Private Art Tuition in London: Frequently Asked Questions

Private art tuition is an individual lesson with a professional artist tutor whose attention is focused entirely on you.

Your tutor creates a personalised study plan based on your current ability, preferred medium and artistic goals. Lessons may include demonstrations, practical exercises, feedback, technical corrections and guidance on developing your own projects.

Unlike a general group course, you can work at your own pace and concentrate on the skills or subjects that matter most to you.

Sunny Art Centre offers private drawing and painting lessons at our professional studio in Covent Garden, Central London.

The studio is within walking distance of Covent Garden and Holborn Underground stations. Private tuition is available during the daytime, evenings and weekends, subject to tutor and studio availability.

View our one-to-one art lessons in London to compare the available packages.

Private tuition can be suitable for:

• Complete beginners and returning artists
• Intermediate, advanced, professional and practising artists
• Children and teenagers
• GCSE, A-Level and IB Art students
• Art-school and university applicants
• Students preparing an art portfolio
• Visitors who have limited time in London
• Students with a particular project or deadline
• People who prefer individual teaching or cannot attend the regular group timetable

The course content and pace are adapted to the individual student.

Yes. Complete beginners are very welcome. You do not need previous experience, a portfolio or any completed artwork before starting. Your tutor can introduce the materials and fundamental techniques gradually, beginning at a pace that feels manageable, and one-to-one tuition gives beginners more time to ask questions, repeat exercises and receive immediate feedback.

Experienced and professional artists can also use private tuition to refine a particular technique, investigate a new medium, receive critical feedback or develop a specific body of work. The tutor will assess your existing knowledge and avoid taking you through introductory material that you have already mastered.

Private tuition gives you the tutor’s full attention and a programme created specifically around your goals. A group class offers a shared studio environment and a lower cost per lesson, but the tutor must divide their time between several students. Although our group students also receive individual guidance, private tuition allows more intensive demonstrations, corrections and discussion.

Private tuition may be more suitable when you have a fixed deadline, need concentrated technical support, want to study a specialist subject, prefer to learn privately, require a timetable outside the group schedule, want to make faster progress, or need tuition tailored to an application or project. Some students combine private lessons with regular group classes.

Private tuition can cover a range of drawing and painting media, including:

• Pencil drawing
• Charcoal drawing
• Pastels
• Oil painting
• Acrylic painting
• Watercolour painting
• Portrait drawing and painting
• Still-life drawing and painting
• Landscape drawing and painting

Specialist subjects and other media may be possible depending on the tutor’s expertise and availability. Please explain what you want to study before purchasing so that the studio can match you with an appropriate tutor.

Yes. Private tuition is designed around your individual interests and goals. You may want to:

• Learn the foundations of drawing
• Improve colour theory and colour mixing
• Paint a portrait or develop a landscape painting
• Work from still-life objects
• Learn a particular painting technique
• Complete an unfinished artwork
• Prepare work for an exhibition
• Develop an art portfolio
• Explore a new medium

The tutor may recommend preparatory exercises before beginning a complex project, particularly when foundational skills need further development.

At the beginning of your first lesson, the tutor will discuss your previous experience, interests and goals. The tutor may review existing artwork if you have brought any and assess your understanding of drawing, colour, materials or composition. You will then begin an appropriate exercise or project. You do not need to bring a portfolio if you are a complete beginner.

Yes — a personalised study plan is one of the main benefits of private tuition. The plan may include the technical skills you need to develop, suitable exercises and projects, recommended materials, subjects to study, a realistic order of progression, independent practice between lessons and milestones for a project or deadline. The study plan can be adjusted as your work develops or your goals change.

The tutor can demonstrate, explain problems and show you how to improve your work, but the artwork should remain your own.

For school coursework, examinations, portfolios and applications, the student must complete the assessed or submitted work themselves.

Each private tuition lesson lasts two hours.

The course page recommends booking a minimum of two consecutive lessons to create a four-hour teaching session. A longer session gives the tutor and student more time for demonstrations, sustained practice and project development.

The best lesson length will depend on the student’s age, concentration, medium and goals.

Yes. Private tuition can be arranged as an intensive programme, subject to tutor and studio availability. An intensive programme may involve several lessons over consecutive days or multiple sessions within one week.

This may suit international visitors, students spending a short period in London, portfolio applicants with a deadline, artists preparing for an exhibition, students wanting concentrated technical training, and children or teenagers studying during school holidays.

Contact the studio with your dates, goals and preferred medium before purchasing.

Yes, provided there is sufficient time and a suitable tutor is available. Private tuition can prioritise the work needed for portfolio submissions, scholarship applications, GCSE, A-Level or IB projects, art-school applications, university interviews, exhibitions, commissions and personal projects.

No tutor can guarantee that a particular amount of work will be completed or that an application will succeed. Contact the studio as early as possible so that a realistic programme can be planned.

Sunny Art Centre currently offers seven private tuition packages. Each lesson lasts two hours, and the published prices include VAT:

• 12 lessons: £1,730 including VAT — £144.17 per lesson
• 16 lessons: £2,270 including VAT — £141.88 per lesson
• 20 lessons: £2,740 including VAT — £137 per lesson
• 30 lessons: £3,960 including VAT — £132 per lesson
• 40 lessons: £5,040 including VAT — £126 per lesson
• 50 lessons: £6,120 including VAT — £122.40 per lesson
• 60 lessons: £7,200 including VAT — £120 per lesson

Prices and package inclusions may change — check the current private art tuition prices before purchasing.

The right package depends on your current ability, goals, deadline and preferred subject:

• 12-Lesson Intro Plan — a focused introduction, a shorter project or help with a specific area.
• 16-Lesson Essentials Plan — additional time to develop core techniques or complete a focused course of study.
• 20-Lesson Foundation Plan — for students who want to build stronger foundations in drawing or painting.
• 30-Lesson Core Skills Plan — a more sustained programme with time to develop technique and complete several studies or projects.
• 40-Lesson Development Plan — substantial technical development, portfolio work or a longer personalised programme.
• 50-Lesson Advanced Plan — extended tuition for serious study, advanced development or a substantial body of work.
• 60-Lesson Mastery Plan — the most comprehensive and lowest-cost-per-lesson option, recommended for beginners who want to build a thorough foundation.

We recommend discussing your needs with the studio before choosing a larger package.

The best package depends on how far you want to progress.

A 12- or 16-lesson package can provide an introduction, but a complete beginner who wants to build strong drawing and painting foundations will normally benefit from a more comprehensive programme. The current course page recommends the 60-lesson Mastery Plan for beginners seeking sustained development.

The published packages include one-to-one lessons with a professional art tutor, a personalised curriculum, flexible weekday or weekend scheduling (subject to availability), individual demonstrations and feedback, development support for personal projects or portfolios, and priority booking for package students.

Materials are not generally included unless a particular package states otherwise. The current course page lists complimentary materials packs with selected packages: the 30-lesson plan includes a drawing pack, the 40-lesson plan a premium drawing pack, the 50-lesson plan a watercolour pack and the 60-lesson plan an acrylic pack. These inclusions may change and may not necessarily match the medium you intend to study, so check the package description or confirm with the office before purchasing.

Easels and basic studio furniture are provided, and selected drawing and painting materials are available to purchase from our studio shop, subject to stock.

Yes. Each package has a validity period:

• 12 lessons: five months
• 16 lessons: six months
• 20 lessons: nine months
• 30 lessons: 11 months
• 40 lessons: 14 months
• 50 lessons: 17 months
• 60 lessons: 21 months

All lessons must be arranged and completed within the published validity period. Extensions or freezes are not automatic and should not be assumed when choosing a package.

The currently published private tuition timetable is:

Monday to Friday: 10:00am–8:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00am–5:00pm

All times are subject to tutor and studio availability. A published time range does not mean that every tutor or medium is available at every time.

The published booking process is:

• Visit the private art tuition course page.
• Select and purchase the appropriate package.
• Email the studio or use the live chat to arrange your first lesson.
• Provide your preferred dates, medium, level and goals.
• Wait for the lesson date and tutor to be confirmed.

Do not travel to the studio without a confirmed appointment.

Yes. Private tuition provides more scheduling flexibility than a fixed group course. You can request suitable dates and times within the available timetable, and the studio will match your request with an appropriate tutor and available teaching space. Popular evenings and weekends may have limited availability, so advance booking is recommended.

You may request a particular tutor, especially when their specialist medium or teaching approach suits your goals. However, tutor requests are subject to availability and cannot always be guaranteed. Private tuition also uses rolling enrolment, so you do not need to wait for the beginning of a school term — your starting date will depend on tutor and studio availability.

At least 48 hours’ notice is required to cancel or change a private lesson and retain the lesson credit.

Late cancellations and missed lessons normally result in the credit being deducted because the tutor has reserved that time for the student. Any change should be confirmed through the studio rather than assumed.

Yes. Private tuition is available through live online lessons as well as at the Covent Garden studio.

Online tuition follows a personalised structure and allows the tutor to demonstrate techniques, review artwork, discuss materials, provide live feedback, plan projects, set exercises and review progress between lessons.

Online tuition may suit students outside London, international applicants and people who prefer to study from home.

Yes, online lessons are suitable for complete beginners, provided the student has the required materials, a suitable working space and a device positioned so the tutor can see the artwork and working process. Beginners may need guidance before the first lesson about which materials to purchase and how to position the camera.

The current course page presents onsite and online tuition under the same private tuition service. Confirm the exact price, package and lesson format before purchasing, particularly if you intend to combine online and studio sessions.

You will normally need:

• A computer, tablet or suitable phone
• A stable internet connection
• A camera that can show your artwork and hands
• Good lighting
• A suitable working surface
• The required art materials
• Space to position the device safely

The tutor may also ask you to send clear photographs of your work before or after the lesson.

Yes. Private tuition is available for children, subject to tutor availability and an age-appropriate lesson structure.

Parents should contact the studio before purchasing so that the office can recommend a suitable tutor, lesson duration and programme. The recommended four-hour format may not be appropriate for every younger child, so this should be discussed in advance. See our children’s and teens’ art classes for group options.

Yes. Teenagers can receive individual tuition in drawing and painting. Private lessons may support:

• General artistic development
• GCSE Art, A-Level Art and IB Visual Arts
• Art scholarships and portfolio preparation
• School projects and personal artwork
• Foundation or university applications

The student remains responsible for completing their own assessed work.

Yes. A tutor can help a GCSE Art student improve practical skills and develop stronger project work, with support that may include observational drawing, painting techniques, colour theory, composition, material experimentation, developing ideas, reviewing sketchbooks and improving finished pieces.

One-to-one lessons can also help A-Level and IB students develop more technically accomplished and coherent work. Students should bring their project brief, school guidance, assessment objectives and submission deadline so that the tutor can understand the requirements. The tutor will not complete assessed work on the student’s behalf, and the school or examination centre remains responsible for assessment and grading.

Yes. Individual tuition can help applicants strengthen drawing and painting, develop projects and improve their portfolio presentation.

However, students requiring comprehensive application support may be better suited to a dedicated portfolio preparation programme, which may also include project planning, sketchbooks, selection, sequencing, written presentation and interview preparation.

Sunny Art Centre can provide professional tuition and guidance, but it cannot guarantee grades, scholarships, admissions, interview outcomes or other application results. Results depend on the student’s own work, commitment, school assessment and the decisions of the relevant institution.

Studio lessons take place at 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.

Easels and basic studio furniture are provided. Students with mobility, sensory or other access requirements should contact the studio before booking so that the team can assess the studio setup and any reasonable arrangements that may be available.

Bring any materials recommended by the studio, a suitable drawing or painting surface, existing artwork you would like the tutor to review, reference images for a personal project, your portfolio or sketchbook where relevant, and details of any application or school deadline. Complete beginners should ask for a materials list before purchasing unnecessary supplies.

Wear comfortable clothing that you do not mind marking with charcoal or paint. An apron or protective clothing is recommended, particularly for acrylic and oil painting.

A shared private lesson may be possible, but one-to-one packages are not automatically designed for two students.

The students should normally have compatible ages, levels and goals. Contact the studio before purchasing to confirm the lesson structure, price and whether sharing is permitted.

Yes. We recommend a free consultation if you are uncertain about the medium, tutor, number of lessons or course structure.

During the consultation, you can discuss your previous experience, what you would like to learn, your preferred medium, any existing artwork, your timetable, your budget, your target deadline, whether you should study in person or online, and the most suitable lesson package.

A consultation is particularly valuable for beginners, intensive programmes, portfolio applicants and students with a deadline.