long advanced course is aimed at artist-printmakers who wish to develop a sustainable personal practice through the medium of print. With the support of expert tutors, you will be guided through experimental, practice-based research and developmental tasks that challenge your preconceptions of print media including etching, screen-printing, lithography and relief. You will eventually focus on a longer project that encourage both a personal enquiry and the development of an individual methodology. The course involves theoretical, contextual and practical components.Full fee £2,099.00 Senior fee £1,679.00 Concession £1,469.00 - Advanced printmaking: personal project development Course start date: Thu 9 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rolina Elsje BlokUnlock your creative potential in the Advanced Printmaking Personal Project Development course! This engaging programme invites you to extend your printmaking practice while developing a substantial personal project. Over the length of the course you will explore advanced printmaking techniques, refine your artistic voice, and produce a body of finished work.Full fee £2,099.00 Senior fee £1,679.00 Concession £1,469.00 - Introduction to using a Sketchbook Course start date: Fri 10 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
A sketchbook is a great place to try things out, make mistakes and take risks - all in the nature of experimentation. An introduction to exploring creative mixed-media, drawing and mark-making techniques with confidence which can build personal ideas for further development.
Suitable for beginners as well as those with some previous drawing experience who would like to start using a sketchbook.Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00 - Advance your life drawing Course start date: Wed 15 Oct 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Advance your practice of drawing the human figure from observation. You will be encouraged to consider anatomy and perspective in order to develop how you represent the human figure in space.Full fee £449.00 Senior fee £359.00 Concession £314.00 - Night and low light photographyCourse start date: Thu 16 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jad OakesDiscover how to capture the bright lights of London’s West End after dark. This course will lead you through Piccadilly Circus, the London Eye and Waterloo Bridge and provide feedback on your images in the classroom.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00 - Introduction to beaded jewellery Course start date: Fri 17 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Beverley SellFancy trying your hand at beaded jewellery making? Learn how to work with beads, wire, thread and findings to create beautiful beaded necklaces, bracelets, earrings and tiara designs. Join our introductory course for all levels to discover where to find the best beads, how to knot with thread, manipulate and twist wire and learn how to finish your work using clasps.
- Children's book illustration studio Course start date: Fri 24 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tim EllisCity Lit Studios provide time each week for you to commit to working on a personal project or portfolio, alongside your peers. A tutor will be on-hand to provide insights and guidance, as and when you need it.
Studios are for experienced learners with a burgeoning creative practice they wish to hone, in a supportive environment. For example, those who have completed a Beginners and Developing course in a relevant subject, or have equivalent industry experience.
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