Life-Size Portrait Sculpture in Clay 5-day course | 13 - 17 July 2026

This distinctive course offers you a rare opportunity to produce a life-size portrait head using clay. Working from a life model each day, you’ll use traditional measuring methods to make an accurate sculpture and learn simple techniques to portray the character of the model – the only requirement is enthusiasm!

'Lovely course. Kim was great and the workshop was a lovely environment. Good quality tools, nice workshop, great model.' Stephen

Our five-day course is carefully designed to suit beginners and modellers with varied experience. You will work on a one-to-one scale with a life model who will be with us throughout the course. You’ll learn how to use systematic measuring techniques to ensure you sculpt an accurate portrait and discover how to capture a sense of character in your work.

With one-to-one guidance and support from our expert Modelling Tutor, Kim Amis, you’ll develop your 3D problem solving skills as you meticulously measure and form the features of your clay portrait model, using traditional measuring tools such as callipers, to understand and portray volume. As your sculpture develops, you’ll learn the techniques that can bring your portrait to life and help you understand the difference between head modelling and portrait sculpture.

You’ll leave the course with a photographic diary of your progress and you can also choose to take your sculpture home with you.

What’s included: all teaching, clay, modelling stand and professional modelling tools

What isn’t included: your meals, a camera or phone for photography and a protective apron or overall

10% discount available for City & Guilds of London Art School students, alumni and staff. Contact to receive the discount code.

Please note: in accordance with Eventbrite's Terms of Service, Eventbrite's fees are non-refundable. Any refunds made for Summer School bookings will have Eventbrite's fees deducted, unless we cancel the course. For more information, please see our terms and conditions.

If you’d like to keep up to date with news about our Summer School courses, please add your details to our Summer School mailing list. If you have any queries, please email us at [email protected]

Any queries? Take a look at our FAQs page and for further help, please contact us at [email protected]

The Art School thanks The Grocers’ Charity for their generous support of this initiative.

City & Guilds of London Art School is a small, not-for-profit higher education provider in central London.

We specialise in teaching contemporary fine art, design, conservation and historic craft skills at Foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate levels, focusing on both traditional and contemporary skills, processes and theories.

Our summer short courses are a unique opportunity to step inside our renowned Art School, and explore and develop your skills and interests with our expert tutors.

Discover new talents, foster existing skills and develop your creative interests in a fun and supportive setting.

Class sizes are small, and our tutors make sure our intensive courses for adults (18 years +) are enjoyable and fun, as well as inspiring and informative. And as a student on one of our introductory courses, you’ll receive the same warm welcome that we extend to all our friends and students.

Current or former students (Foundation, BA or MA) of the Art School are eligible for 10% discount on all our summer courses.

F ind out more about our BA (Hons) Carving and MA Carving

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