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. Developing photography skills
    Course start date:  Fri 2 May 2025 (and 13 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Kean Street Photography Studio

    Tutors:  Rachel Wegh
    Already know the basics of photography but want to take things further? Refresh your knowledge, learn more advanced skills and develop your creative ideas, with an established professional photographer on hand for technical guidance and creative inspiration.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
  2. Introduction to beaded jewellery
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 11 May 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Beverley Sell
    Explore traditional and contemporary beaded jewellery techniques such as stringing and knotting and learn about which beaded jewellery materials and tools to use to create a professional finish.



    You will take inspiration from current fashion accessories seen on the catwalk to create your own beaded jewellery and a striking final piece.
    Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00
  3. London street photography
    Course start date:  Fri 29 Nov 2024 (and 5 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Kean Street Photography Studio

    Tutors:  Michael Harding
    Wish you could capture those spontaneous moments of urban life like a pro? Learn the tricks of the skilful trade of street photography and build your confidence in snapping candid, unobtrusive photographs on the street, shooting in some of the most dynamic and vibrant areas of London to tell powerful stories in single images.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
  4. Drawing: a contemporary approach
    Course start date:  Fri 28 Jun 2024 (and 6 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Chris Hough
    Take your drawing into exciting new directions – build on your existing skills and discover new ways of working. For intermediate students with some drawing experience who would like to explore experimental drawing techniques and develop their own ideas in drawing. A chance to extend your own drawing projects guided by our expert tutor and practising artist, with reference to the work of artists using drawing in the wider art world today.
    Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00
  5. Introduction to watercolour painting
    Course start date:  Mon 15 Apr 2024 (and 11 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Anne-Marie Foster
    Gain a grounding in the rich possibilities available when working with watercolour paint. Through a series of practical studies, you will investigate the potential of this versatile medium.
    Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00
  6. Life painting: focus on light and shade
    Course start date:  Fri 29 Nov 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    A great introduction to tonal painting working directly from the unclothed life model model. Using simple projects, you will explore different ways to represent the human form through light and shade in paint with encouraging helpful guidance from an experienced tutor.
    Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00
  7. Illustrating animals workshop
    Course start date:  Fri 2 May 2025 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Ciara Flood
    Animals are all around us – even in London! From Trafalgar Square’s flocks of pigeons, to rodents on the Underground, to the dog-filled squares and parks. Despite their ubiquity, animals are notoriously hard to draw – as, anatomically speaking, they’re so different to humans – as well as to each other! And, they don’t like to pose!







    Learn how to overcome these challenges in our ‘Illustrating Animals’ workshop.







    Our Workshops enable you to take a deep dive into a specific process, media or tool.



    They 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 theory or context, although this varies by course.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
  8. Procreate for illustration
    Course start date:  Fri 28 Mar 2025 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Lucia Vinti
    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 theory or context, although this varies by course.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
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