The Drawing Year

One year postgraduate-level course | No fees | Free studio space

  • Postgrad 2

    Overview

    The Drawing Year is a full scholarship postgraduate-level course offering up to thirty students the opportunity to focus on drawing from observation for one year. There are no tuition fees for The Drawing Year – all students are awarded a full scholarship and receive a free studio space.

    Overview

  • Drawing at The British Museum

    Structure

    Courses at the Royal Drawing School are divided into three main areas: Drawing in the Studio, Drawing from Art and Drawing London. The programme is full time and made up of three taught ten-week terms, and a final self-directed studio term culminating in an end of year show and open studios. As well as taught classes every week, students attend a Wednesday Core Programme day, evening forums and lectures, alongside personal studio practice days. 

  • SPACE studios

    Facilities

    Our Shoreditch campus is located in a converted warehouse at the heart of East London’s art, design and fashion scene. There are two spacious, well-lit drawing studios on the top floor, a fully-equipped intaglio print studio, a reference art library, and a ground floor multipurpose studios and large exhibitions space. Individual studios for Drawing Year students are situated at Space Studios in Hackney, a short journey from the Royal Drawing School.

    Facilities

  • Drawing Year 2017

    Applications

    Applicants for The Drawing Year will usually have completed a BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art or a related subject, but this is not essential. Places are awarded based on portfolio and interview. Applicants are expected to show a strong portfolio of work demonstrating a commitment to drawing and a level of artistic professionalism appropriate for study at postgraduate level. Applications for The Drawing Year 2023-24 are now closed.

    Drawing Year Applications

Honey We Shrunk The Kids Copyright Tezz Kamoen
Roots Copyright Kathryn Maple
A calf in a blue landscape Copyright Louise Reynolds
Along with the Stream of Buffalo Copyright Rebecca Harper
Breakfast Copyright Jonathan Farr
Bathtub Shrine Copyright Christabel MacGreevy
Horse Study 1 Copyright Clara Drummond
The hanging rings are removed allowing the two out of the netting, and the lusty maids have found their favourite Copyright Sara Anstis
After Gainsborough Copyright Olivia Kemp
Untitled (China Sketchbook) Copyright Rosie Vohra
Central Park Zoo Copyright Laura Footes
Locomotion Copyright Gabrielle Adach
Alexandra Park, Autumn Copyright Christopher Green
Sleepwalkers Copyright Jessie Makinson
Boy in Blue Bedroom Copyright Beth Rodway
Be Still Copyright Pollyanna Johnson
Celine Dion - All the Tears Turned to Dust Copyright Rachel Louise Hodgson
A man and two children in a canoe on a river Copyright Leggy Gordon
The Pierhead, Wapping Copyright Sophie Charalambous
Photochrome Copyright Deanio X

Faculty

View all practising artists

Alicja Biała

Read student story

"Using the most limited of means, drawing offers some of the most demanding opportunities for growth to a contemporary artist, both visually and intellectually, allowing a free transition between mediums."

Letter from the Artistic Director

From the blog

Related