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
- Try it out: basketry
Course start date: Sat 26 Apr 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John PageMake a small basket using the interesting basketry technique of Plaiting which is used throughout the world.
Be amazed by the potential of plaited basketry which will leave you wanting to learn more.
This course is ideal for beginners, or students wishing to refresh basic bias plaited basketry techniques. - Mosaics introductory: direct method Course start date: Sat 26 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vanessa BensonDevelop creative expression and confidence in this classic art form. Explore manufactured/recycled materials and surface qualities by applying them directly onto a base. Please bring ideas/sketchbooks. Basic materials provided. All levels welcome.Full fee £499.00 Senior fee £399.00 Concession £324.00 - Jewellery making: all levels Course start date: Sat 26 Apr 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kevin StevensonEver wanted to turn your hand to making your own jewellery? Or done it before and would like to hone your skills with a professional tutor? From beginners to experienced jewellers, come and practise making metal jewellery to your own designs, whether you're picking up the basics of cutting, forming and texturing, or taking your designs to the next level with complex approaches such as chain-making. - Modern copperplate calligraphy for improvers Course start date: Sat 26 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Veiko KespersaksExpand your knowledge of decorative handwriting with a flexible pointed nib, penholder, and ink. If you have previously learned the basics of traditional copperplate calligraphy but would like to understand more about the script, then this is the course for you. Suitable for both left-handers and right-handers.Full fee £359.00 Senior fee £287.00 Concession £233.00 - Start bookbinding Course start date: Sat 26 Apr 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ina BaumeisterDiscover the art of handmade books! Three days of progressive projects will guide you through core techniques and prepare you to experiment, design and craft your own unique books. - Developing photography skills Course start date: Sat 15 Nov 2025 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Michael HardingAlready 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 £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Developing watercolour painting Course start date: Sat 14 Jun 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sisetta ZapponeExplore the specific qualities of watercolour and the opportunities this adaptable medium offers to create dynamic painting compositions. Develop a fluency with brush work and layering of colour to develop compositional possibilities.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00 - Photography for beginners Course start date: Sat 27 Sep 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sara Leigh LewisAlways wondered what half the buttons on your camera actually do? Discover how to use them properly and produce impressive photographs, even as a complete beginner. Gain useful technical knowledge and get expert creative guidance in easy-to-understand language. An ideal first step before enrolling on our intermediate courses.Full fee £389.00 Senior fee £311.00 Concession £253.00 - Screen printing workshop Course start date: Sat 22 Nov 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rolina Elsje BlokEnjoy being guided through inspirational and experimental screenprinting methods. You'll try a variety of mixed media techniques that will energise and enliven your artwork - a great way to expand your image making practice and your portfolio.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - An introduction to drawing and the art of mindfulness Course start date: Sat 3 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Clare Barton-HarveyAn introduction to drawing and mindfulness and how mindfulness can support greater confidence, creativity, and a sense of freedom when drawing. The workshop is suitable for beginners to mindful drawing including those with experience in one or other discipline.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00 - Documentary filmmaking intensive Course start date: Sat 3 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lily MarkiewiczDocumentary-style films are the most popular genre on Social Media, on TV, and in Film festivals. Come and learn the essential techniques that make a gripping documentary.Full fee £449.00 Senior fee £359.00 Concession £292.00 - Introduction to life drawing and painting Course start date: Sat 3 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tony HullLearn or develop skills and approaches for painting the nude figure. Including use of tone and colour selection, composition and paint handling to develop solidity, atmosphere and expression. Some experience of drawing is recommended. - Vectorworks for beginners Course start date: Sat 10 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Nicholas WilliamsonOn this fast paced course learn how to create engaging digital 2D and 3D images of your design ideas using the professional application Vectorworks. Vectorworks is very user-friendly, industry standard software that is ideal for architectural planning, interior design projects, 3D modeling and landscaping.Full fee £349.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £227.00 - Visual Arts Open Day Course start date: Sat 10 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Join us for the annual City Lit Visual Arts open day. Throughout the day, at our HQ 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.Full fee £0.00 - Jewellery: a buyer's guide to pearls Course start date: Sat 10 May 2025
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.
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