Phil Dean (AKA Shoreditch Sketcher) trained as graphic designer in Leeds, England when learning to draw properly was essential for the job. Before computers took over, physical drawing was much more part of the creative process than it is today. Over the years, in his roles as a designer Phil gradually drew less as part of his commissioned work and more in his personal sketching work.

His first love is live drawing on location, and the vibrant and eclectic urban landscape inspires Phil to get out and about and capture the cityscapes. Phil sketches at home in London and wherever he travels, previously sketching on the streets of Zurich, Los Angeles, Malaga, San Francisco, Girona, Florence and Paris.

Increasingly Phil is being asked to sketch events and situations where photography doesn’t really do them justice or there is something essential and emotional about a drawing that connects the viewer to the scene, more than a ubiquitous photograph can.

Phil regularly teaches urban sketching workshops and posts drawings from cities around the world using his popular Instagram account, @shoreditchsketcher, which has more than 100,000 followers. His debut book, TATE Sketch Club: Urban Drawing, was published in 2020, followed by his follow up book Urban Watercolour in 2022. Both are available to buy.

 Instagram  Website

Urban Sketching: Truly engaging with the city

Workshop language: English

Drawing in urban spaces offers a completely new way in which to engage with a city. Sketching in Geneva will be an exciting experience, offering unique sketching opportunities -- my goal is to help and inspire workshop attendees to capture as much of this in their work!

Sketching is a very personal thing for every artist, regardless of the level they are at, and I hope to impart as much of my hard-won knowledge and experience to everyone who attends my workshops. What I have come to appreciate over the years is that the more you are exposed to different artists and styles, the better you become at your own craft.

Let’s get sketching!

Key skills:

Key skills taught in the workshops:

Loosening up

• Getting sketch ready
• Looking for sketching potential

Building a scene

• Measuring
• Composition
• Perspective
• Small scale sketching
• Sweeping scale

Tone and contrast

Taking it further

• People
• Creativity
• Details
• Colour

Finishing touches

• Tips and tricks
• When to stop
• Sharing your work

Suggested material:

• Sketchbook / paper
• Fineliner pens / pencils / markers / gel pen
• Brushes / watercolour / water
• Portable stool (essential)