Online Drawing Development Year One-year intensive
- Practice development
- Online courses
- Open days

Course details
Deadline
17 Sept 2025, for Jan 2026 start
Duration
3 terms from Jan – Dec 2026
Fees
£3980

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, part-time 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 ideal for those based outside London, international students, or individuals with specific access needs.
Please note: The Online Drawing Development Year is an unaccredited course.

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:
- Up to three online daytime drawing classes per week (or equivalent) per term, totaling 540 hours of live tuition. Students curate their own programme from over 45 online daytime and evening courses.
- 6 x 3-hour core online evening classes exclusive to Online Drawing Development Year students
- 3 x 30-minute one-to-one tutorials with a faculty member
- 5 x 30-minute mentoring sessions with a Core Tutor
- Peer-to-peer crits to develop critical dialogue
- 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
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 selected 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
Course selection and learning platforms
Students choose up to three online daytime drawing classes per week (or equivalent) per term, from over 45 online daytime and evening courses available. Courses are taught by a faculty of over 75 practicing 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)
Meet the core faculty
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…


Alumni opportunities
As an alumni of the Online Drawing Development Year, you’ll continue to be part of our creative community with access to:
- 50% concession rate to online short courses – allowing you to continue developing your practice.
- Dumfries House Artist Residency – Alumni can apply for this residency, offering time and space to develop projects.
- Group Exhibition – Previous cohorts have organised a group exhibition to celebrate their time on the programme, with support from the School where possible.
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.
The application deadline is: Wednesday 17 September 2025 at midnight (GMT+1)
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 $20 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' - Dimensions should be listed in centimetres.
- Keep the medium description concise (main material and surface only).
Application results
Application deadline: Wednesday 17 September 2025 at midnight (GMT+1)
After the deadline, a panel of practicing 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.
Applications are open!
Applications close 17 September, midnight.
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.

Want to find out more?
Open days
Online open days are an opportunity to hear from staff, faculty and alumni, as well as ask questions about the course and application process.
Student stories
FAQs
If you have further questions about the programme, many answers can be found on our FAQs page here.
Contact us
Sonja Witts
Alumna based in Scotland
