Frequently Asked Questions

Life drawing is a form of art where artists draw the human figure from a live model. It allows artists to study the human form, understand anatomy, and improve their drawing skills. It's all about learning how to draw what you see, trusting your eyes, and expanding your creativity.

Chester Life Drawing runs untutored sessions with professional models and timed poses, so expect a friendly atmosphere with a fun soundtrack.  It's a fantastic chance to meet other artists eager to create, and dive into the wonderful world of life drawing!

If you're interested in something a little more wild, we recommend Pictura Studios or Funktion Events - both offer life drawing hen parties for a crazy creative night with a difference!

Not at all! We're all about being inclusive here at Chester Life Drawing. Whether you're a Picasso-in-training or someone who draws stick figures (hey, we've all been there!), you're more than welcome to join the fun.

You also don't have to be a regular member - there’s no pressure to come every week, just join us whenever you fancy. If you've never been before, feel free to pop in for a session and see what it's all about. 

Bring your favourite art supplies to work with! Pencils, charcoal, markers, chalk, ink, paints – and of course, some paper to draw on. The only thing we can't use is oil paints, as the ventilation isn't up to scratch. We also have paper, charcoal, and chalks available if you don't fancy lugging all your stuff over, or you'd like to try it out first before investing in new materials.

We have both standing easels and easel benches, so choose which one you'd prefer when booking your ticket and we'll do our best to make sure you get it.

If you're more of a digital art person, feel free to work on your iPad! All we ask is you cover the camera with some tape and card before we start, to protect our model's privacy.

If you've decided you'd like to splash out on some fancy new art supplies for the occasion, we highly recommend Northwich Art Shop. Owned by CLD regular Paul, the art shop is a treasure trove of paints, pastels, and every material you could dream of! Highly worth the trip out.

Our class is £10 per session, plus £1.55 Eventbrite fee.

If you would like to avoid paying the Eventbrite fee, we accept pre-bookings for the month ahead. Simply pay £10 per session for the days you plan to attend, either in cash or bank transfer. Get in touch via email (hello@chesterlifedrawing.com) to inquire.

We have space for 20 artists, so be sure to grab your ticket quick before we sell out!

We start at 7:00 PM. If you come along for about 10 minutes before the session starts, that should give you enough time to set your supplies out and get in the zone.

The University of Chester Creative Campus has free on-site parking. There are some spaces up at the front, and a bigger car park around the back.

To respect our model's privacy, we have a "no photography" policy during life drawing. When our model has finished posing, feel free to share art pics and studio snaps. If you're posting your artwork online, be sure to tag our Instagram and Facebook pages - we love seeing what you've made!

Our sessions last 2 hours with a little break in the middle. We mix it up with short and long poses, so you can try different styles and get into the creative flow.

The first half of life drawing is short, quick poses to get us all warmed up and in the zone. We usually do 5x 1 minute poses, then 1x 5 minute, 1x 10 minute, and 1x 20 minute poses. After this, it's a quick 10 minute break for a chat and to take some photos of your artwork.

After our little break, we buckle down with a couple of longer poses - usually either 1x 50 minutes, or split into 1x 20 minutes & 1x 30 minutes. This gives us time to really get our teeth stuck into something a bit more detailed, so feel free to bring some materials you would like to play with. We finish up with some more photos of your work, so don't run away before we can get pics!

We welcome artists aged 16+ to be part of our creative community here at Chester Life Drawing. We are happy to make exceptions for younger artists that are serious about developing a life drawing practice, but they would need to be accompanied by an adult for their first few sessions at least, to ensure they feel comfortable.

Occasionally our models request an 18+ audience due to personal reasons (most often being that they work with children outside of modelling and wouldn't want to potentially cross paths with a student, etc). These will always be clearly labelled on Eventbrite.

No, we would have to charge a lot more if these were taught classes. To keep prices down, we let you develop your practice at your own pace. We just organise the space, model, and pose times - you do the rest!

If you host taught life drawing classes in the North West and you'd like us to share a link on our site, just get in touch! We're always happy to support our fellow creative communities.

We have a roster of professional models who pose for us, and alternate between male and female models each week. Our model list for the month ahead is announced on social media, and listed on the Eventbrite page for the sessions.

Yes, our sessions will have nude models so you can study anatomy, understand proportions, and build a solid foundation in drawing the human figure.

Our models are professionals who are to be treated with respect throughout the session. We aim to create a focused and non-disruptive environment for everyone involved.

We advise wearing something comfortable that you don't mind getting messy. We definitely recommend comfy shoes if you plan on standing, and a hoodie or jumper you can take off or put on easily so you can regulate your temperature. We try to keep it cool but it does tend to get a bit warm with a full house of artists - especially if you're at a standing easel, life drawing can be a bit of a workout!

Of course! Feel free to bring a drink and a snack - staying hydrated can help if the room gets a little warm. Just remember to throw all your rubbish away when you're done.

YES! As a thank you to the University of Chester for hosting us in their purpose built life drawing studio, we offer a 50% discount to all UoC students. Just use the code CLDSTUDENT at the Eventbrite checkout, and bring your student pass when you come to draw with us!

Yes, the Creative Campus is an accessible space and Life Drawing is held on the ground floor. We have disabled bathrooms and adjustable easels so let us know how we can help in any way.

Life happens! Just give us a heads up as soon as you can, so we can open the space for someone else. If you've paid online, we can refund you after the session ends. Keep in mind, this refund doesn't include the admin fee for eventbrite!

No worries, we're all ears. Drop us a line with your question, and we'll get back to you with the answers you need.

We seek models who are friendly, creative, and punctual. It’s important to have a solid understanding of your body and an imaginative approach to shapes you can create with it. Being aware of how long you can comfortably hold poses is crucial. Poses need to be held as still as possible, so artists can complete a full anatomy study in the time given.

Through life modelling, you are offering artists the opportunity to study a range of human forms, with dynamic poses and emotional expression. Life drawing allows artists to study human anatomy in real-time, helping them understand proportions, muscle structure, and movement. Consider this when thinking of what you bring to the session. We encourage models to avoid simply standing or sitting straight on; instead, think about incorporating twists, diversity of shape, and fluidity into your poses. By being open to suggestions and collaborating with artists, models help create a more dynamic and engaging session, fostering a creative atmosphere.

Professionalism is key, and we value those who are open to reasonable suggestions and requests. A willingness to collaborate with our artists to help them get the most out of each session is greatly appreciated. We encourage a positive attitude, so being adaptable and receptive to feedback helps create a supportive environment for everyone involved. Leave your ego at the door, approach each session with an open mind, and remember that this is a team effort where everyone contributes to the creative process. Models who demonstrate respectful and patient communication during sessions and via emails to create a positive atmosphere will be prioritised over those who are overly persistent or exhibit passive-aggressive behaviour.

If you've never modelled before, we recommend attending a couple of sessions as an artist to see what's expected. You don't need to be an artist to be able to model, but attending at least 2 life drawing sessions will show you understand the kinds of poses, timings, and professionalism required to become a model.

We do prefer experienced, professional models for our sessions, but understand the importance of supporting new talent. If you're new to modelling, please let us know when you get in touch. We're happy to consider newer models for the quieter Tuesday evenings, and if all goes well, there is potenital to build up to working the busier Thursday evening sessions.

Please send us your name, phone number, email, and location. We also prefer if you can share a portfolio showcasing your modelling experience.

Starting in 2025, we will book models in advance for 3-month slots. When booking opens, we'll send out an email and you can reply with your availability for Tuesdays and Thursdays over the upcoming 3 months. 

We will fill out our booking sheet with a variety of models we feel gives our artists the most variety, interest, and quality of sessions. Once the slots are filled we will contact you with details, including our onboarding document and booking calendar.

We don’t send reminders, so please keep track of your bookings and confirm your availability when slots are offered. You’ll be added to our booking calendar and will only be contacted if any changes are needed. Otherwise, we’ll assume you’re aware of your scheduled dates and will arrive as agreed.

We can't guarantee modelling opportunities, as we use a variety of models for our sessions. This helps keep things fresh and interesting for our artists.

We're super busy, and sometimes emails do get lost in the shuffle. Please don't expect instant replies. If you don't hear back, feel free to resend your portfolio for the next intake period.

We use emails to book our modelling schedule. Please be respectful and patient in your communication. 

Chester Life Drawing is run as a supplementary venture, and life can impact our response times. Not replying promptly isn’t a reflection of disrespect; we are just busy humans, and emails may occasionally get missed. We appreciate your understanding with this. While we strive to offer opportunities, bookings are not guaranteed. 

Rudeness, entitlement, or passive-aggressive communication won't be tolerated. We encourage clear and direct communication, and we ask that you approach interactions with an assumption of goodwill. Models who engage in overly persistent inquiries or regularly exhibit unconstructive, sarcastic, accusatory, or entitled behaviour will be removed from the roster.

During our sessions, models are expected to maintain a professional demeanor, and we appreciate those who are open to reasonable suggestions and requests. Collaborating with our artists to enhance their experience is highly valued. A positive attitude is essential, and being adaptable and receptive to feedback fosters a supportive environment for everyone involved. Models who communicate respectfully and patiently, both during sessions and via emails, will be prioritised in our roster. Your willingness to engage with suggestions and collaborate with artists helps create a more dynamic and inspiring atmosphere.

Please note that the lead tutor retains the right to stop or request an amendment (within reason) to any pose at any point. This may look like:
• Suggesting modifications to ensure both the model and artists have the best possible experience.
• Asking for the removal of a prop or costume piece if it interferes with the artists' ability to accurately study anatomy.
• Stopping the pose if it appears the model is in discomfort.

These requests are not meant as insults or criticisms; rather, we’re focused on making the sessions as effective as possible. We will remain polite and respectful, and expect models to offer the same courtesy in return by engaging with feedback in a positive and constructive manner.

Professionalism is expected from everyone involved.

To apply, please email us at hello@chesterlifedrawing.com with your name, phone number, email, location, and a portfolio (if you have one). Keeping communication through email helps us stay organised and ensures everything is in one place, making it easier to manage applications and respond to inquiries.

£40 for the 2-hour session, in line with the Register of Artist Models guidelines.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm - 9pm. We recommend arriving around 6:45pm, which gives you plenty of time to get settled.

University of Chester Creative Campus, Kingsway, Chester, CH2 2LB. 

It's about a 20-minute walk from the train station and a 30-minute walk from the central bus station. There’s plenty of free parking available on-site if you’re driving. We are unable to cover travel costs, so please keep this in mind when applying to model for us.

We work with models over the age of 18. There is no upper age limit.

Artists of all ages are welcome at CLD, including Under 16s (who must be accompanied by an adult). If you’re uncomfortable modelling for Under 16s, please let me know so I can specify that on the Eventbrite page.

Other than being 18+, there are no restrictions for models. We celebrate diversity and welcome models of all shapes, sizes, skin colour, disabilities, genders, etc. Our aim is to provide artists with a variety of human forms to study and appreciate, so everyone is encouraged to apply!

If you are non-binary and would prefer not to be slotted into a male/female week, let us know. This way, we can add a non-binary week when booking our schedule for the coming months.

It’s important for models to come prepared with their own pose ideas. We encourage dynamic and varied poses that focus on the interesting shapes that can be made with the human body. 

As a model, your main priority is that each pose can be held still for the duration required. For shorter durations, opt for more energetic poses, while relaxed poses work better for longer holds. We recommend practicing beforehand to ensure you can maintain the pose comfortably. While artists may suggest poses, you are not obligated to take them. If you do, please ensure you can hold the pose steadily.  We encourage models to avoid simply standing or sitting straight on; instead, think about incorporating twists, diversity of shape, and fluidity into your poses. 

We trust you to know your body’s limits. If you need to stop and stretch, take a pause, or call the pose time short, this is completely understandable and encouraged. We may step in to stop the pose if it seems like you might hurt yourself. Again, we DO NOT want you to suffer, so we would rather you call it than struggle through in pain. Modelling should be a creative, engaging, and fun experience, not something painful that leaves you with lasting cramps. By trusting you to model for us, we are trusting you to speak up with your needs.

Please note that the lead tutor retains the right to stop or request an amendment (within reason) to any pose at any point. This may look like:
• Suggesting modifications to ensure both the model and artists have the best possible experience.
• Asking for the removal of a prop or costume piece if it interferes with the artists' ability to accurately study anatomy.
• Stopping the pose if it appears the model is in discomfort.

These requests are not meant as insults or criticisms; rather, we’re focused on making the sessions as effective as possible. We will remain polite and respectful, and expect models to offer the same courtesy in return by engaging with feedback in a positive and constructive manner.

Our pose times are consistent each session. The first half is warm-ups, followed by longer poses when everyone is focused. If a 50-minute pose feels too much, we can split it into a 20 & 30 instead. We are happy to work around ideas for different pose times, but recommend they follow this general structure of shorter poses at the beginning of the session, moving towards longer poses towards the end of the session.

First Half:
5x 1-minute poses
1x 5-minute pose
1x 10-minute pose
1x 20-minute pose

10-minute break to take photos of everyone’s work and have a chat

Second Half: 
1x 50-minute pose
OR
1x 20-minute pose
1x 30-minute pose

Finish the session and take more photos.

We set out the studio space in a circle, with two stage blocks set together in the middle for you to pose on. These are professional pieces of equipment from the drama department, so they’re structurally safe to stand on.

We have a small storeroom beside the studio space for you to change and leave your items. We have a dressing gown and slippers available, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer.

Life happens! Just give us a heads up as soon as you can, so we can open the space for someone else. If you've paid online, we can refund you after the session ends. Keep in mind, this refund doesn't include the admin fee for eventbrite!

No worries, we're all ears. Drop us a line with your question, and we'll get back to you with the answers you need.