Teen Art Courses in London — Frequently Asked Questions

Sunny Art Centre offers in-person art classes for teenagers at our professional studio in Covent Garden, Central London.

Teenagers can study observational drawing, watercolour painting and acrylic painting through our regular Sunday programme. We also offer intensive summer and half-term courses, private tuition and dedicated portfolio preparation.

Explore our art classes for kids and teens in London to compare the regular course packages, lesson content and timetable.

Our regular kids and teens programme is open to students aged 7–17.

Teenagers are taught according to their individual age, experience, ability and goals. They are not required to complete the same projects as younger children in the class.

A teenager can follow a more technically advanced programme covering observational drawing, perspective, tonal work, colour theory, watercolour, acrylic painting and portfolio development.

Yes. Complete beginners are very welcome.

Teenagers do not need previous art lessons, a portfolio or examples of completed work before joining. The tutor will assess their current level and recommend an appropriate starting exercise.

Beginners normally start with essential drawing skills such as shape, proportion, line, observation, shading and tonal values before moving towards more complex drawing and painting projects.

Students aged 17 may be able to join our adult drawing or painting courses, depending on the medium, timetable, maturity and learning goals.

Students aged 16 or under should normally join the regular kids and teens programme, a school-holiday course or private tuition.

Please contact our office before booking an adult class for a 17-year-old so that we can confirm the most suitable course.

Yes. Our regular art classes for children and teenagers take place every Sunday at our Covent Garden studio.

Drawing: Sunday, 9:00am–11:00am
Painting: Sunday, 11:30am–1:30pm

Each lesson lasts two hours. Visit our Sunday art classes for teenagers page to view the available course packages and enrolment information.

Yes. Subject to availability and having sufficient course credits, students can attend both the morning drawing lesson and the later painting lesson.

Attending both sessions can be particularly helpful for teenagers who want to make faster progress or apply their drawing knowledge directly to their painting.

Students should bring any food or refreshments they need for the break between the two sessions.

No. Our regular courses use a flexible credit-based booking system, and enrolment is rolling, so students do not need to wait for the beginning of a school term.

After purchasing a course package, parents or students can use the online account to view the timetable and reserve available Sunday lessons. Students do not need to attend automatically every week, but regular attendance is recommended for consistent progress.

A confirmed online booking is required for every class.

Drawing lessons may include:

• Observational drawing
• Shape and construction
• Line quality and mark-making
• Measuring proportions
• Perspective
• Light and shadow
• Shading and tonal values
• Composition
• Still-life, portrait, landscape and animal subjects
• Developing more resolved artworks

The exact content depends on the student’s age, experience, goals and chosen course package.

Painting lessons may introduce watercolour and acrylic painting, including:

• Colour theory and colour mixing
• Warm and cool colours
• Tonal relationships
• Brush control and paint application
• Water control in watercolour
• Layering and blending
• Transparency and opacity
• Hard and soft edges
• Texture and mark-making
• Composition and suitable subjects

Students normally develop drawing foundations before or alongside their painting studies.

Oil painting is not included within the standard 20-, 40- or 60-lesson kids and teens course structure.

A teenager interested specifically in oil painting should contact our office before enrolling. Depending on the student’s age, experience and goals, we may recommend private tuition or an appropriate adult course for a student aged 17.

Yes. Our tutors can help GCSE Art students strengthen the practical skills that support their school coursework, including:

• Observational drawing
• Painting techniques
• Composition
• Colour theory and colour mixing
• Material experimentation
• Developing ideas
• Improving the quality of finished artworks
• Organising a consistent body of work

The student remains responsible for following their school’s curriculum, assessment objectives and exam-board requirements. Students with an urgent deadline or a large amount of unfinished work will normally benefit more from private tuition than from a general group course.

Yes. A-Level students can receive guidance with drawing, painting, composition, technical development and the creation of a stronger and more coherent body of work. Tutors can help students improve the relationship between their research, experiments, developmental studies and final artworks.

We can also help IB Visual Arts students strengthen practical drawing and painting skills, develop projects and improve the presentation of a coherent body of work. Our tutors provide technical instruction and artistic feedback. They do not act as the student’s IB teacher, award marks or guarantee a particular result.

Students remain responsible for meeting their own school’s and exam board’s assessment requirements.

Better technical skills, stronger observation and more resolved artwork may support a student’s school progress.

However, we cannot guarantee a particular GCSE, A-Level or IB grade. Final results depend on the student’s own work, school assessment, exam-board requirements and other components of the course.

Yes. Sunny Art Centre offers dedicated portfolio preparation for students applying for art scholarships, foundation programmes, colleges and universities.

Portfolio tuition can include:

• Reviewing existing work
• Identifying missing skills or projects
• Developing new project ideas
• Observational drawing and painting
• Experimentation and research
• Sketchbook development
• Creating stronger final artworks
• Selecting and organising portfolio pieces
• Preparing for interviews and applications

Portfolio programmes are tailored to the student’s target course, current ability and deadline.

Yes. We can help students develop the technical and creative work required for an Art and Design Foundation application, and support teenagers applying to UAL and other art and design institutions by helping them develop and organise their portfolio.

Support may include project development, observational studies, technical improvement, sketchbook work, selection of pieces and interview preparation.

Students should bring the entry requirements and portfolio guidance supplied by each institution so that the tuition can be planned appropriately. Admission decisions are made by the institution, and we cannot guarantee acceptance.

The earlier the student begins, the more time they have to develop technical skills, explore ideas and create a varied body of work. Students starting from a beginner level may need considerably more preparation than students who already have strong work.

Parents should contact us as soon as they know the application deadline so that we can recommend a realistic programme. We provide professional tuition, portfolio guidance and application support, but we cannot guarantee admission, a scholarship, an exam grade or any other application result.

Yes. We run intensive summer drawing and painting courses for children and teenagers during selected weeks of the summer holidays.

The summer programme is open to students aged 7–17 and is suitable for complete beginners and more experienced young artists. It normally offers a one-week drawing course, a one-week painting course and a combined two-week drawing and painting course.

Places are limited to maintain a small class size.

Yes. The drawing and painting materials required for the scheduled summer-course activities are provided for students to use during the lessons. Teenagers may bring a personal sketchbook or favourite drawing tools if they wish, but this is optional.

Students attending both daily sessions should bring their own nut-free packed lunch.

The summer programme is a structured art course with set teaching, arrival, break and collection times. Students should not be left before the published arrival time or collected after the course has finished.

Yes. We run half-term drawing and painting courses for kids and teens during selected school holidays. The programme is open to students aged 7–17 and is suitable for complete beginners and more experienced teenagers.

The half-term programme normally includes a two-hour morning drawing session and a two-hour afternoon painting session, with a lunch break between them.

Dates and daily times may change for each school holiday. Parents should check the current half-term course page before booking.

Yes. Students completing the summer programme receive a Certificate of Completion, and students completing the advertised half-term programme also receive a Certificate of Completion.

They may also have the opportunity to be considered for Sunny Art Centre’s annual student exhibition.

The price depends on the number of lessons and the course package selected. Our regular Sunday programme currently offers packages of 20, 40 and 60 lessons, and each lesson lasts two hours.

Visit the teen art course prices and packages page for the latest fees, VAT, validity periods and package inclusions.

Our regular programme offers three main packages:

• 20-lesson course — 20 two-hour lessons; focuses on drawing; suitable for building essential observational and technical foundations; materials are not included.
• 40-lesson course — 40 two-hour lessons; includes drawing, watercolour and acrylic painting; more time for structured technical development; includes the materials pack stated on the course page and a Certificate of Completion.
• 60-lesson course — 60 two-hour lessons; includes drawing, watercolour and acrylic painting; the most comprehensive long-term programme; includes the materials pack stated on the course page and a Certificate of Completion.

The most suitable package depends on the student’s experience, goals and ability to attend within the stated validity period.

Materials depend on the course package. The 20-lesson drawing package does not include art materials. The 40- and 60-lesson packages include the specific materials packs listed within their current course descriptions. Students may need to purchase additional or replacement materials as they progress through different projects.

Students should bring the materials recommended for their course and current project unless these have been included in their package. A typical drawing kit may include pencils, charcoal, erasers, a sharpener and suitable paper. Painting students may need watercolour or acrylic paints, brushes, a palette and an appropriate painting surface.

Easels and basic studio furniture are provided. Selected art materials are also available to purchase from our studio shop.

Yes. Each regular course package has a stated validity period.

All lessons must be booked and attended before the package expires. Parents should select a package that the student can realistically complete alongside school, exams and holidays.

The current validity period is displayed on the course page before purchase.

Classes are taught by professional artists and experienced art tutors with strong technical backgrounds in drawing and painting. The tutor may vary according to the course, date and subject being studied.

Yes. Tutors and staff working with students under 18 hold enhanced DBS checks. Classes take place in a secure, supervised and supportive studio environment.

Yes. Every Sunny Art Centre tutor is DBS-checked and safeguarding-trained. Students are taught in small classes with individual attention, and parents are welcome to remain in the studio.

There is a maximum of 10 students in each regular group class. The small-group structure allows the tutor to provide individual demonstrations, technical corrections and feedback.

Every student follows an individual study plan and works on projects appropriate to their own level. The tutor circulates around the class, providing demonstrations, answering questions and giving personalised feedback throughout the lesson.

Yes. A lounge is available next to the studio, with seating, Wi-Fi and tea for parents who would like to wait during the lesson. Parents do not normally sit inside the teaching studio, as this can affect students’ concentration and class management.

Independent arrival and departure may be possible for older teenagers, but this must be decided and authorised by the parent or legal guardian. The parent remains responsible for the student’s travel arrangements outside the booked lesson. For younger students or first-time attendees, a parent or guardian should accompany them to the studio and complete the check-in with the tutor.

Every student must have a confirmed online booking and be listed on the class register. Students who are not on the register cannot remain in the class.

For regular Sunday classes:

• Visit the kids and teens art course page.
• Select the appropriate course package.
• Create or log in to the student account.
• Complete the payment.
• Use the lesson credits to reserve available Sunday classes.

For holiday programmes, select the required option directly from the summer course or half-term course page. A place is not confirmed until the booking and payment have been completed.

At least 48 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule a regular group lesson and have the credit returned to the student account.

Late cancellations and missed lessons normally result in the lesson credit being deducted. Bookings and cancellations should be managed through the online student account.

Yes. We offer private one-to-one drawing and painting tuition for teenagers. Private lessons may be suitable for:

• GCSE, A-Level or IB support
• Portfolio and scholarship preparation
• Students working towards a specific deadline
• Intensive holiday study
• A particular drawing or painting project
• Students who cannot attend the Sunday timetable or need fully individual guidance

Private tuition is arranged separately and is subject to tutor availability.

Yes. Parents and prospective students can book a free consultation before choosing a course. During the consultation, you can:

• Visit the studio
• Discuss the teenager’s experience and goals
• Show existing artwork or a portfolio
• Explain any school or application deadlines
• Receive advice about the most suitable programme
• Ask about course packages, materials and booking

There is no obligation to enrol following the consultation.

Classes are held 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.

Our Central London studio is convenient for students travelling from across London for Sunday and school-holiday classes.