Comprehensive Figure Drawing Programme
A structured twelve-month journey from fundamental observation to confident artistic expression. Build practical skills through progressive challenges and personalized guidance.
Your Learning Journey
We've structured this programme around how artists actually develop. Each phase builds on what came before, introducing complexity at a pace that feels challenging but never overwhelming.
Foundation & Observation
Months 1-3Most people skip this part and wonder why they struggle later. We start with seeing—really seeing—before worrying about technique. You'll train your eye to notice proportions, angles, and relationships that most people miss.
- Gesture and movement capture
- Basic anatomical landmarks
- Line quality and confidence
- Simple form construction
Structure & Form
Months 4-6Now we add depth. The human body is basically a collection of interconnected forms—cylinders, spheres, boxes. Once you understand this, everything becomes easier. We work with simplified shapes before adding complexity.
- Three-dimensional thinking
- Light and shadow fundamentals
- Skeletal structure basics
- Volume and weight expression
Anatomy & Detail
Months 7-9Here's where it gets interesting. You'll study how muscles attach and move, but not in a dry textbook way. We focus on the anatomy that actually matters for drawing—the stuff you can see and feel on the surface.
- Major muscle groups
- Dynamic pose analysis
- Surface anatomy study
- Texture and detail work
Expression & Style
Months 10-12The technical foundation is solid. Now you get to play. We explore different approaches—maybe you're drawn to quick expressive sketches, or perhaps detailed realism. This phase is about finding what resonates with you.
- Personal style development
- Advanced composition
- Character and emotion
- Portfolio development
What Each Module Covers
Every month focuses on a specific skill cluster. Sessions combine demonstration, practice time, and group critique. You'll always know what you're working toward.
Thaddeus Wrenley
Programme DirectorBeen teaching figure drawing since 2011. Studied at Glasgow School of Art and spent years drawing in cafés, train stations, anywhere with people. Still learning something new every week.
How We Actually Teach
I don't believe in natural talent—at least not the way most people think about it. Drawing is pattern recognition plus hand-eye coordination. Both improve with practice.
What separates struggling students from confident ones isn't some magical gift. It's usually about whether they're practicing the right things. You can draw for years and never improve if you keep repeating the same mistakes.
That's why we structure everything around progressive challenges with immediate feedback. You try something, I point out what worked and what didn't, you try again. Simple but effective.
Our Teaching Methods
Timed Drawing Sessions
We start each class with short poses—two minutes, sometimes less. Sounds scary but it trains your eye to prioritize what matters. You can't fuss over details when you have ninety seconds.
Individual Feedback
Group demos are useful, but nothing beats someone looking at your specific work and saying "here's exactly what to fix next." You get monthly one-on-ones plus informal check-ins during sessions.
Peer Critique Circles
Learning to see what works in others' drawings sharpens your own eye. Plus you realize everyone struggles with the same stuff—hands, foreshortening, keeping proportions consistent. It's reassuring.
Targeted Exercises
If you're struggling with something specific—say, shoulders never look right—we create focused practice drills. Twenty shoulder studies beats a hundred random drawings where you keep making the same mistake.
Recent Student Experiences
These folks completed the programme in 2024. Everyone's journey looks different, but they all put in consistent work.
I thought I'd never get past stick figures, honestly. The first month was humbling—turns out I'd been looking at bodies all wrong my entire life. By month six, something clicked. I still make mistakes, but now I can usually spot them myself. That's the real skill Thaddeus teaches—seeing what's actually there.
Perpetua Oakhurst
Completed February 2024The programme structure kept me motivated when I might have quit on my own. Knowing I had a session every Tuesday meant I couldn't skip practice. The individual reviews were invaluable—Thaddeus has this way of explaining things that just makes sense. I wish I'd found this course ten years ago, but better late than never.
Anonymous Student
Completed September 2024Next Programme Begins July 2026
We're accepting applications for the summer intake through March 2026. Limited to fifteen students for quality instruction time.
Sessions run Tuesday evenings, 6:30-9:00 PM, at our Islington studio. Materials list provided upon enrollment.
Brief phone conversation to discuss your experience level and goals
If it seems like a good fit, we'll send enrollment details
You'll receive the preparatory materials packet about six weeks before start