Our Mission

The Royal Drawing School is an independent, not-for-profit resource that aims to raise the standard and profile of drawing through teaching and practice. We are one of only a few institutions in the world offering in-depth, quality tuition in drawing from observation. 

Drawing is a primary language natural to all human beings, and fundamental to all aspects of learning and thinking from childhood onwards. It is a crucial route to innovation across the creative disciplines and beyond, from fashion, fine art and animation to filmmaking, product design and engineering. For some people, drawing is the easiest way of thinking.

By offering tuition and resources to art students, artists, children and the public, we aim to address the permanent need for high-quality drawing teaching in the UK, filling a gap left by the steady erosion of observational drawing from the study of art in higher education and in schools.

Founded in 2000 by HM King Charles III and artist Catherine Goodman as The Prince's Drawing School, we became the Royal Drawing School in 2014.

Read about our programmes

Drawing is not what one sees but what one can make others see. Edgar Degas