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
- Jewellery: a buyer's guide to pearlsCourse start date: Sat 25 Apr 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Judith Crowe, Derek JhinnooJoin this fascinating one-day course for a valuable insight into pearls, their cultivation and trade, and use in jewellery. Learn how to recognise the many types on the market, judge the good from the bad, spot the imitations and buy your pearl jewellery with confidence. - London photography: bridges in the cityCourse 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 - Exhibiting and presenting your photographyCourse start date: Wed 6 May 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Shirley ReadExhibiting your photography will support you in developing new ways and methods in exhibition techniques. Working with a physical gallery space as a creative brief, you will have the opportunity to propose new solutions and ways of engaging an audience in phtotogrpahic displays. Discuss and learn the history of photography exhibitions with key references and contemporary photographers. Get expert guidance to every aspect of exhibiting, from how to approach galleries to budgeting, hanging and marketing - giving you real confidence to stage your own show.Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00 - Develop your filmmakingCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lily MarkiewiczLooking for an opportunity to build on your previous film making and editing experiences? Want to develop your leaning further, make more effective films with more professional decisions at each stage of production or simply have some further guidance? Then this class is for you.Full fee £529.00 Senior fee £423.00 Concession £344.00 - Collagraph printmaking weekendCourse start date: Sat 23 May 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosey PrinceMake and print a collagraph exploiting texture and colour using readily available and simple materials with a low environmental impact. The handmade matrix is deceptively simple to construct, the printed results often richer and more detailed than expected when run through the press. All welcome.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00 - Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00
- Bookbinding weekend: endband extravaganzaCourse start date: Sat 6 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kathy AbbottA weekend packed full of endbands for bookbinding enthusiasts. Learn a little about the history and different styles of endband and try out some for yourself. There will be demonstrations of a range of endbands including multi-coloured, Islamic and ‘Manhattan’ style. Suitable for those with bookbinding experience.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00 - Drawing for jewellersCourse start date: Sat 6 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Louise Seijen Ten HoornAre you a jewellery maker who wants to become more confident in drawing? Join us on this two-session long evening class and learn how to sketch jewellery. Draw designs from different angles and add colour, shading and highlights. Learn to make a simple plan drawing (technical drawing), showing your design from the top, front and side view.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Woodblock and lino printmaking: experimental approachesCourse start date: Fri 12 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Learn how to create multicolour or monochrome relief prints. You'll be encouraged to work from your own source imagery (sketches, magazine cuttings, photos etc) as an inspirational lead-in to producing relief prints to take home.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Creative arts for bookbinding II: leather dyeing techniquesCourse start date: Sat 13 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sue DoggettSpend a day experimenting with leather dye and dyeing techniques. You will be introduced to methods of applying dye and a range of creative techniques such as resist, crackle and speckling, to use on bookbinding and other leather projects. Suitable for beginners.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00 - Pet illustrationCourse start date: Sat 20 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sophie WolfsonExplore techniques to create an impressive illustration of your pet.
Over two days you will explore a range of image-making techniques from drawing and painting to digital image manipulation and collage. At the end of the weekend you will take home a finished and unique illustration of your favourite pet.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00 - Wood lithography: mokulito workshopCourse start date: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rolina Elsje BlokMokulito printmaking, or wood lithography, uses plywood as a printing matrix to draw on with inks, sharpies and lithographic crayons and create images that will print as small editions.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Character designCourse start date: Wed 24 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ciara FloodThis course will explore the creation of characters within picture books and illustrated fiction.
Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Artists sketchbook walkCourse 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
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