About The London Sketch Club

Founded at the end of the 19th Century as a club for professional artists and illustrators, today the London Sketch Club is open to both professional and amateur artists. Members, and non-members, enjoy weekly life drawing and portraiture classes at the club’s historic studio in Chelsea.

A brief history

The London Sketch Club was founded on April Fool’s Day 1898 by a breakaway group of members from the Langham Sketching Club, following a disagreement over whether to have hot or cold suppers after an evening’s drawing.

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The London Sketch Club 1898-2023

A visual celebration

This book tells the story of the club through the work of its highly talented and often characterful members. The illustrations, from the club’s archives, date back to the club’s founding on April Fool’s Day in 1898.

Book details 
The london sketch club 1898-2023 - a visual celebration

Club archives

The London Sketch Club holds, in storage, archival material dating back to the club’s foundation.

The London Sketch Club archives 
Smoking Conversazione invitation 1907