Study the human figure in a fully tutored, small-group class with professional models and sustained long poses. View current prices, packages and booking options, or book a free consultation first.
Life Drawing Classes in London — Frequently Asked Questions
LIFE DRAWING CLASSES - FAQ
Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Life Drawing Class
LIFE DRAWING CLASSES - FAQ
Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Life Drawing Class
Thinking about your first life drawing class but not sure what to expect? This FAQ answers the questions we hear most at Sunny Art Centre in Covent Garden, Central London — from whether beginners are welcome and what to bring, through to model sessions, anatomy and proportion, materials and studio etiquette. If anything is still unclear, you can book a free consultation before you enrol.
Choosing a Life Drawing Class in London
What is life drawing?
Life drawing is the practice of drawing the human figure from direct observation of a professional model who poses for the class. Working from life — rather than from a photograph — trains your eye for gesture, balance, proportion, weight, anatomy, light and three-dimensional form.
It is one of the most effective foundations for figure drawing, portraiture, painting, illustration, animation, fashion, sculpture and many other areas of art and design.
It is one of the most effective foundations for figure drawing, portraiture, painting, illustration, animation, fashion, sculpture and many other areas of art and design.
Are your life drawing classes suitable for complete beginners?
Yes — complete beginners are welcome. You do not need previous life drawing experience, a portfolio or any completed artwork before joining.
Your tutor will show you how to begin, how to measure the figure and how to organise the drawing on the page. Beginners receive instruction suited to their ability, while more experienced artists can work on advanced proportion, anatomy, tone, colour and longer studies in the same class.
Your tutor will show you how to begin, how to measure the figure and how to organise the drawing on the page. Beginners receive instruction suited to their ability, while more experienced artists can work on advanced proportion, anatomy, tone, colour and longer studies in the same class.
Is the class tutored or untutored?
Every Sunny Art Centre life drawing and figure painting session is fully tutored. Your tutor gives individual demonstrations, corrections and technical advice throughout the class — you are never simply given a model and left to work alone.
This makes the course suitable both for beginners who want clear guidance and for experienced artists who want professional feedback on their figure work.
This makes the course suitable both for beginners who want clear guidance and for experienced artists who want professional feedback on their figure work.
How is this different from a typical drop-in life drawing session?
Many public life drawing sessions are intended for independent practice and offer little or no tuition. Our course combines the flexibility of a weekly class with a structured, atelier-style learning programme.
Students work with the same model and sustained pose across an eight-week cycle, receiving continuous tutor guidance and developing a more resolved drawing or painting over several weeks.
Students work with the same model and sustained pose across an eight-week cycle, receiving continuous tutor guidance and developing a more resolved drawing or painting over several weeks.
Do you offer evening life drawing classes in London?
Yes. Our regular life drawing and figure painting class takes place every Tuesday from 6:30–8:30pm at our Covent Garden studio, which suits students attending after work, university or other daytime commitments.
Please check the current life drawing timetable and booking options before attending.
How long is each life drawing class?
Each class lasts two hours. The usual structure is two 15-minute warm-up poses followed by one 90-minute long-pose study.
The warm-ups build gesture, movement, balance and proportion, while the longer pose gives you time to develop anatomy, tone, form, colour and a more resolved artwork.
The warm-ups build gesture, movement, balance and proportion, while the longer pose gives you time to develop anatomy, tone, form, colour and a more resolved artwork.
How many students are in each life drawing class?
Classes have a maximum of 10 students. The small-group format gives everyone a clear view of the model and allows the tutor to provide meaningful individual guidance in every session.
Who teaches the life drawing classes?
Classes are taught by professional artists and experienced art tutors with strong backgrounds in drawing and painting. Your tutor gives demonstrations, corrections and advice according to your level and chosen medium.
The tutor may vary according to the programme and teaching schedule.
The tutor may vary according to the programme and teaching schedule.
The Model and Pose Format
Does life drawing involve a nude model?
Life drawing normally involves observing an unclothed professional model, so that students can study the complete structure, proportions and movement of the human figure. The model is treated respectfully and professionally at all times, and the atmosphere is calm, focused and educational.
The model and pose format can vary, so please contact the studio before booking if you would like to confirm the arrangements for a particular session.
The model and pose format can vary, so please contact the studio before booking if you would like to confirm the arrangements for a particular session.
Are the models professional?
Yes. The course uses professional life models who are experienced in holding both shorter warm-up poses and sustained long poses. Models take scheduled breaks during the class and across the eight-week study programme.
Does the model hold the same pose for eight weeks?
The main long pose continues throughout an eight-week model cycle. This does not mean the model stays in position for the entire class without breaks — the pose is carefully marked and reconstructed each week so you can keep developing the same artwork.
Working with the same pose over several sessions gives you time to refine proportion, anatomy, tone, colour and form.
Working with the same pose over several sessions gives you time to refine proportion, anatomy, tone, colour and form.
What You Will Learn
What will I learn in a beginner life drawing class?
Beginner students may learn:
- How to begin a figure drawing and place the figure on the page
- Gesture and movement
- Measuring height and width and comparing proportions
- Using vertical and horizontal reference points
- Understanding balance and weight
- Simplifying the figure into larger shapes
- Basic anatomical landmarks
- Light and shadow, tonal values and three-dimensional form
- Using pencil or charcoal effectively
The tutor adapts the instruction to your current experience.
Will I learn human anatomy?
Yes. The course introduces practical anatomy as it relates to drawing and painting the visible figure, including important skeletal and muscular landmarks in the torso, pelvis, shoulders, limbs and head.
The aim is not to memorise every muscle, but to understand enough anatomy to interpret the model’s structure, movement, balance and form more accurately.
The aim is not to memorise every muscle, but to understand enough anatomy to interpret the model’s structure, movement, balance and form more accurately.
Will I learn how to draw accurate proportions?
Yes. Proportion is one of the main areas developed through life drawing. Your tutor can show you how to measure overall height and width, compare parts of the body, use angles and alignments, identify the centre of balance, check negative spaces and correct distortions.
The long-pose format gives you time to make careful observations and improve the drawing gradually.
The long-pose format gives you time to make careful observations and improve the drawing gradually.
Will I learn shading and tonal drawing?
Yes. You can learn how light falls across the body and how tonal values create the appearance of three-dimensional form. Depending on your level, the tutor may cover the light-and-shadow pattern, core and cast shadows, reflected light, turning form, soft and hard edges, tonal organisation and chiaroscuro.
Can life drawing improve my general drawing skills?
Yes. Life drawing develops observation, proportion, measuring, gesture, composition, tone, edges, form and confident mark-making — skills that carry across every other subject. Students often find that regular figure study also improves their portrait, still-life and painting work.
Life Drawing and Figure Painting Options
Can I paint the model instead of drawing?
Yes. You can choose between life drawing and figure painting. The figure painting programme uses the same professional model and long-pose structure, so you can develop a painting over several weeks.
Please review the life drawing and figure painting course options before booking, as drawing and painting have separate course prices.
What drawing materials can I use?
Life drawing students may work with graphite pencils, charcoal, pastels and suitable drawing paper. Beginners often start with graphite or charcoal, which are well suited to learning line, proportion and tone.
Your tutor can advise on the most appropriate medium for your experience and intended result. You can browse our drawing materials before attending.
What painting media can I use?
Figure painting students may work in oil, acrylic or watercolour. Oil suits gradual blending and layering, acrylic is useful for layered, opaque painting, and watercolour offers transparent colour and a different approach to edges and washes.
Choose one main medium for an extended long-pose study rather than changing every week, and see our painting materials for suitable supplies.
Materials, Your First Class and Etiquette
Are materials included in the course price?
Materials are not generally included unless the course description specifically states otherwise. Easels and basic studio furniture are provided; students bring their own supplies or purchase selected materials from Sunny Art Centre.
What should I bring to my first life drawing class?
A simple beginner drawing kit may include:
- Cartridge or drawing paper
- Graphite pencils and charcoal
- A kneaded or putty eraser and a standard eraser
- A pencil sharpener
- Masking tape or clips
- A sketchbook for warm-up studies
You do not need to buy a very large range of materials before your first class. You can browse our drawing materials before attending.
What should I expect at my first life drawing class?
When you arrive, the tutor will explain the studio arrangement, model etiquette and session structure. The class normally begins with two shorter warm-up poses before progressing to the main long pose.
The tutor will discuss your previous experience, help you choose a suitable viewpoint and guide you on how to begin your drawing or painting. Complete beginners are welcome and are not expected to produce a perfect drawing in their first session.
The tutor will discuss your previous experience, help you choose a suitable viewpoint and guide you on how to begin your drawing or painting. Complete beginners are welcome and are not expected to produce a perfect drawing in their first session.
What is the correct etiquette in a life drawing class?
Life drawing follows a few important professional rules:
- Arrive on time and treat the model respectfully
- Do not photograph or film the model, and keep your phone away during poses
- Do not touch the model or the model’s platform
- Speak to the tutor rather than directing the model yourself
- Avoid unnecessary conversation while the model is posing
- Keep walkways clear and return promptly after breaks
These rules protect the model’s privacy and help maintain a focused learning environment.
Booking, Packages and Prices
How much do life drawing classes cost in London?
The cost depends on whether you choose life drawing or figure painting, and whether you book a single drop-in, an 8-class course or a longer package. Figure painting costs more than drawing because it involves a different course structure and medium-specific tuition.
Visit our life drawing course prices and packages page for current prices, VAT information and booking options.
Can I book a single drop-in life drawing class?
Yes. Drop-in options are available for both life drawing and figure painting, subject to availability. A drop-in suits first-time students, visiting artists, those who cannot commit to a full cycle and experienced artists seeking extra practice.
Students who want sustained development benefit more from an 8-, 16- or 24-class package.
Which life drawing course package should I choose?
The 8-class package covers one eight-week model cycle — ideal for completing one sustained figure study. The 16-class package covers two cycles, giving more time to improve proportion, anatomy, tone and materials handling. The 24-class package covers three cycles and is the most comprehensive option for long-term development, portfolio preparation or serious figure study.
Compare the life drawing and figure painting packages before enrolling.
Can I use life drawing credits for other art classes?
Life drawing course credits can be used only to book the life drawing and figure painting class — they are dedicated to the figure programme and cannot be spent on other courses.
If you are a student on one of our regular adult drawing or painting courses, you can also use your course credits to book a place in the life drawing class.
If you are a student on one of our regular adult drawing or painting courses, you can also use your course credits to book a place in the life drawing class.
What is the cancellation policy?
At least 48 hours’ notice is required to cancel or change a booked class and keep the lesson credit. Late cancellations and missed sessions normally result in the lesson being deducted.
Please manage any change through the method stated in your booking confirmation.
Please manage any change through the method stated in your booking confirmation.
Do life drawing course packages expire?
Yes. Each package is designed around one or more eight-week model cycles and has a published validity period: the 8-class package is valid for 16 weeks, the 16-class package for 24 weeks and the 24-class package for 32 weeks. Each package includes an extra eight weeks on top of the class schedule, giving you more flexibility to complete your lessons. All lessons must be booked and attended before the package expires.
Check the terms shown on the course page before purchasing and choose a package you can realistically complete.
Check the terms shown on the course page before purchasing and choose a package you can realistically complete.
Portfolios, Private Tuition and Location
Can life drawing help with an art-school portfolio?
Yes. Figure drawing can demonstrate observation, proportion, structure, anatomy, tone, experimentation and sustained development, and the long-pose programme helps you create resolved drawings and paintings rather than only quick sketches.
Students working towards a competitive application may benefit from dedicated portfolio preparation alongside the weekly class. We cannot guarantee admission, but we help you present your strongest work.
Can I arrange private life drawing tuition?
Yes. Private or bespoke figure tuition is available for students who want fully individual teaching, an intensive programme or support with a particular technique. Because private life drawing requires the studio, tutor and professional model to be arranged together, availability and pricing differ from regular group classes.
Explore one-to-one art classes or book a free consultation to discuss your goals and preferred dates.
Where are the life drawing classes held?
Classes are held at Sunny Art Centre in Covent Garden, Central London — convenient for daytime, evening and weekend students.
Full address
Sunny Art Centre, Kemble Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 4AW
Nearest Underground stations
Covent Garden: Piccadilly line
Holborn: Central and Piccadilly lines
Nearby bus stop
Aldwych/Kingsway, Stop F — routes 1, 68, 91, 168, 188, N1, N68, N91, N171 and SL6
Nearby car parks
Lincoln’s Inn Fields Car Park, Urban Parking Shelton Street, NCP London Covent Garden and Intelli-Park Covent Garden — all open 24 hours.
Start Life Drawing or Figure Painting in London
