Drawing Intensive

A three-month part-time course open to any student who wants to progress their artistic practice through a combination of tuition, tutorials and mentoring. Available to study both in the studio or online, the course is structured yet flexible and is available to book onto in autumn, spring and summer terms. 

The Drawing Intensive is ideal for you if:

• You have a specific project you are working towards, e.g. an exhibition
  
• You would like to create a portfolio of artwork for applications to postgraduate courses
  
• You would like to add some drawing to your professional portfolio
  
• You work in an area such as Graphic Design or Illustration and would like to loosen up your art practice 
  
• You want to return to your art practice after some time away
  
• You are keen to fire up your art practice and create new habits, e.g. a daily sketchbook routine
  
• You have a short period of time to concentrate on your creative practice and would like to benefit as much as possible from one term.

See what happens when you really push yourself…

Spring Term bookings are open

Drawing Intensive in-person option
This course would suit students who are able to travel to London for classes on a weekly basis.
Fee: £1,700 per term | Book Now

Drawing Intensive online option
This course is for anyone who would prefer a remote-learning course. All classes are taught live and interactive over Zoom.
Fee: £1,600 per term | Book Now

The Spring Drawing Intensive starts in January 2025 - sign up to our newsletter to get updates on the new Spring Term programme of public courses on sale from early November.

More about the course...

This programme comprises three daytime courses a week (or equivalent) from the termly in-person or online programme, two private tutorials and two mentoring sessions with our faculty of practicing artists, and a group crit. During the term, you will become immersed in an artistic community, interacting with your peers and giving each other critical feedback, which will be a valuable part of your Drawing Intensive experience. 

The course offers:

• 180 hours course tuition over ten weeks
  
• 4 hours of private one to one tutorials and mentoring sessions
  
• 1 group crit
  

Diverse, challenging curriculum 
Over the term you will be drawing intensively and participating in a mixed curriculum of courses that give you the option to learn in our studios, from your own home, or with sketchbook in hand on the streets of London or in a national museum or gallery. Students select from our public courses to curate their own programme to fit their personal schedules and interests.

The Royal Drawing School is one of only a few institutions in the world offering in-depth, quality tuition in drawing from observation. All courses offered at the School are divided into three main areas: Drawing in the ‘Studio’, Drawing from Art and Drawing our Environment. Imagination runs as a theme through all these areas as well as specific courses designed to investigate the role of imagination in drawing from observation. There is also the opportunity to develop printmaking skills, seen as an extension of drawing. 

Along with one-to-one support, this course aims to really push your drawing forward and help you to consider its role within your wider artistic practice.

One-to-one support from a professional artist
The one-to-one element of the course offers in-depth mentoring from one of our experienced tutors, all of whom are professional practising contemporary artists, who can offer tailored advice and support you to achieve your personal targets over the 10 weeks.

Teaching
Courses are taught by a faculty of over 75 distinguished artists and teachers. Online courses use Zoom as well as Padlet, a platform on which students can access resources and share their work. Daytime courses run from 10am–5pm and evening courses run between 6pm–9pm.

1. Book your place 
Online or by telephone, once you have booked the Public Programme team will invite you to make your course selections. The earlier you book your place, the more likely your course choices will be available.

2. Curate your own programme for the term:
Choose three daytime courses (or equivalent) from the in-person term time programme or the online programme, to total three days a week for the ten-week term. Places are offered on a first come first served basis so book early to avoid disappointment. 

Students on the in-person Drawing Intensive can attend selected drop-in classes that run throughout the term. 

Additionally, you will be added to the invite list for the Wednesday evening Creative Conversation series, an evening online programme of talks and conversations brought together by art historian/curator Dr Claudia Tobin. Contemporary artists, art historians, gallerists, curators and writers are invited to talk; previous speakers have included Maggi Hambling, Cornelia Parker, Tal R, Denzil Forrester, Helen Cammock and Michael Landy.

View Public Courses (Autumn Term courses will be on sale from early July)

3. Tutorials and Mentoring
You will receive two tutorials and two mentoring sessions across the term, each lasting one hour, four sessions in total. These are online one-to-one sessions with a member of faculty, all of whom are practising artists. You will be appointed a mentor, who will be the same person for both mentoring sessions and a different faculty member for each of your tutorials. You will be invited to share your recent drawings as well as work from your wider artistic practice.

4. Group Crit
At the end of the term students will be invited to participate in a group crit with other students studying on Drawing Intensive. The crit will be led by a faculty member and will be an invaluable part of the course. 

There is no application process for this course – students can simply enrol online or by phoning our Public Programme team on +44(0)20 7613 8568.  

• The in-person Drawing Intensive is £1700.  
• The online Drawing Intensive is £1600.

Please note that concessions are not available on this programme as the fee is already subsidised. The Drawing Intensive is an unaccredited course.