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The Heatherley School of Fine Art, 75 Lots Road, Chelsea, London SW10 0RN  |  phone 020 7351 4190

Portraiture, Figurative Painting, Sculpture and Printmaking

About Heatherleys

Founded in 1845

Proud of our history

Founded in 1845 The Heatherley School of Fine Art is one of the oldest independent art colleges in Britain and is among the few art schools in the UK that focus purely on portraiture, figurative painting, sculpture and printmaking. The college offers both vocational and part-time courses to students aged 18 years and over.

Archive photo of students and tutors working on an exhibition at Heatherleys in 1931..
Aleix Barbat

Proud of our students

We are proud of our students and their wonderful accomplishments.  Aleix Barbat, a student in his final year of the Figurative Sculpture Diploma and winner of the Tiranti Prize for Young Sculptors, was chosen to complete the Bronze Woman statue, a project based on a poem written by Cécile Nobrega.

Proud of our school

Heatherleys boasts a purpose built art college in an unrivalled location close to the Thames, in Chelsea. Completed as recently as June 2008,  the school is furnished with spacious and well-lit studios, a 3D workshop, a seminar room with video and IT facilities, making it a modern and welcoming environment.

The Diploma in Portraiture or Sculpture

The Diplomas enable you to take an intensive course in painting or sculpture with the human figure as the central theme.

The courses are of two years’ duration.

Diploma in Portraiture
Diploma in Sculpture

Continuing Studies / Portfolio Preparation

A self-selected pattern of study particularly suitable to those who have their own learning objectives

A comprehensive series of part-time courses is also available.

Continuing Studies and Portfolio Preparation

Part-Time Day and Evening Courses

Our day and evening classes are open to beginners as well as those with some experience and include life drawing, portrait painting, oil painting, watercolour, ceramics, figurative sculpture and printmaking.

Part-time courses

Holiday Courses

Heatherleys has been running successful summer holiday courses for many years now offering a variety of week-long courses in July and August. Each course has a defined set of aims and objectives and by selecting a range of courses it is possible to create a portfolio of work. Please refer to HOLIDAY COURSES section of the website for full details, dates and fees.

Holiday Courses

Open Studio

The Heatherley School of Fine Art Open Studio is based on the traditional French Atelier system which gives artists open access to a studio in which they are able to work from a model and with a tutor. It allows for a flexible pattern of attendance throughout the academic year.

Open Studio Tickets

Meet the people

The staff and tutors at the school are highly qualified, established masters in their fields, passionate professional artists and educators with a genuine mission to communicate, inspire and teach.

Our staff and tutors

Facilities available to students include

  • A purpose built art college completed in June 2008
  • A teaching staff made up of practising artists
  • An unrivalled location close to the Thames, in Chelsea, London
  • Easy access to London’s many art galleries and museums
  • Individual tutorial scheme
  • Well lit painting studios
  • Print room
  • Expert technical staff
  • Experienced models
  • Off-site drawing and painting days in nearby parks, by the river and in art galleries
  • Seminar room with video and IT facilities
  • Special lectures in fine art theory and practice
  • A well-stocked art library
  • School shop selling artists’ materials
BAC - British Accreditation Council

We are BAC accredited!

For over 30 years we have been responsible for setting standards within the independent further and higher education sector. The British Accreditation Council provides the leading mark of educational quality for the sector, which is used by students, parents, agencies and beyond as a guarantee of standards.

Patrons and Trustees

President
Nicola Hicks MBE

Patrons
Sir Christopher Howes KCVO CB
Lord Robin Janvrin GCB GCVO QSO PC
Lady Anya Sainsbury CBE

Chair

Christopher Penn

Trustees

Frances Christie
Peter Driscoll
John Eagle
Nicolas Gage
Roy Leighton
Julian Murray
Murray Shanks
Richard Sharp

We are here!

75 Lots Road, London SW10 0RN. The nearest overground station is Imperial Wharf (5 minutes’ walk) and underground Fulham Broadway (12 minutes’ walk).