All-day Life Drawing with Jake Spicer – 30th July 2025

All-day Life Drawing with Jake Spicer – 30th July 2025

Come and join us for an all-day untutored life drawing day, working from a series of different pose lengths. The day will be led by Jake Spicer and sits between his tutored life drawing and portrait drawing courses, so you can attend it as a one off or as an add on to either course.

This day will be best suited to those with some experience in life drawing (or brave beginners who are just willing to have a go!). At points during the day, Jake will give two 30-minute demonstrations, describing his process for anybody interested in finding out more about his methods and decision-making.

The day will be a wonderful opportunity to draw alongside Jake and a bustling class full of sketchers of all abilities. You are welcome to bring your own materials, or use the basic materials provided – we have chairs, easels and A1, A2 & A3 drawing boards which will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. We’ll have a mixture of pose lengths ranging from 2 minutes to 1.5 hours to suit all preferences.  Whether you’re a complete novice, intermediate or an experienced artist, we guarantee that you will not only leave feeling inspired, but also with an few new tricks up your sleeve that will help you develop your own skills further.

COURSE DETAILS

Day’s Format:

A day of life drawing, interspersed with two optional demonstrations from Jake Spicer

Immerse yourself in a full day of life drawing, working form a professional model holding a variety of pose lengths.

This one day course includes:

  • Two 30 minute-or-so demonstrations with an accompanying commentary from Jake
  • A life model who will pose for varying lengths of time
  • A relaxed & meditative environment for you to do your own drawings in

People with some drawing experience (or beginners who are willing to have a go!) – we generally advise 14 years old+ though. Please note that the life model will be undressed throughout the class.

What is included in the price?

  • One day of life drawing (10am-4:30pm)
  • Two professional life models
  • Tea, coffee, biscuits
  • Drawing materials: A1, A2 & A3 cartridge paper, Charcoal, Pencils, Graphite sticks & Erasers
  • Use of a beautiful purpose-built art studio with all the equipment & materials you will need
  • Beautiful countryside setting

This course is for you if:

  • You want to watch and learn from someone with great drawing skills
  • You want to explore your own drawing skills (with the odd nudge here and there)
  • You want to improve your observational skills
  • You want to improve your own artistic practise (even if you normally create in an entirely different medium)
  • You want to get away from it all and immerse yourself in a fun, creative environment
  • You love creativity

Beyond the course

After the course you will be armed with many new skills to incorporate into your own work, both here at the Phoenix studio and beyond. Jake also runs online life drawing classes through Draw Brighton – you can sign up to monthly membership to access those sessions from anywhere in the world. We are more than happy to help and advise you in taking those first creative steps, help connect you to the wider creative community.

Signed copies of Jake’s popular book portrait and life drawing books will be available to buy from Jake during the weekend.

Need accommodation?

If you are travelling from further afield and would like to stay in the area for your visit then have a look at our recommended list of local B&Bs and hotels.

£95 for the day, first-come first-served for easels or chairs.

The price above include life model, basic materials, easels, chairs, drawing boards, tea, coffee and biscuits.

Complete the booking form (top right of your screen, or scroll down if you’re on a mobile).

ABOUT THE TUTOR

Jake Spicer

Co founder of Draw Brighton and the Drawing Circus, Jake is passionate about drawing and is equally passionate about teaching. Well renowed and respected among the wider art community, Jake has written numerous best selling books about drawing, has a monthly column for Artist & Illustrators magazine and gives lectures and classes on the applications of drawing as a tool for understanding, communication, artmaking and as a vehicle for social good. He is also undertaking a long term study into the fundamental processes of drawing and also paints when he can.

In the past he has worked with the BBC, ITV, Brighton University, The Big Draw, The Old Market Theatre, Creative Futures, West Dean, Playgroup Festival, Brighton and Hove Museums & RAM, The Camden Arts Centre, The National Portrait Gallery among others.

You can have a look at his website here.

Not only is life drawing an opportunity to hone your observational drawing skills, it is an chance to respond creatively to another person. Taking time to truly look at your model and make a personal, drawn response to their presence is a profoundly engaging and creatively stimulating act. Drawing together in a life class provides us with an opportunity to share ideas, borrow approaches from one another and to appreciate the breadth of different approaches that we all take to the subject of the human figure.

Jake Spicer – Course Tutor

I’ve been to many portrait courses and this one superseded them all 🙂
Jake was an excellent tutor. The course was well constructed and I picked up lots of useful tips. Our model – Manko – was the best I have worked from. Not only was she beautiful and very interesting to draw – she held poses and returned to poses with great accuracy. I would recommend this course to beginners or more practised artists.

Pam Esseen

Had a really fun and informative day. Towersay is a great venue and always friendly and welcoming. Jake is an excellent teacher and explains every step well, his personality enthuses his students and l think we all looked at drawing from a new angle and Mike is a great model.

Steph Hudson

£95 for the day, first-come first-served for easels or chairs.

The price above include life model, basic materials, easels, chairs, drawing boards, tea, coffee and biscuits.

Complete the booking form (top right of your screen, or scroll down if you’re on a mobile).


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