Life Drawing Manchester

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

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Bee Creative Life Drawing

Until 31 July 2026

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

life drawing
Life Drawing Manchester
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When it comes to finding the headspace with which to be creative, attending a class or going to a studio can really help you get into the zone. Being in an environment that’s detached from the outside world where you can fully devote your attention to a single task is something we often neglect to do in our busy lives. Life drawing classes are a great place to find that calm focus, as a practise that builds the technical foundations for other artistic pursuits, it gives you a gateway into sketching and drawing.

In Manchester we’re spoilt for choice of places to cultivate these skills. Bee Creative Studio hosts life drawing workshops for people of all abilities at various venues in the Northern Quarter. The sessions run sporadically so be sure to check the website for upcoming dates. The workshops are a space in which you are encouraged to experiment with style, technique and form. Each class lasts around two hours and is a combination of longer poses and short quick sketches, with a break in between. They aim to vary models and represent a wide range of people so that each class features figures of different sizes, ages and ethnicities. 

Life drawing isn’t about just drawing nude figures, it is a way of challenging your own perceptions of beauty. In the setting of a class you are part of a larger group, this is a brilliant way to share the knowledge of those around and let yourself be inspired by their ideas. Life drawing, as well as helping improve technical artistic skills, questions our own identities in a healthy way through drawing another person in their most vulnerable state.

The sessions are untutored but a range of media is provided such as pencils, pastels, sharpeners, rubbers and paper. Artists are also encouraged to bring their own materials should they wish to work with something different.

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The Chevin is a great place for visitors to do lots of different activities and is open all year round with 5 free car parks. To help you find out whatís best for you we have divided this section up into some of these different activities.Please be aware that The Chevin is a working estate so you may see vehicles including timber-extraction lorries using some of the tracks.Self-guided WalksThe Chevin is a big place and there is a good network of paths to make your own circular walk, but if you want to follow a themed trail there is a Geology Trail, Heritage Time Trail and a route for Tree Spotters.Bikes & HorsesThere is an extensive bridleway network on the eastern parts of The Chevin that caters for a range of abilities.Orienteering and GeocachingTwo orienteering courses and a number of geocache sites are waiting to be discovered.Climbing & BoulderingThere are many fantastic crags for climbing and boulders for bouldering.Mobility Scooters & Wheelchairs
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Oporto

For many years, Oporto has been a beacon of alternative energy on Leeds’ Call Lane – serving up great food and drink alongside resident DJs and live music.

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