The Drawing Year

Course duration: September 2023–December 2024

The Drawing Year is a full scholarship postgraduate-level course, with no tuition fees, offering an opportunity for intensive practice in drawing from observation. It sees drawing both as an end in itself and in relation to other areas of practice.

The Drawing Year is full time and made up of three ten week terms with an opportunity to extend the year into a further three month studio residency as a springboard into professional practice.

Courses at the Royal Drawing School are divided into three main areas: Drawing in the Studio, Drawing from Art and Drawing London. The final self-directed studio term culminates in two end of year shows 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. With over 100 different courses to choose from over the year, students gain a broad range of experience and teaching input from our diverse faculty and their varied approaches to the art of perceptual drawing.

Alumni opportunities
Most of our alumni work as practising fine artists who regularly show and sell work or undertake commissions and have gallery representation. Other students have gone on to professional practice in areas including illustration, animation, architecture, film and theatre design, textile design, book illustration and writing.

There are many opportunities for alumni to travel and to participate in Royal Drawing School funded national and international residencies, including in Scotland, Wales, Jamaica, Antigua, Tuscany and at ESMoA in California, USA.

After graduating, students can apply to the Tutor Training Programme on the School’s Young Artist Programme for 10–18 year olds, which offers financial support and professional development to alumni as they continue to cultivate their practice. 

Notable alumni
The School’s expanding inventory of prestigious Drawing Year alumni include Somaya Critchlow, “one of the most exciting and brilliant young painters” featured in Katy Hessel’s number one selling book, The Story of Art Without Men; Kathryn Maple, winner of the 2020 John Moores Painting Prize, following in the footsteps of artists such as David Hockney and Rose Wylie. In 2022, Francesca Mollett debuted at Frieze London, Arjuna Gunarathne in Art Dubai, while Deanio X exhibited at Marlborough Gallery, and Richard Ikhide at Victoria Miro in LA and Mexico. In early 2023 Jake Grewal, one of the youngest artists ever collected by the British Museum during their lifetime, had a solo show at Thomas Dane. 

Read: Drawing Year student stories
Watch: Alumni and tutor videos

Applications
Students come from various creative backgrounds, and you do not need a degree to apply. 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.

The Portfolio Support Scheme is designed to provide Drawing Year applicants from minority ethnic backgrounds or non-conventional educational routes, the opportunity to discuss their work with a tutor prior to submitting their final application.

International students
We welcome international students to study on The Drawing Year. Please see the link above for details.

Fees and funding
Every applicant offered a place on The Drawing Year receives a full scholarship and has their tuition fees paid for the year; this does not have to be repaid. The scholarship covers all courses, tutorials, forums and lectures as well as some study trips and a studio space.

With the aim of making The Drawing Year accessible to all, the School has established a London Living Grant - a means tested grant of 3000 GBP (per student) awarded before the start of the course. 

Open days
Drawing Year open days are an opportunity for students to find out more about our postgraduate programme, hear from faculty and alumni and ask any questions you may have. March 9, 6pm: Online with Zoom (Register to attend here) / March 13, 2pm: Shoreditch campus (Register here to attend).