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.
Courses available both in-person and online
We offer a range of courses allowing you to choose between online and in-person learning. All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, you’ll receive the same great City Lit experience. See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.
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 or call us on 020 7492 2700, Monday to Friday between 10am-12pm or 2pm-4pm.
- Drawing: ink and wash techniquesCourse start date: Mon 12 Sep 2022 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jack DuplockThe immediacy and versatility of ink and wash is perfect for those sketching on location, for designers and for students interested in watercolour techniques. Take the opportunity to explore the basic techniques of this exciting process.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Painting: oil techniques and mediumsCourse start date: Thu 15 Sep 2022 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Desmond HaughtonOil paint is a uniquely luscious medium, capable of heavy impasto effects and also the most delicate transparent colour films. Explore the different effects that can be created when different oil painting mediums are added to the oil paint. Learn to use a range of these mediums to create excitng and varied surfaces in your painting, expanding your use of texture and glazing.
This course is for all levels – both beginners and more experienced painters.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Creative image editing with Photoshop and LightroomCourse start date: Mon 19 Sep 2022 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Photography Studio
Tutors: Michael HardingLearn how to use and apply the key features of Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop to develop your image editing skills.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Commercial illustration: mixed media techniquesCourse start date: Wed 28 Sep 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Alison BarrattIn the fast-paced fashion industry, the need to promote your brand or business relies on great graphic design. Whether it’s designing a logo and merchandising, or creating advertising for both online and traditional media, this beginners’ course will help you develop the graphic design skills to create and promote a strong brand image.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Developing photography skillsCourse start date: Thu 29 Sep 2022 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Photography Studio
Tutors: Ed GregoryAlready 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 £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Contemporary art photographyCourse start date: Thu 13 Oct 2022
Location on this date: Photography Studio
Tutors: Laura VuomaBecome an expert in the fine art world of contemporary photography. Learn about the history, concepts and theories behind the art form, and the technology and techniques now influencing it. Develop practical skills to realise your own creative ideas, discuss your photography portfolio with others, and learn about platforms to showcase your work on the commercial fine art market.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Botanical illustrationCourse start date: Thu 10 Nov 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Alison BarrattBotanical illustration is both an art form and a means of scientific engagement. On this short illustration course, you will work with a range of plant species images and live studies, working both in the studio and on location.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Sketchbooks: ideas, materials and techniquesCourse start date: Thu 17 Nov 2022 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
A fantastic introduction to creative processes using a variety of different media to develop an exciting sketchbook. A sketchbook is a great place to try things out, make mistakes and take risks - all in the nature of experimentation. Suitable for beginners as well as those with some previous drawing experience.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Art in theory: politics and societyCourse start date: Thu 12 Jan 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Charles ChambersCritical thinking course for creative practitioners exploring culture, society and politics drawing on a range of cultural theories and work by significant artists and designers to enhance and inspire creative thinking and practical work.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £111.00 - Art and Ideas: Identity and the selfCourse start date: Thu 12 Jan 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ian TucknottThis course is for students and creative practitioners interested in identity as a creative and conceptual theme. Explore and discuss ideas, theories and work by significant artists and writers to enhance and inspire the development of creative work.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £111.00 - Colour theory for artists and designersCourse start date: Thu 16 Feb 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Amanda BrackenCombining theory and practice, experimentation and intuition, this introductory course for Artists and Makers, is designed to improve your sensitivity to colour. Through structured exercises develop confidence and skill in mixing, imagining, organising and applying colour.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Art and Ideas: What is visual language?Course start date: Thu 2 Mar 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ian TucknottThis course is for students and creative practitioners interested in visual language as a creative and conceptual theme. Explore and discuss ideas, theories and work by significant artists and writers to enhance and inspire the development of creative work and build an understanding of your own visual language.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £111.00
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