Royal Drawing School

Drawing from life. For life.

Welcome to the Royal Drawing School. We are an artist-led, not-for-profit, home of observational drawing. The place to learn to draw, discover emerging artists, and advance the practice of drawing.
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Drawing is an alchemic language. My emotions force the drawing out of my hand—this explains why so many of my drawings are repeated images. It’s not because I draw the same thing, but the same moment wants to be redrawn. And that’s the beautiful thing about drawing: it’s intimate, like handwriting, and the dialogue is between the paper and me.

50 artists celebrate 25 years of the School
Tracey Emin - Because you left - I held on-2

Because you Left – I Held on, 2024. Acrylic on lithographic background, Somerset Velvet Warm White Paper 400gsm, 65 x 83.8cm.

Tracey Emin

About us

We are the independent, artist-led and not-for-profit home of observational drawing. We exist to ensure artists and creatives everywhere can access world-leading skills-based drawing tuition regardless of background, age or circumstances; to bring new audiences to drawing; to champion our practice for this generation and the next.

Learn more
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Support our next 25 years

As a charity, we believe everyone, whatever their financial circumstance, should be able to access our teaching. That’s why all our courses come with a wide range of bursaries and scholarships. Help us sustain and grow these programmes over the next 25 years.

Donate
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