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arts · Tuesday 1 September 2026 · 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM 
Portrait Drawing Masterclass
At Wexford Arts Centre · High Street, Wexford, Co. Wexford
At Wexford Arts Centre · High Street, Wexford, Co. Wexford
Portrait drawing is one of the most demanding disciplines in visual art - the human face is so familiar that even a small error in proportion reads immediately as wrong. This single-day masterclass at Wexford Arts Centre is designed for those who want to get past that barrier through focused, structured practice. Led by an experienced figurative artist, it covers the full foundation: anatomy, proportions, likeness and expression. If you can already draw but want to push your portrait work to a more confident level, this is a good use of a September Tuesday.
The day runs from 10am to 4pm and is structured as an intensive rather than a casual class. The morning typically covers the technical groundwork - skull structure, the placement of features, the landmarks that make proportions reliable rather than guesswork. The afternoon shifts toward drawing from life, with supervised practice and individual feedback from the tutor.
Participants work from reference images and, where available, live models. The format is demonstration followed by practice, so you see the approach before trying it yourself. Class sizes are kept small to allow the tutor to work with each person individually. A materials list is sent out after booking so you arrive prepared.
Prior drawing experience is recommended - this is pitched at intermediate to advanced level, not complete beginners. If you are just starting out, it is worth checking with Wexford Arts Centre about whether the class suits your current stage.
Wexford Arts Centre has been running workshops of this kind since 1974, when it became the first regional arts centre in Ireland. The building - an 18th-century Cornmarket structure in the town centre - has a dedicated workshop space with room for the kind of close observation that portrait drawing requires.
Wexford town is on the N25, roughly 1 hour 40 minutes south of Dublin. From the north, take the M11 and continue on the N11 into Wexford. Bus Eireann runs regular services from Dublin Busaras (route 055). The town is compact and the arts centre is walkable from the bus station. Street parking is available in the town centre, and there is a car park on Redmond Square a short walk away. If you are coming by train, Wexford station is on the Rosslare Europort line with connections from Dublin Connolly.
Wexford town sits on the River Slaney estuary and has a well-preserved medieval street pattern worth a wander before or after the class. September is a pleasant time to visit - the summer crowds have thinned and the town is quieter. There is more to see in Wexford and across Co. Wexford.
Heading to Wexford Arts Centre in Wexford? Wexford has plenty more to see. Read the Wexford area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.