Graphic Design & Illustration courses in London
At City Lit, our exciting range of graphic design and ilustration courses will give you a creative insight into working with images and text in an emerging and innovative area. Explore a range of concepts and creative processes, within the areas of graphic design, illustration, children’s book illustration and animation, learning how to produce work visually in a diverse and exciting way.
Working with industry professionals and experienced tutors in our fully equipped design studios, students will have access to everything they need to complete their next creative challenge. Our studios offer space for creativity with all the equipment your need, including Apple Mac computers, Adobe CC software, Wacom tablets, a range of printers and scanners including access to our 3D printing and laser cutting digital suite.
We encourage playful experimentation, working with both analogue and digital tools. Our courses range from drafting story boards and cartoon design to film poster graphics, from typography and magazine layout to printed creative packaging and digital illustrations.
We host exhibitions throughout the year at City Lit Gallery where our students showcase their amazing work.
To arrange a conversation with our Visual communication coordinator about your interests, options and courses available, please contact our Visual Arts team at visualarts@citylit.ac.uk
42 courses available
Introduction to graphic designGraphic Design is everywhere; from books, magazines and newspapers to packaging design and digital media.
In this introductory course, learn how to use image, type and layout to visually communicate ideas in a variety of different ways.
Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00- Developing graphic design
Graphic Design is everywhere; from books, magazines and newspapers to packaging design and digital media.
In this developing course, you will further explore the key movements and styles within Graphic Design and explore in more depth layout, typography, colour, shape and pattern and how they can be used to communicate effectively.
Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00 - Illustrating animals
On this course you will explore illustrating animals and their gestural qualities using a variety of different mediums.
Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Drawing cartoons
Learn the basics of cartoon drawing in this fun introductory course. Explore the fundamentals of drawing facial expressions, exaggerated features and body movements that will shape your characters.
Practice comic book creation, looking at frames, pacing and panelling that all add to the design of your very own comic strip or comic book.
Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Illustrating people and places
Be inspired by the people of London and the architecture and environments they inhabit in both studio classes and off-site visits. This course explores drawing people and places, providing you with ample opportunity to observe London life, situations and scenarios that will inspire your work.
Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Botanical illustrationLearn how Botanical Illustrators accurately depict flowers, leaves, stems and seeds - for the purpose of genus and species identification by Botanists and Biologists.
Work from both primary and secondary source material to create an array of illustrative work, including anatomical and/or decorative.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Developing illustration
This course in developing illustration will help progress your illustration practice further by exploring the practical and conceptual skills integral to the discipline.
Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00 - Typography, typefaces and fonts
In this course you will explore the fundamentals and intricate details of typography, typefaces and fonts and how they can be used to communicate in different ways within the world of Graphic Design.
Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Extended procreate projects for illustration
In this Extended Procreate for Illustration course you will further explore a variety of techniques to create digital illustrations using Procreate.
You will need your own iPad with Procreate installed, and a stylus such as an Apple Pencil.
Keeley Street
Wed 23 Sep 2026Lucia VintiFull fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Developing illustration projects
Develop your creative voice while exploring the exciting and varied world of contemporary illustration. This practical, project-based course will help you expand your technical skills, experiment with new approaches, and build confidence in responding to a wide range of illustration briefs.
Full fee £459.00 Senior fee £367.00 Concession £298.00 - City Lit Children's book illustration course
This year long course will take you on a journey from beginner to intermediate, direct.
The Children’s Book industry is thriving, largely due to globally rising literacy levels, and a growing awareness of the importance of early childhood education. As a result, children’s book creators are in demand.
Our tutors will teach you about the many and various skills you’ll need to illustrate books for children - from drawing and painting (analogue and digital), sequencing and pacing the narrative, to editing the images digitally and overlaying text.You'll learn about the children’s publishing sector; gaining a sense of the different genres and markets for children's books, and where your illustration style might fit.
Keeley Street
Fri 25 Sep 2026Tim Ellis, Ciara Flood, Dee Shulman, Robyn Wilson-OwenFull fee £2,959.00 Senior fee £2,367.00 Concession £1,923.00 - Adobe Photoshop: stage 1
Explore the creative possibilities of Adobe Photoshop in this beginner-level course. Learn how to edit images, apply effects, and develop practical skills in digital design. Whether you're enhancing photos or creating original artwork, this course introduces the core tools and techniques to help you work confidently and creatively with Photoshop
Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Introduction to graphic novels
On this course you will learn how to create Graphic Novels and explore how to navigate this thriving sector.
Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00 - City Lit Pro: Adobe Creative Cloud intensive stage 1
Learn essential Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign skills in this fast-paced, professional course. Ideal for beginners and professionals looking to upskill quickly in graphic design and layout.
Full fee £649.00 Senior fee £519.00 Concession £422.00 - Introduction to children's book illustration
This course is an introduction to the practical, as well as conceptual skills integral to the discipline of Children’s Book Illustration.
Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00
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