Home›Art & Drawing›How to paint courses›Portrait Painting Courses – Beginners Portrait Painting Courses - Beginners BOOK NOW DETAILS BOOKING & TIMETABLE VENUES TUTORS If you have ever been intrigued by portrait painting, our Portrait Painting Courses - Beginners are the perfect place to start exploring and learning how to compose, draw and eventually paint a portrait from scratch. Our art training is suitable for beginners, as well as those who have some experience in drawing and painting and want to learn the specifics of portrait painting. Gain confidence in achieving a likeness and create several pieces of work to put on your wall or share with friends and family. Portrait painting is a vast field, but this beginner's course aims to make it fun and enjoyable, giving you a solid grounding of composition, likeness and brush techniques. City Academy's art studio has everything you need to get creative. All materials, including paper, brushes and other art supplies, will be provided. PORTRAIT PAINTING COURSES - BEGINNERS CONTENT FIRST STAGE: DRAWING, WORKING IN LINE AND TONE Study the skull, facial structure and proportions, angles and expressions Explore portrait composition through examples Get an introduction to drawing materials and equipment Sketch self-portraits Learn how to get a likeness, exploring individuals’ distinct features SECOND STAGE: INTRODUCING COLOUR AND ESCAPING FROM THE LINE Work with professional models and learn how to set them up with background colours and lighting Develop an understanding of basic colour theory and flesh tones, using a limited palette Incorporate working with a plumb line Demo techniques and discuss the colours seen in the face Start working on short pastel colour sketches, working from the model THIRD STAGE: WORKING WITH PAINT Get an introduction to water-mixable oil paints, brushes and equipment Learn various techniques such as ‘wet on wet’, blending and blurring edges Explore accents and highlights to bring a painting alive Work on one long pose for your final portrait Browse Courses You can filter Courses by month and tutor Month All Months Tutor All Tutors Lawrence Francis CraneStephen NicholasCity Academy Art Tutors Date Day Time (BST) Duration Tutor Venue Price Booking 01 Jul 2026 - 15 Jul 2026 Wed 18:00-20:30 3 weeks Lawrence Francis Crane City Academy, Farringdon £135.00 Book Now 19 Jul 2026 Sun 10:30-16:30 1 day Stephen Nicholas City Academy, Farringdon £110.00 Book Now 15 Aug 2026 Sat 10:30-16:30 1 day City Academy Art Tutors City Academy, Farringdon £110.00 Book Now 25 Sep 2026 - 09 Oct 2026 Fri 18:00-20:30 3 weeks City Academy Art Tutors City Academy, Farringdon £135.00 Book Now 24 Oct 2026 Sat 10:30-16:30 1 day City Academy Art Tutors City Academy, Farringdon £110.00 Book Now 17 Nov 2026 - 01 Dec 2026 Tue 18:00-20:30 3 weeks City Academy Art Tutors City Academy, Farringdon £135.00 Book Now 19 Dec 2026 Sat 10:30-16:30 1 day City Academy Art Tutors City Academy, Farringdon £110.00 Book Now 01 Jul 01 Jul 2026 - 15 Jul 2026 £135.00 Day:Wed Time:18:00-20:30 Duration:3 weeks Tutor: Lawrence Francis Crane Venue: City Academy, Farringdon BOOK NOW GIFT THIS COURSE 19 Jul 19 Jul 2026 £110.00 Day:Sun Time:10:30-16:30 Duration:1 day Tutor: Stephen Nicholas Venue: City Academy, Farringdon BOOK NOW GIFT THIS COURSE 15 Aug 15 Aug 2026 £110.00 Day:Sat Time:10:30-16:30 Duration:1 day Tutor: City Academy Art Tutors Venue: City Academy, Farringdon BOOK NOW GIFT THIS COURSE 25 Sep 25 Sep 2026 - 09 Oct 2026 £135.00 Day:Fri Time:18:00-20:30 Duration:3 weeks Tutor: City Academy Art Tutors Venue: City Academy, Farringdon BOOK NOW GIFT THIS COURSE 24 Oct 24 Oct 2026 £110.00 Day:Sat Time:10:30-16:30 Duration:1 day Tutor: City Academy Art Tutors Venue: City Academy, Farringdon BOOK NOW GIFT THIS COURSE 17 Nov 17 Nov 2026 - 01 Dec 2026 £135.00 Day:Tue Time:18:00-20:30 Duration:3 weeks Tutor: City Academy Art Tutors Venue: City Academy, Farringdon BOOK NOW GIFT THIS COURSE 19 Dec 19 Dec 2026 £110.00 Day:Sat Time:10:30-16:30 Duration:1 day Tutor: City Academy Art Tutors Venue: City Academy, Farringdon BOOK NOW GIFT THIS COURSE × Select your Entry Level: -Select- Leader Follower Book Now Close ADD ME TO THE WAITING LIST If you'd like to be added to the waiting list for 'Portrait Painting Courses – Beginners' fill in the form below and we will contact you if a space becomes available. First Name * Last Name * Email * Phone Number * PAYMENT OPTIONS You are welcome to join the course up to the second class. ONLINE & PHONE PAYMENTS Online – To book your selected class/course online, just click Book Now next to your chosen class/course. Phone – We would be happy to take your booking over the phone, just call us on 020 7042 8833 . CASH & CHEQUE PAYMENTS Cash - You are welcome to pay cash, just come and see us at our office: City Academy, 10 Herbal Hill, London EC1R 5EG. If you book 2 or more different classes/courses at a time we can offer you a 10% discount. If you wish to take advantage of this offer please enter 2ORMORE in the promotional code box when booking online or quote code when booking over the phone. Please note that this offer cannot be applied when you are booking two or more of the same class/course. INDUSTRY TUTORS City Academy tutors are experienced artists and performers that work in the industry. If your tutor's availability changes at short notice, our team will arrange for a suitable replacement and notify you in advance. CANCELLATIONS POLICY We offer a full refund or full credit of your original course if you cancel at least 72 hours before the start of your booking. We cannot offer any refund if you cancel less than 72 hours before the start of your booking, or if you do not attend. (For more information please see our terms and conditions) City Academy, Farringdon Closest Station: Farringdon Closest Bus Stop: Hatton Garden View Details Get Directions All City Academy tutors are experienced professionals from theatre, film/TV and performance industries. So whilst they're training you they may also be rehearsing for a West End show or working on a movie. We like that and we do believe it makes a difference in class. Lawrence Francis Crane View Profile Stephen Nicholas View Profile City Academy Art Tutors View Profile