Online Drawing Development Year

The Online Drawing Development Year is our year-long online programme designed to develop your drawing and studio practice. 
Apply now
Online Drawing Development Year - An artist in her home studio
Online Drawing Development Year
Apply now
Online Drawing Development Year
Apply now

Course details

Deadline

29 July 2026

Duration

3 terms from Jan – Dec 2027

Fees

£4150 

ODDY Overview

Overview

The Online Drawing Development Year (ODDY) is designed for arts graduates and artists with an evolving studio practice who seek live online drawing tuition and a structured critical dialogue with tutors, mentors, and peers. Spanning three terms, this programme offers sustained guidance and skill development while supporting each student's artistic practice.

This flexible course allows students to curate their own selection of courses each term, ensuring a balance between work, studio practice, and other commitments. Delivered entirely online, it is also ideal for international students, or individuals with specific access needs.  
  
Please note: The Online Drawing Development Year is an unaccredited course. 

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Programme details

The ODDY is a three-term remote learning programme designed to enhance and complement your studio practice.  Throughout the year, students will benefit from:  

  • Approximately 18 hours of live tuition per week.
  • Students curate their own programme from over 45 online daytime and evening courses. 
  • Students work with a small tutor group of up to 20 students
  • 6 x 3-hour core online evening classes exclusive to Online Drawing Development Year students  
  • 2 x 30-minute one-to-one tutorials with a faculty member 
  • 6 x 30-minute mentoring sessions with a Core Tutor
  •  3 x 3-hour End of Term Group Crits with Core Tutor
  • Access to online lectures featuring artists, curators, and art historians 
  • Professional development series in the final term 
  • Access to the Digital Studio; 1-2 hour ‘drop-in’ live streamed drawing sessions 
  • Two days of 'core' classes at our Shoreditch studios and other London locations  
  • An exhibition in our Shoreditch gallery organised by students and supported by RDS
Course selection and learning platforms

Students choose up to three online daytime drawing classes per week (or an equivalent selection across evenings) per term, from over 45 online daytime and evening courses available. Courses are taught by a faculty of over 75 practising artists.  

  • Live online courses are delivered via Zoom  
  • Padlet is used for resource sharing and student collaboration  
  • Class timings: Daytime courses are 10am – 5pm and evening courses run 6pm – 9pm  

Please note classes are taught live and are not recorded. Timings listed are GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) 

Tutors & Tutor Groups

The Online Drawing Development Year is led by three Core Tutors who oversee the curriculum, guide cohort development, and deliver both the core termly evening sessions and mentoring sessions.  

Students are part of a supportive tutor group (maximum 20 students), fostering a strong artistic community. These groups meet during core sessions and group crits, providing opportunities for discussion, feedback, and collaboration.  

Beyond live sessions, students can engage with their peers through the online gallery and noticeboard, where they can share work, updates, and opportunities  

Meet the core faculty

Lindsay Sekulowicz loading=
Lindsay Sekulowicz

Tutor, Drawing Year Alumna, 2008

Geraint Ross Evans loading=
Geraint Ross Evans

Tutor, Drawing Year Alumnus, 2015

Phoebe Stannard loading=
Phoebe Stannard

Tutor, Drawing Year Alumna, 2010

Curriculum  

The Royal Drawing School is one of the few institutions worldwide offering in-depth tuition in observational drawing. Courses are focused around three core areas:   

  • Drawing in the studio  
  • Drawing from art   
  • Drawing our environment  

Imagination is a central theme across all areas, with specific courses dedicated to exploring its role in observational drawing. Printmaking is also taught as an extension of drawing.   

This diverse curriculum encourages experimentation and skill development across different drawing disciplines.   
 

A year online:

5 students share their experience

Our Online Drawing Development Year is a year-long online programme taught at postgraduate-level, designed to develop your drawing and studio practice. Thinking of applying? Our students give some more reasons why…

Read the full blog
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Alumni opportunities

As an alumni of the Online Drawing Development Year, you’ll continue to be part of our creative community with access to: 

How to apply  

Places for the Online Drawing Development Year are offered through an application process. While most applicants have completed a BA degree in a creative subject, this is not essential. We also consider a strong studio practice, commitment to drawing, and readiness for study at a postgraduate level. 

Applications for the Online Drawing Development Year 2027 are now open.

Application deadline: 29 July 2026 at 23:59 GMT.

Start your application here.

Application requirements 

To apply, complete the online application form, which includes:  

  • A 500-word statement (max. 3000 characters) detailing your current practice and why you believe the Online Drawing Development Year is right for you.  
  • A digital portfolio of 20 media files, including:  
    • 10 Drawings – in dry media, ink, or watercolour  
    • 10 Additional Works – in any medium of your choice 

A $45 USD application fee applies. To apply online, you’ll be asked to create an account — this is a one-time setup and only takes a moment.

Portfolio guidelines
  • Images must be JPEG or PNG files, no larger than 5MB per image.  Video files must be a maximum of 2 minutes and 250MB. 
  • Ensure all images are of good quality. Works should be created within the last three years.  
  • Label your media in the applicant portal as follows:  
    Title
    Medium
    Year 
    Dimensions/Duration 
    State category: 'Drawing' or 'Additional Work'
Application results

After the deadline, a panel of practising artists will review applications based on your statement and digital portfolio. There is no interview or sketchbook submission required. Successful applicants will be notified within one month of the deadline.  

Building your portfolio

Portfolios offer a chance for applicants to demonstrate their commitment to drawing and artistic practice at a postgraduate level. From highlighting your best works to illustrating variety, we have collated recommendations that will give you an idea of what assessors are looking for in applications.

Read the full blog
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Want to find out more?

Open day video

Watch a recording of an open day and hear from staff, faculty and alumni on the course and application process.  

Watch the recording here.

Student stories
Read about experiences of the Online Drawing Development Year in our student stories. 
FAQs

If you have further questions about the programme, many answers can be found on our FAQs page here.

See here for Terms and conditions.

Contact us
If you have further questions you can get in touch with us at onlinedrawingdevelopment@royaldrawingschool.org
I was sceptical about taking these classes on Zoom, but it has been a revelation and I love the flexibility of it, it very much works for me in my current circumstances.

Sonja Witts

Alumna based in Scotland

Join an open day to find out more
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