Learn to See What's Actually There
Most people draw what they think they see. But figure drawing works differently. It asks you to observe gesture, proportion, and form without assumption. We teach structured methods that help you understand human anatomy and translate three-dimensional bodies onto flat surfaces with accuracy.
Explore Our Courses
How We Actually Teach Drawing
Drawing the human figure isn't about talent. It's about learning to measure angles, understand weight distribution, and see negative space. Here's what makes our approach work for people who've never held charcoal before.
Gesture Before Detail
Quick poses first. You'll spend weeks capturing movement in 30-second sketches before touching anatomy. This builds your ability to see the body as a whole action, not isolated parts. Most beginners want to render—we teach you to observe motion instead.
Measured Proportion
Sight-size techniques and plumb lines sound technical because they are. You'll learn to hold your pencil at arm's length and measure head-to-body ratios. It feels awkward initially, but these methods remove guesswork from your drawing process entirely.
Constructive Anatomy
Bones determine how muscles attach. Muscles determine surface form. We break down the skeleton and major muscle groups so you understand why shoulders rotate the way they do, or how the ribcage affects posture. It's less artistic, more structural.
Studio Sessions Run Long
Our evening classes typically stretch past their scheduled end time. Not because we're disorganized—students often need extra minutes to finish a pose or ask questions about foreshortening problems they've just encountered.
Models hold 20-minute poses with breaks. You'll work with different body types, ages, and levels of experience. Some poses feel impossible to capture at first. That's expected. Drawing from life means dealing with real lighting conditions and actual human proportions, not idealized references.
View Study ResourcesWhat Happens in a Typical Session
Sessions run three hours. First hour focuses on warm-up gestures—you'll fill pages with loose one-minute poses. Second hour moves into sustained studies where you develop volume and shadow. Final hour is usually a longer pose where you apply constructive anatomy principles.
Studio Fundamentals
- Charcoal, graphite, and conte crayon techniques for different mark-making approaches
- Toned paper methods that let you work with both dark and light values simultaneously
- Standing easel work to maintain proper viewing distance from your drawing surface
- Portfolio review sessions where instructors assess your progress every four weeks
- Open studio hours on weekends for independent practice with periodic instructor feedback
Materials get expensive. Budget around £120 for starter supplies—decent charcoal, several types of paper, fixative spray, and erasers. We provide easels and lighting, but you'll need your own drawing board.
Programme Structure
Foundation courses run October through June. Advanced sessions continue year-round for students who've completed foundational work. Here's how the learning sequence typically unfolds over nine months.
Observational Basics (Months 1-2)
Gesture drawing dominates early sessions. You'll produce hundreds of quick sketches, focusing on capturing weight shift and movement direction. Critiques happen weekly. Expect your early work to look rough—everyone's does.
Proportion and Structure (Months 3-5)
Anatomy lectures start here. You'll study skeletal landmarks and muscle groups through diagrams before applying them to life drawing. Sessions shift toward longer poses where you measure and construct the figure methodically.
Light and Form (Months 6-7)
Now you're rendering volume using chiaroscuro techniques. Single light source setups teach you how light describes form. It's slow work—one pose might take four sessions to develop properly.
Advanced Application (Months 8-9)
Composition and personal style emerge. You'll work on multi-figure arrangements and experiment with different media. Portfolio development begins for those considering further study or professional illustration work.
Taught by Working Artists
Lead Instructor: Isolde VarangianIsolde spent twelve years as a medical illustrator before transitioning to teaching. Her background means anatomy lectures go deeper than most art schools—you'll learn muscle insertion points and how rotation affects surface contours.
She's direct in critiques. If your proportions are off, she'll tell you exactly which measurements failed. Some students find this challenging initially, but most appreciate the specificity once they realize how much faster they improve with clear feedback.
Classes also include sessions with guest instructors who work in animation, concept art, and portrait commissions. They bring different perspectives on applying figure drawing skills professionally.
October 2026 Enrollment Opens May
Foundation programme accepts 24 students per session. Classes fill quickly—usually within three weeks of registration opening. If you're considering starting, review course materials now so you're ready when applications launch.
