Explore the enduring significance of the nude figure inEuropean art through close observation, discussion and mark making in our monthly life drawing classes, with artist Karly Allen.

Whether you're building on an established practice or new to life drawing, these welcoming sessions are designed to help you develop your skills with wellbeing in mind. Each of our life drawing days includes opportunities for experimentation, reflection and a supportive, creative atmosphere that encourages curiosity, connection and confidence.

Renaissance Bodies: Structure and Balance

September's workshop will focus on the Renaissance pursuit of harmony, proportion and the idealised human form. We'll begin by sketching from selected Renaissance artworks in our galleries. Our professional art model will then respond to these works through a series of poses in our studio space, allowing you to explore Renaissance ideas first-hand and translate observations from the collection into your own life drawing practice.

About the Tutor:  Karly Allen is a drawing tutor and lecturer in art history. With over 20 years’ experience, Karly specialises in bringing art and audiences together through guided looking and drawing for enquiry, while supporting wellbeing and connection. She enriches her teaching with her training as a mindfulness teacher, her work in the field of mindful museums, and neurodiversity-inclusive practices. A graduate of the Ruskin School of Art (University of Oxford) and SOAS (University of London), she has taught widely for British collections including the Courtauld Gallery, V&A, Royal Collection Trust, and the National Gallery, where she led the monthly Life Drawing Salon for five years. Karly’s research interests include the history of drawing, the sketch aesthetic and the positive benefits of art for health and wellness.

Joining Information and Format: For ages 18+. This workshop will take place in the Learning Studio, Lower Ground Floor, and across our galleries. We recommend participants bring a packed lunch. When walking through the museum, food must be packed away in a bag and liquids carried in a sealed bottle, flask or travel mug.