Student stories
City Lit inspires passions and realises ambitions. Each year students studying here change careers, embark on a new challenge, or learn something new. They are taught by specialist tutors - practicing writers, artists, performers, and practitioners. Read about some of our students here...
Creative Writing
Victoria Selman
Completing her studies at City Lit was the first step towards Victoria meeting her goal of becoming a published writer, seeing her follow her heart and demonstrate that it really is never too late to carve out a new path in life. Read Victoria's story
Speech Therapy
James Davies
My time at City Lit was life-changing. I was advised by a speech therapist in the first session with her to enrol on the stammering course, and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Read James's story
Drama
Kirsty Yeung
What I enjoy most about coming to City Lit? The people! It is so great to be around like-minded people – we are all there because we want to be there and are working towards a common goal.
Read Kirsty's story
Creative Writing
Samuel Burr
I enrolled on the part-time Writing Fiction course in 2019 which was the perfect introduction to novel writing. I was a freelance TV producer at the time, so what I loved was being able to fit in my studies around my full-time job. Read Samuel's story
Drama
Eveline Reynolds-Boison
Acting means everything to me. I am now at a stage where my family commitments are beginning to change and I feel ready and hope to build a positive acting career. I am always looking for new courses to help me develop my acting skills as well as my professionalism and City Lit has helped with that. Read Eveline's story
Drama
Aiden Champion
As an artist I think City Lit is a very safe place. But importantly it’s also a place that really pushes you. The facilities are great, the staff are incredible; all the city lit drama department are incredibly supportive. Read Aiden's story
Creative Writing
Wendy Allen
After being made redundant, Wendy discovered her passion for poetry after taking up courses at City Lit. She is now studying for an MA in Creative Writing at Oxford Brookes University.
Read Wendy's story
Visual arts
Angela Tulloch
Bursary recipient Angela Tulloch said; 'City Lit has been and still is a life saver, it is a powerful positive transformation place. This opportunity has allowed my soul to sing because I am actually doing what makes me free and happy'. Read Angela's story
Ceramics
Lucille Lewin
Lucille Lewin discovered her passion for ceramics on the City Lit Diploma course following her hugely successful career in fashion and retailing (selling the Whistles business in 2002).
Read Lucille's story
Creative Writing
Pieter Dewulf
Pieter DeWulf attended several creative writing courses at City Lit. In 2021, he was the winner of the Evening Standard Stories Competition.
Read Pieter's story
Music
Ray Plassard
Hearing that the City Lit celebrates its centenary in 2019 put me in mind that I have been attending classes there on and off for over 50 years, half of its existence! Mainly in the music department.' Read Ray's story
Lipreading
Cathy
Lipreading classes saved my life! It gave me the confidence to join in social settings again and also massively helped rebuild my relationships with my family and get back to work.
Read Cathy's story
Creative Writing
Malorie Blackman
Malorie Blackman OBE has a long connection with City Lit as a former student attending diverse courses with us since the late 1980s. Having written over fifty books, Malorie is acknowledged as one of today’s most imaginative and convincing writers for young readers. Read Malorie's story
Deaf Education
Ilyaas Cader
llyaas travelled from Sri Lanka, surviving an incredible journey across Europe, to join his brother in London. He went on to study English at City Lit and now works as a Senior Deaf Children’s Mental Health Worker.
Read Ilyaas's story
Creative Writing
Sovel Cunningham
A career with Royal Mail and in Human resources equipped Sovel with great interpersonal skills. Mastering her natural poetic voice during several writing and speech courses at City Lit, she has recently signed a publishing deal with 'That Guy's House. Read Sovel's story
Drama
Penelope Maynard
Discover how City Lit courses provide inspiration and substance in Penelope’s retirement, and her general view of City Lit after being a student here for a number of years. Having taken over 15 courses, City Lit plays an enormous role in her daily life. Read Penelope's story
Photography
Lucy and Dave Wilson
Lucy and Dave Wilson met at a Photography taster course at the Visual Arts Open Day, by the end of the day they had arranged a date, went on to marry and start a family with the arrival of baby Gene. Read their story
Massage Therapy
Jack O'Neill
Jack decided to take early retirement and started looking for massage therapy courses in London after deciding the quiet life wasn't for him...Jack is now a fully qualified massage therapist and a professional member of the CThA, and the owner of Holmas Massage. Read Jack's story