Art & design

Art & Design Courses - Online & 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

Courses available both in-person and online

We offer a range of long and short courses allowing you to choose between in-person and online learning.

Learn in the centre of London with our in-person courses. Our purpose-built facilities in Covent Garden mean we are ideally located and easy to get to. 

See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, we've got the class for you.

 

Join us for the City Lit Visual Arts open day on Saturday 18 May. Throughout the day, at our campus in Covent Garden, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the full range and variety of our art and design subjects on offer.  Find out more >

 

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  1. Pottery: evening course
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 23 Apr 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Trish Spence
    For those with previous experience who want to work towards their own goals, or for beginners who want to learn hand-building and throwing processes. We'll also cover glazing and surface decoration.
    Full fee £549.00 Senior fee £439.00 Concession £357.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  2. Carving in wood
    Last Few Places, Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 16 Apr 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Alexandra Harley
    Have you ever fancied having a go at sculpting in wood? Or perhaps you are experienced at it but would like expert guidance to develop your ideas? This comprehensive course encourages wood carvers of all levels to bring along their ideas and see how they can be developed. You will be taught how to make models of your designs, upscale and transpose these, and use professional carving tools to produce beautiful pieces in wood.
    Full fee £499.00 Senior fee £399.00 Concession £324.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  3. Carving in wood or stone
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 11 Apr 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Belinda Edwards
    Get inspired by trying carving techniques in stone or wood and create your own small carving in wood and stone. Suitable for anyone from beginners to experienced carvers. This course will explore the characteristics of wood and stone, lead you through the steps of design and carving, encourage you to explore and develop your ideas, and try more experimental techniques.
    Full fee £499.00 Senior fee £399.00 Concession £324.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  4. City Lit Advanced textile art course
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 24 Sep 2022 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Lara Hailey, Rosie James
    Take your textiles to another level with this stimulating two year advanced course. Open up new perspectives for your work as you explore a range of technical and visual research methods in response to a theme. These will include approaches to drawing, contextual studies, mixed media, dye and print, stitch and constructed textiles. You will be guided and supported throughout by regular tutorials and workshops that stretch your individual textile practice. The course will culminate in a public exhibition at the end of year two.
    Full fee £2,699.00 Senior fee £2,159.00 Concession £1,889.00
  5. Advanced painting: practice and discourse
    Course start date:  Mon 2 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Blended (learn both online and in-person)

    Tutors:  Clare Barton-Harvey, Stuart Jones, Amanda Knight, Mario Lautier Vella, Kim Scouller, Benjamin Senior
    Develop your painting in greater depth on this advanced course, working with a team of artist-tutors and a committed network of peer-practitioners, across a set of projects focusing on a range of contemporary themes, processes, and debates. The course is intended for experienced painters with a positive and enquiring attitude to the practices and discourses of painting in its various forms, and a commitment to peer-dialogue and critical discussion. Focused and intensive studio-based weekend projects (once per month), are interspersed with weekly online tutorials, feedback, discussion and seminars.



    This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £2,299.00 Senior fee £1,839.00 Concession £1,609.00
  6. Developing art practice
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 7 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    This advanced course for developing and practicing artists consists of work-based seminars facilitated by peers and artist-tutors, giving you the opportunity to develop and present your work for critical discourse. The course includes individual tutorials and mentoring, critical investigation via group crits, visits to galleries and artist-run organisations, collaborative work and discussion and debate. This course is one of the eligible programmes for application to Bloomberg New Contemporaries.



    The course will be delivered onsite.











    This course requires an application prior to enrolment. Please click 'start assessment' to begin your application.
    Full fee £1,119.00 Senior fee £895.00 Concession £783.00
  7. City Lit year of the figure and portrait
    Course start date:  Mon 9 Oct 2023 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Rebecca Allen, Desmond Haughton, Joe Richardson, Kim Scouller
    This 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 £2,499.00 Senior fee £1,999.00 Concession £1,624.00
    Rating:
    80% of 100
  8. Contemporary practice: personal project
    Course start date:  Tue 10 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Blended (learn both online and in-person)

    This advanced course in contemporary creative practice will support you in developing a personal project through research, experimentation, development and exhibition in a supportive studio environment. The course is facilitated by practising artists, theorists and curators.







    This course requires an application prior to enrolment. Please contact Visual Arts for more information.



    This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £2,179.00 Senior fee £1,743.00 Concession £1,525.00
    Rating:
    93% of 100
  9. Advanced children's book illustration: professional practice
    Course start date:  Tue 10 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Tim Ellis, Zehra Hicks, Dee Shulman
    Interested in a career in Children’s Book Illustration, or advancing your practice to the next level? With the guidance and support of your tutors, you will have the opportunity to engage with experienced industry professionals, and develop your practice and personal visual vocabulary to a professional standard.







    Confirmed visitors/speakers include:



    - Rachel Petty, author/illustrator agent at the Blair Partnership, former editorial director Macmillan Children's Books,



    - Margaret Hope, art director, Welbeck Publishing Group



    - Arabella Stein, Managing Director, Bright Agency.
    Full fee £2,449.00 Senior fee £1,959.00 Concession £1,714.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  10. Extended drawing for artists and makers
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 11 Oct 2023 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Annie Attridge, Clare Barton-Harvey, Ruth Brison, Tony Hull, Claire Hynds, Monika Kita, Ute Kreyman, Mario Lautier Vella, Faith Vincent, susan kenton
    A multi-disciplinary course that will help broaden your skills and experience. Record, imagine, visualise, transform, narrate and develop through a series of practical projects. This exciting course is designed to help you place drawing at the centre of your chosen artistic discipline.



    This course requires a pre-enrolment application. Please click 'Start Assessment' on the right hand side of this page to start your application. EDAM Handbook







    EDAM Archive.
    Full fee £1,359.00 Senior fee £1,087.00 Concession £951.00
    Rating:
    93% of 100
  11. Advanced printmaking: practice and discourse
    Evening
    Course start date:  Sat 7 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Blended (learn both online and in-person)

    Tutors:  Ina Baumeister, Rolina Elsje Blok, Thomas Gosebruch, David Holah, Claire Hynds
    This 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 projects that encourage both a personal enquiry and the development of an individual methodology. The course involves theoretical, contextual and practical components. Student testimony:



    “This course has been absolutely brilliant! It’s not only taught me printmaking methods but also about the artistic process. I’ve learnt so much, it’s really been very transformative!” El Morrison (2023)



    “The course has pushed my boundaries. It has encouraged me to try new things within print and to think about the context and concepts I am trying to deliver” Declan Hoare (2023)



    “I thoroughly enjoyed the course. I met many wonderful talented artists. It has made me think about my own practice; how can I change it, modify it, make it more exciting. The tutors are absolutely amazing! They are full of knowledge, encouragement, and support. It was a great, great experience.” Areej Abdi (2023).



    This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £1,849.00 Senior fee £1,479.00 Concession £1,294.00
  12. Advanced printmaking: experimentation and development
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 12 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Blended (learn both online and in-person)

    This year-long advanced course is aimed at artists who wish to expand their print-based practice through exploring the integration of printmaking with a range of other media and processes. It includes: individual and collaborative practice; the creation of a body of work in a range of print- and print-related media; the production of a print publication, and a public exhibition of work. As you acquire advanced skills you will be encouraged to explore your own ideas and themes developing a sustainable art practice that is both meaningful to you and relevant to the contemporary art world.



    This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £1,849.00 Senior fee £1,479.00 Concession £1,294.00
  13. Advanced figure and portrait
    Course start date:  Fri 13 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Paul Dixon, Desmond Haughton, Brian Sayers, Kim Scouller, Benjamin Senior, Andrea Voisey
    The human form offers inexhaustible potential for communication and expression of ideas; this is an exciting advanced course for those with experience of working with the figure and/or portrait who would like the challenge of exploring new perspectives on the figurative tradition in drawing, painting and mixed media.
    Full fee £2,499.00 Senior fee £1,999.00 Concession £1,749.00
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