Beginners' Portrait Drawing Class

Learn to draw portraits in the heart of London!


Ann Mackowski
Ann Mackowski
4.9 (56)

1 hour - 3 hours

Class size 1 to 20 (public classes), 1 to 2

  £60 - £70 (price varies across dates)
London Activities
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Art
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Drawing
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Kids activities Experience Gifts
Unlock your artistic potential with our Beginners' Intensive Portrait Drawing Class, led by Ann Mackowski, founder of Soho Life Drawing! With over a decade of experience teaching life drawing and portraiture to professional artists and animation studios, as well as the University of the Arts London, Ann brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every session. This is not just a class; it’s a welcoming community where you’ll meet fellow aspiring artists while diving into the expressive world of portrait drawing.
In this hands-on class, you’ll learn essential techniques to confidently capture the human face and its unique features. Ann will guide you through simple yet effective tricks that make the process enjoyable and accessible, regardless of your previous experience. Unlike other classes, this class will include plenty of live, draw-along demonstrations—as Ann guides you through exactly how to draw using plenty of fabulous references! Plus, if there's anything you miss, she'll be uploading video recordings of the demos for you to practise in your own time. We'll be covering the basics of facial proportions and learning some nifty tricks for drawing eyes, the nose, the mouth—and even hair and ears.
You'll have all the supplies you need provided for you, so all you have to do is bring your enthusiasm and creativity! By the end of the session, you’ll walk away with a sketchbook filled with your original works—a testament to your newfound skills and artistic journey.
Sign up today and take the first step into the vibrant world of portrait drawing—your creative adventure awaits!
Please note--for more dates for instant bookings for groups of 2 please see added availability on our "Beginners Botanical Watercolours" page, book into your date of choice, and send a message with your preferred class (i.e. intro to portraiture)

Upcoming dates for Beginners' Portrait Drawing Class

Times are London time. Dates and prices as of 11 Oct 2026, 11:17am; availability and price are confirmed live when booking on this page.

60 upcoming dates between 12 Oct 2026 and 13 Dec 2027.

  • Mon 12 Oct 2026, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 19 Oct 2026, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 26 Oct 2026, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 2 Nov 2026, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 9 Nov 2026, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 16 Nov 2026, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 23 Nov 2026, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 30 Nov 2026, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 7 Dec 2026, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 14 Dec 2026, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 21 Dec 2026, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 28 Dec 2026, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 4 Jan 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 11 Jan 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 18 Jan 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 25 Jan 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 1 Feb 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 8 Feb 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 15 Feb 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 22 Feb 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 1 Mar 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 8 Mar 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 15 Mar 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 22 Mar 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 29 Mar 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 5 Apr 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 12 Apr 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 19 Apr 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 26 Apr 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 3 May 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 10 May 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 17 May 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 24 May 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 31 May 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 7 Jun 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 14 Jun 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 21 Jun 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 28 Jun 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 5 Jul 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 12 Jul 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 19 Jul 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 26 Jul 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 2 Aug 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 9 Aug 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 16 Aug 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 23 Aug 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 30 Aug 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 6 Sep 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 13 Sep 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 20 Sep 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 27 Sep 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 4 Oct 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 11 Oct 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 18 Oct 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 25 Oct 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 1 Nov 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 8 Nov 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 29 Nov 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 6 Dec 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
  • Mon 13 Dec 2027, 12pm-1pm (£70)
What you'll get
Paper and dry media (graded pencils, erasers, etc.)
Knowledge required
None!
What to bring
Themselves!
Suitable for

Suitable for adults, and kids (minimum 8 years old).

An adult must accompany any attending kids, and must pay for a separate ticket.

This experience would also be a unique gift for her, gift for mum, Xmas gift or gift for couples.

Location

Westminster Quaker Meeting House - "Fry R00m" 8 Hop Gardens, London, WC2N 4EH, England

Hop Gardens is off St. Martin's Lane between Cote Brasserie and Gymbox

Beginners' Portrait Drawing Class location
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Your teacher

Ann Mackowski
Ann Mackowski

4.9 (56)
female Women-owned

I started Soho Life Drawing in 2018 after working professionally as an artist for several years when I realised that there was a lack of accessible and affordable creative outlets for non-artist adults in London. Since then I've run hundreds of classes both at my weekly drop-in class in Leicester Square; for corporations and animation studios including Buzzfeed, Liberty London, and Sharkmob; and universities such as the University of the Arts London. Privately, I teach professional artists who come to me for technical training.
As an artist, I've been exhibited internationally in both solo and group shows and have won several residencies--the most recent being Espronceda's 2020 Open Call. I was a shortlisted contestant on 2016's Sky Landscape Artist of the Year. I exhibit regularly with the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours on Pall Mall, as well as with the Society of Women Artists. While I've focussed on teaching in recent years, I still do some commissioned work and exhibit with galleries representing me. I have a Masters in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art and Design.
I love teaching art because I believe anyone can do it with the right training! In particular, I'm passionate about breaking down the internal barriers people not trained in art have about being creative. Creativity is important for so many reasons, beyond the finished product, and it's my goal to make my classes both extremely accessible and very affordable so that people from all walks of life have a chance to join.
London Activities
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Art
•
Drawing
•
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