Designed by artists, for artists, the Online Drawing Development Year allows arts graduates and those with a developing studio practice, to benefit from live online drawing tuition and a structured critical dialogue with tutors, mentors, and peers over the course of three terms. Flexible and part-time, students are able to curate their own programme of courses each term, allowing for a balance between work, studio time and other commitments. 

On completion of the course, students are encouraged to work together to produce a self-directed online or physical group exhibition. This is a chance to showcase the work they have been developing over the year and celebrate their time at the School.

Students came together in person for the first time in our Shoreditch studios, at the end of the course, to work collaboratively alongside each other and to select the works for their exhibition with tutors, Rachel Mercer and Paul Fenner.

Studio 22: Drawn Together features a rich range of artworks, from observation to imagination and storytelling. The 20 artists, a diverse group in experience, age and backgrounds have gelled as a tight-knit community who support each other in the endeavour to rediscover, disrupt, and expand their artistic practice through drawing. Alongside the exhibition is a series of workshops, some of which are led by Royal Drawing School tutors. 

Liza Kelly, Online Drawing Development Year 2022

"The Online Drawing Development Year has been a really rewarding experience. I am based in Dublin and would not have the option of a year away from home and family. The course allowed me to develop my practice from my own studio and gave me the commitment and the motivation to produce regular work….very important for me!

Over the course of the year it was great getting to know my fellow students and we quickly developed a great community who supported and encouraged each other throughout the year. I also felt there was great support from the mentors and tutors on the programme, all underpinned by great support from the staff at the RDS.

Our group were very enthusiastic about putting on a show of our work following our course. I felt that this gave me an extra goal during the programme and it has been a big learning curve going through the process of putting on an exhibition. The experience has really brought our group together and we have all contributed different skills to making it all happen. And the support of the Royal Drawing School has been very helpful when approaching galleries and promoting our show."

Venetia Higgins, Online Drawing Development Year 2022

"I had done a couple of short courses with the RDS over the years, to keep my drawing in check, so when I saw they were offering an Online Drawing Development Year I jumped at the opportunity to apply. Online learning has been revolutionary for me. I was slightly skeptical at first, I didn’t know what to expect, but it has been incredible. Because I was learning from my studio at home, I have been able to manage my time so well, prioritising my artistic practice, my part-time job, my health and my puppy! There’s no way I would have been able to prioritise all these if I had undertaken an in-studio course. Working from my own studio also means I have everything close at hand - from my favourite materials and sketchbooks to reference books and previous work of mine I want to repurpose/refer to. Learning in your own studio and bringing high quality tutors into your own space surely is the best new way to learn.

Follow @__studio.22 @venetiahiggins @lizakelly_art 

Visit Studio 22: Drawn Together at Green & Stone Gallery, Fulham Road, 6 - 18 March 2023