Make Art You're Proud Of
We all have ideas about making art. The difference is in what you do with them. With the right space and guidance, you can turn ideas into finished work that you’re proud to take home with you. City Lit’s expert-led courses are designed to do just that. Learn in specialist studios in the heart of London alongside like-minded people. Explore our courses below.
- Introduction to quilting
Course start date: Thu 18 Jun 2026 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Beverley SellLearn how to design and make a contemporary quilt using a range of construction and embellishment techniques. Work with simple shapes from recycled fabrics or bring your own fat quarters to create a personalised quilt. Suitable for beginners.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Pet illustration Course start date: Sat 20 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sophie WolfsonExplore techniques to create an impressive illustration of your pet.
Over two days you will explore a range of image-making techniques from drawing and painting to digital image manipulation and collage. At the end of the weekend you will take home a finished and unique illustration of your favourite pet.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00 - Digital surface design in 3 days Course start date: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Liege LopesA short course for beginners. Learn how to use simple collage to develop a digital textile design for a printed scarf. Scan your design before using Photoshop to refine and sharpen your image. Print your image using the sublimation printer and transfer onto your chosen fabric. All materials provided.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Character design Course start date: Wed 24 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ciara FloodThis course will explore the creation of characters within picture books and illustrated fiction.
Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Black and white photography Course start date: Wed 24 Jun 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Holly Falconer, Catriona GrayShape, form, pattern and texture take on added significance in black-and-white photography. Without colour to guide the eye, contrast, lighting, and composition take on even more importance. Discover these elements and the basic rules of black and white photography.
Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Drawing: perspective techniques and approaches Course start date: Wed 24 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Amanda BrackenExplore the practical and creative use of perspective through a series of lively exercises. This course introduces the basic principles used to visualise objects and spaces, as well as creative methods of using perspective to exploit depth and space in a drawing.
Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Illustrating animals Course start date: Wed 24 Jun 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ciara FloodOn this course you will explore illustrating animals and their gestural qualities using a variety of different mediums.
Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Start bookbinding Course start date: Sat 27 Jun 2026
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.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00 - Drawing: ink and wash techniques Course start date: Mon 29 Jun 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
The 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 £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00 - Explore sculptureCourse start date: Mon 29 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ro SylvesterSculpting in relief and 3D is a lovely way to express your ideas and expand on your creative skills. This course is ideal for beginners to sculpting, giving a taster of several techniques. However, if you have experience in one material and would like to find out more, this course could also be for you. We will cover a range of materials and you will find out how different techniques have developed through time. This short taster course will be good preparation for any of our specialised sculpting courses.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00 - Life drawing for beginners Course start date: Tue 30 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Luke JonesThis short course is a great introduction to drawing directly from the nude model, both male and female. Using simple excercises, you will explore different ways to represent the human form in drawing, with encouraging, helpful guidance from an experienced tutor. Suitable for absolute beginners.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00 - Painting: colour mixing for artists Course start date: Tue 7 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Amanda BrackenA concise study of colour usage. Investigate colour perception and how colour interacts. Explore a range of observational and expressive painting projects, relate colour theory to practice and develop confidence using colour.
Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00 - Create a short film in a weekend Course start date: Sat 11 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lyndon IvesLearn how to script, storyboard, shoot, edit and export a short film in this fun and fast paced introduction to film making.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £209.00 - Introduction to collage and mixed media Course start date: Fri 11 Sep 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ruth FranklinAn introduction to collage as an exciting, accessible and creative medium. Explore a rich variety of materials and found images to make vibrant work experimenting with surface, form, colour and pattern.
Full fee £329.00 Senior fee £263.00 Concession £214.00 - Portraits and people photography Course start date: Tue 15 Sep 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lorenzo BerniThis is a practical course that will teach you how to photograph people with confidence, sensitivity, and creativity across a range of real-world situations: from the studio portrait to street and documentary photography; or those special moments for the family album. You will learn invaluable skills about light, composition and posing your subject, helping you to produce a beautiful portrait portfolio.
Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00
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