Local Landscapes: People and Places
- Drawing Open Space

Course details
Dates
18 September – 20 November 2025
Times
10:00 – 17:00
Duration
10 sessions
Fees
£478.00 Concessions available
Location
Parks & urban spaces

Overview
Drawing outside can be more than an end in itself. Pierre Bonnard used small outdoor drawings as the source for his colourful ambitious paintings. Work made on site has a freshness and urgency and the limitations of time and space can provoke risk-taking and innovation. Work can be extended on different sheets of paper or collaged together. Some drawings could be studies of figures, dogs etc. and other drawings could be like stage sets. Written notes can be used to add to the atmosphere.
We will consider artists such as Leon Kossof and Frank Auerbach whose London drawings were the foundations of much of their work, as well as Burra’s paintings of cafés and bars, Hopper, the Ashcan painters, Groz, Kirchner, Dix, Manet, Sickert, Jacob Lawrence, Immendorf and Jockum Nordstorm. Students will be encouraged to experiment with different sizes, materials and speeds of drawing.
Who is it for
Artists, creatives and image-makers of all levels welcome, including beginners.
What’s provided
For our courses being held out and about, you will need to bring your own paper and materials with you. You will be sent a suggested material list before the start of the course.
What to bring
- Drawing Pencils
- Conté Crayons
- Pastels
- Ink Pens
- Coloured Pencils
- Putty and Hard Erasers
- Pencil Sharpener
- Sketchbook
- Appropriate clothes for wet weather just in case
Concessions
We offer a range of discounts. To apply, email admin@royaldrawingschool.org with the required proof. Please wait for confirmation before booking.
Available discounts
- NHS Staff: 20%
Send a photo of your NHS staff badge. - Full-time Fine Art BA Students: 75%
Students on design or applied arts degrees may also be eligible. Send your student ID and proof of enrolment. - Primary and Secondary Art Teachers: 50%
Send a letter from your headteacher or head of art department. - Jobseekers: 50%
Send a recent DWP or JobCentre Plus letter confirming you receive Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit (if out of work). Appointment booklets are not accepted. - Disability Benefit Recipients: 50%
Send proof that you currently receive this allowance. - Tower Hamlets and Hackney Residents: 25% (Shoreditch courses only)
Send a copy of your most recent council tax bill. - Tower Hamlets and Hackney Businesses: 25% (Shoreditch courses only)
Send a staff ID, business card or a letter from your line manager. - Over 60s: 10%
Send a photo ID as proof of age. - Alumni: Postgraduate Programme or Foundation Year: 50% off short courses
Online Drawing Development Year: 50% off online short courses
Before you apply
- Documents must be dated within the last 6 months (or 12 months for council tax)
- Your name must be clearly visible
- Accepted file formats: PDF, JPG, DOC or DOCX
All our courses are subsidised.
Tutors