Courses - Online & in London

Gain a basic understanding of hand-building, glazing and decoration techniques. Explore your creative ideas whilst learning the exciting possibilities of working with clay. Enjoy a taster experience of throwing on the wheel in the final session.

This one term course is designed to help students to develop their bookbinding skills. You will already have some experience of binding techniques and some knowledge of tools, materials and equipment in order to benefit from this workshop-style class. There will be the opportunity to work on your own projects, or to practice skills in which you feel less confident in order to enable you to progress to higher level courses. Not suitable for beginners.

Encounter different approaches to making abstract paintings while developing your skills in using a variety of painting materials. With reference to the work of a variety of abstract artists explore the visual language common to both representation and abstraction, eg. colour, composition, tone and paint application.

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.

A comprehensive course to build skills, vision and flair in drawing the human form. Use traditional and experimental approaches and a range of media, including charcoal and pastel.

Create motifs and designs for printed textiles which may then be printed onto cloth. This course is ideal for beginners in Photoshop who are textile artists, designers, or for anyone interested in exploring pattern, colour and texture.

Learn and develop a range of essential jewellery making techniques and processes for creating metal jewellery. This course is designed for beginners who would like to gain fundamental skills like sawing, filing, sanding, drilling, texturing, forging and soldering. Explore these techniques in set projects and use them to design and make your own pieces.

Discover the extraordinary construction of the human body. Through direct observation of the model you will examine the fundamental anatomical structures that underlie both portrait and life drawing. For those with some drawing experience.

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.