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 makes you see things clearer, and clearer, and clearer still. The image is passing through you in a physiological way, into your brain, into your memory—where it stays—it’s transmitted by your hands... it’s a deep, deep desire to—depict.

David Hockney

50 artists celebrate 25 years of the School
David Hockney_Cut Trees - TImber copy

David Hockney, Cut Trees – Timber, 2008. Charcoal on paper, 66 x 102.2cm © David Hockney. Photo: Richard Schmidt

Marking 25 years

From Antony Gormley to Tracey Emin – 50 leading artists & alumni celebrate our 25th birthday.

Visit exhibition
Tracey Emin - Because you left - I held on-1

Because you left - I held on

Tracey Emin

Denzil Forrester-1

King in the Arena

Denzil Forrester

Cornelia Parker_Bullet Drawing (Crosshairs)-1

Bullet Drawing

Cornelia Parker

Rufus Wainwright_Untitled 1

Kate number one

Rufus Wainwright

Es Devlin_Redraw the Edges of Yourself

Redraw the Edges of Yourself

Es Devlin

Catherine Goodman_Untitled

Primordial Landscape

Catherine Goodman

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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