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. 3D animation with Blender
    Last Few Places, Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 17 Apr 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Benjamin Austin
    If you are new to 3d animation, you’ve had a go at teaching yourself but are not making progress, or perhaps you are transferring to Blender from a different 3D program, this course is for you.



    It will take you through a professional approach to creating characters and environments in 3D from scratch, as well as introducing workflows and techniques to help produce polished 3D animations of your own.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £181.00
    Rating:
    93% of 100
  2. Introduction to illustration
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 26 Feb 2025 (and 4 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Ciara Flood
    Our 'Introduction' courses provide a perfect way-in to a creative field.







    Illustration is a form of visual communication which often exists alongside text. Illustrations can help to explain or clarify (or sometimes contradict) the words on a page. Most of all, you could say, they bring the message 'alive', by making it more immediate and exciting. For this reason, illustrations are found across books, magazines, newspapers, websites and social media channels.







    Learn how to create powerful illustrations on our exciting range of Illustration courses.
    Full fee £369.00 Senior fee £295.00 Concession £240.00
  3. Introduction to graphic design
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 30 May 2024 (and 6 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Pam Williams
    Our 'Introduction' courses provide a perfect way-in to a creative field.



    Graphic Design is everywhere; in our books, magazines, and newspapers. Emblazoning packaging at the corner shop to the mall. On our screens- phones, TVs, computers and tablets. To say it’s important would be an understatement.







    Don’t just consume. Learn how to use image and type to communicate your messages, emotions and ideas. Beyond this, learn about the movements and styles which have shaped the field of Graphic Design over the years, and how to find your place there.
    Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00
  4. Picture framing and mounting for beginners
    Last Few Places, Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 9 Apr 2024 (and 11 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Esther Heyhoe
    Learn picture framing and mounting skills for the home or workplace. Using professional framing tools and equipment you'll be taught all the skills you need to work in a busy studio or alternatively how to set up your own small scale practice from home.
    Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £181.00
  5. Illustration studio
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 15 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Lucia Vinti
    City Lit Studios provide time each week for you to commit to working on a personal project or portfolio, alongside your peers. A tutor will be on-hand to provide insights and guidance, as and when you need it.







    Illustration can be an isolating journey, so having a space to engage with like-minded people will naturally provide a supportive and inspiring environment for your practice to flourish.







    Our ‘Studio’ courses provide you with a space to share your learning journey with your peers, and to tap into tutor expertise, on a specific project or practice, through one-to-one tutorials and group crits. Learners will benefit from the professional experience of tutors who will be able to provide inside knowledge of a variety of aspects of the creative industry.







    Come with a project that you would like to develop, or should you need a starting point, our tutors will be able to provide you with industry-relevant briefs based on your interests, sensibilities, and visual language.







    STUDIOS are for experienced learners with a burgeoning creative practice they wish to hone, in a supportive environment. For example, those who have completed a Beginners and Developing course in a relevant subject, or have equivalent industry experience.
    Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00
  6. Friday evening pottery
    Course start date:  Fri 17 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Shelley Wilson
    Suitable for students who want to learn basic design, handbuilding, decoration and glazing techniques or for students who want to refresh or develop existing ceramics skills. Everyone will be encouraged to explore and experiment with different skills and techniques in a friendly and supportive environment.
    Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00
    Rating:
    60% of 100
  7. Contemporary watercolour painting projects
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 21 May 2024 (and 5 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Anne-Marie Foster
    Through a set of short projects inspired by contemporary practitioners and their contribution to the uniqueness of the medium, the course will help you expand your understanding of watercolour and enable you to make informed choices in making personal work. It will also focus on exploring some watercolour approaches that can add variation and visual interest to your painting according to subject matter.
    Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00
  8. Exhibiting and presenting your photography
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 22 May 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Kean Street Photography Studio

    Tutors:  Shirley Read
    Exhibiting your photography will support you in developing new ways and methods in exhibition techniques. Working with a physical gallery space as a creative brief, you will have the opportunity to propose new solutions and ways of engaging an audience in phtotogrpahic displays. Discuss and learn the history of photography exhibitions with key references and contemporary photographers. Get expert guidance to every aspect of exhibiting, from how to approach galleries to budgeting, hanging and marketing - giving you real confidence to stage your own show.
    Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00
  9. Introduction to children's book illustration
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 16 Jan 2025 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Dee Shulman
    Our Introductory courses provide a perfect way-in to a creative field.







    The Children’s Book industry is thriving, largely due to 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 the many and various skills you’ll need to illustrate books for children - from drawing and painting (analogue and digital), to sequencing and pacing visual narratives.



    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.
    Full fee £369.00 Senior fee £295.00 Concession £240.00
  10. Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00
    Rating:
    93% of 100
  11. Graphic design studio
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 3 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Andrew McCarten
    City Lit Studios provide time each week for you to commit to working on a personal project or portfolio, alongside your peers. A tutor will be on-hand to provide insights and guidance, as and when you need it.







    Studios are for experienced learners with a burgeoning creative practice they wish to hone, in a supportive environment. For example, those who have completed a Beginners and Developing course in a relevant subject, or have equivalent industry experience.
    Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00
  12. Design with Adobe Photoshop and InDesign
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 7 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Gita Hahn
    A thorough, step-by-step introduction to Adobe InDesign and Photoshop – programs widely used in the creative industries. Learn and integrate the basics of Adobe’s flagship publishing and image editing programs. Explore a range of techniques that combine page layout and design with pixel based photographic images.
    Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00
    Rating:
    80% of 100
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