Recommended Drawing Workshop

To find a new way of looking at a city I know so well, I recently joined a Drawing London Workshop from Context Travel. The small group met at the tutor's central London home and we strolled to the Southbank for our inspirational views.

As with all Context Travel tours, the group leader/docent/guide/tutor (all names are fine) is exceptionally well chosen, and Chris has decades of art tuition experience. All materials are provided and the sketchbook is yours to keep. (I've started carrying mine around with me to sketch when I have spare time: on the tube, waiting for a bus, between meetings, etc.)

We chose a space along the Southbank and began to look more closely at the buildings along The Embankment on the north side of the river. To consider the horizontals we sketched a continuous line of the rooftops, using a pen, not a pencil. As most of the group were apprehensive (but willing to try) this was a good choice and I liked our pen sketches even more than the pencil ones by the end.

We then looked at the gables, treetop lines, before turning away and trying to recreate the lines without the view which makes you realize how much you don't actually see and remember.

We walked along a few times to change our view but each time I was surprised how quickly the time went. When the tutor said we had 20 minutes I would normally think that was plenty of time but I soon discovered that time is lost in concentration when sketching.

Photography courses along the Southbank are quite normal these days as it's a great location but other art forms are not often seen and this really is a wonderful place to stop and sketch.

The Drawing Workshop is 3 hours and families are welcome. I certainly think children from 10 years and upwards would enjoy the course and the tutor is used to working with all age groups. I would also think this workshop would be excellent to do at the start of a trip to London as it makes you look all around you with more wonder and helps you slow down to see the details.

• Context Travel London Portrait of a City Review
• Art Myth No.1: You Need Talent to be an Artist

Images: © Laura Porter
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.