There’s something spine-chilling about walking around the Tower of London at night. By day the attraction is crowded with tourists fighting to get a good photo, but after closing time it becomes still, quiet and spooky. In fact, the creepy atmosphere is the first thing you notice when you arrive at the castle for its new series of adult-only art classes Drawn at the Tower.
The two-hour events are an opportunity for tourist-weary Londoners to reclaim access to the landmark in a creative way. Organised with Art Macabre, each evening offers a drinks reception before before the exploring and drawing begins. The February event featured actors dressed authentically as Henry the Eighth and Anne Boleyn, who stood in a series of poses around the building as a narrator told their love story chapter by chapter. Highlights included the duo taking turns to stand in the spot where Anne was beheaded, and a badge-making workshop with London-based artist Lozzy Bones in the crypt.
Participants are provided with a whole array of drawing materials, and it seemed from a few sneaky peeks at neighbouring sketchbooks that ability levels were really varied. Ultimately, the event isn’t a serious life drawing class; the poses are often very short and the whole experience has more of a ‘school trip’ vibe than that of an art lesson. It is, however, a great way to experience one of London’s most iconic landmarks. Especially if you’re into creepy stuff. Kate Lloyd