London’s bursting with cool arty and creative classes to level up your skills. From oil painting classes to donut making, here are the ones to try.
It’s no secret that London is a polymath’s paradise. Keen to create, make and bake? From oil painting classes to donut making workshops, you can pretty much learn how to do anything here. Here are some of our favourite creative classes in London.
Arty & Creative Classes in London to Level Up Your Skills
Attend a Life Drawing Class
Brixton
Looking for life drawing classes in London? Brixton Life Drawing was set up just before the pandemic in 2019 by textile designers Anya Gomulski and Bex Dagless. Initially offering classes in person, they switched to virtual classes and now offer a bit of both.
But this isn’t your average life drawing class. There’s a diverse range of models so you definitely won’t be drawing the same person each week. From stand up comedian Elle Bert doing ‘the Bruce Forsythe’ pose to dancer Laura Kenyon draped in fairy lights, there will always be someone interesting to draw.
Classes are held both online and at Brixton’s Hope and Anchor pub on Acre Lane. Book tickets here.
Create your Own Scented Candle
Hackney
At Ohros in Hackney you can get down to the basics of how to create your own scented candle. We’re guessing this isn’t something you have any prior knowledge about. Not to worry, Georgia, the owner, is super friendly and knowledgeable and ready to teach you everything you need to know.
You’ll cover everything from picking and designing scent profiles to building the body of the candle bit by bit. The process is slow, and very calming and at the end of it you’ll have your very own scented candle to take home.
Craft Beautiful Objects in Clay
Hoxton
From a glass fronted studio under the railway arches of Kingsland Viaduct, you can discover everything there is to learn about working with clay.
Turning Earth runs 8 or 12 week long courses where you learn hand-building techniques such as pinching, coiling and building with slabs, as well as how to use the potter’s wheel… cue Unchained Melody.
When your work is ready to be fired, there’s a charge of £5 per kg for materials which works out at about £2 for an average piece.
Turning Earth are renowned for their craft classes in London, but if you’re interested in becoming a member, they also have open-access studios in Leyton and will soon open another in Haringey.
Restore a Piece of Furniture
Waterloo
Preventing waste by repairing things is more important than ever. With the popularity of shows like The Repair Shop and a growing interest in DIY over lockdowns, restoration is having a bit of a moment.
The Furniture Restoration course (over 6 or 12 weeks) at The Good Life Centre in Waterloo is project based.
They encourage you to bring in a small wooden item from the 19th or 20th-century that’s in need of repair. You can then work on your own piece as you learn new skills such as how to repair lost veneers, French polishing as well as joint repairs.
Similar courses include furniture caning, reupholstery and painting – definitely a good shout for practical and fun classes in London.
Cook Your Food Waste
Oxford Circus
Sustainability is at the heart of the Cookery School at Little Portland Street, with every effort made to lower their footprint and impact. They’ve had a Three Star Rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association since 2012.
Waste Matters is a course in using up your ingredients, reducing waste and at the same time, saving money. Sounds pretty good so far.
Learn to make ‘bottom of the fridge soup’ which they promise is a super delicious soup containing ‘every decent morsel of food in the fridge’.
You’ll also make baked crispy vegetables – using every part of the veg, including stalks, vegetable stock using leftover peelings, sweet and savoury bread and butter puddings and much more.
At the end of the class, enjoy a delicious meal made from food that would otherwise have been wasted, accompanied by a glass of wine.
Create Your Own Scented Candle
Hackney + Kings Cross
London-based Earl of East started out as a line of home fragrance products and has since grown into somewhat of a lifestyle brand.
Their candles smell pretty good, but instead of just buying one off the shelf, why not make your own and learn a thing or two along the way?
From both their Hackney and Kings Cross stores, their candle making workshop is 60 minutes and costs £55 (including materials to make the candle that you take home with you).
An expert will take you through each step as you smell a selection of essential oils and receive tips on how to blend the perfect fragrance.
Bake Delectable Doughnuts
Borough Market, Pavilion Road + Wembley
If you asked us to participate in this particular London workshop at Bread Ahead, it wouldn’t take much convincing.
Bread Ahead was founded by chef Matthew Jones in 2013. It all began at Borough Market and now has branches of bakeries around London. In 2014 he also opened the Bakery School with an aim to show the public just how easy baking can be.
The two hour course costs £90 and will teach you the fine art of making the perfect doughnut, or ‘custard grenades’ as they call them.
If you’re interested in other kinds of artisan baking, they offer lots of half-day to 3-day classes. Learn to make the perfect New York Bagel, heavenly croissants or gluten free breads to name a few.
Arrange A Seasonal Bouquet
Hackney
The Flower Appreciation Society are all about sustainable floristry. In addition to weddings and events, they offer several floristry courses throughout the year.
For £85 you can learn ‘Low Vase Flower Arranging’ using the grid technique. Choose the flowers, condition the stems and they’ll show you how to ‘arrange your blooms to create a lovely, loose and gardeny display’. Plus, you’ll get to take the flowers and vase home with you at the end of it.
Other classes available are the ‘Hand Tied Bouquet Workshop’ and if you’re really serious about floristry there’s the 3-day ‘Intensive Career Course’.
Learn How to Paint With Oils
Borough
If you’re looking for art classes in London, Art Academy London has a myriad of courses that are guaranteed to get the creative juices flowing. The art education charity was founded in 2000 and teaches Fine Art up to degree level, as well as offering a number of short courses. The courses are all taught by practising artists who are specialists in their field, so you’ll be in good hands.
The Introduction to Oils evening class is 10 sessions (£255) and is run by artist Beñat Olaberria. The course is for beginners and teaches you how to approach colour and tone in your paintings, whilst experimenting with landscape painting and portraiture.
Other painting courses at the academy include Portraiture, Painting Techniques – Developing Your Style and Abstract Painting for Beginners.
Refine Your Photography Skills
Elephant and Castle
If you’re on the hunt for interesting art workshops in London, the London College of Communication should certainly be on your radar. The college teaches courses at all levels for many creative subjects including media, fashion, film and digital arts.
With photography becoming such a growing part of our daily lives (and essential for any budding business who wants to expand its online presence), you may want to develop your skills one step further.
Consider the ‘Understanding Your Digital Camera’ two-day course which runs over two Saturdays. By the end, you should be able to use the manual functions of your digital camera, understand techniques such as motion blur and selective focus. Ultimately, you’ll be able to create photos that are a whole lot better.
Other photography courses at LCC include Studio Lighting, Adobe Photoshop for Beginners, and Photojournalism.
Discover Spoon Carving
Stepney
When it comes to craft workshops in London you realise everything is at your fingertips once you start looking for it. If working with wood appeals to you but you’re stuck with where to begin, a spoon carving workshop might be right up your street.
Barn is a woodworker and wood carving teacher based in East London. He knows so much about the ancient art of spoon carving, he’s written a whole book on it.
The one day workshop in London is £175 and takes place at Stepney City Farm. You’ll get a great introduction to knife and axe carving, a type of woodwork that doesn’t require a whole workshop to get started and according to Barn, can even be done in your own front room.
