For decades, Ian Fennelly has filled his sketchbooks with streets, skylines, and breathtaking landscapes – but rarely a face.
Now, for the first time, he reveals how the same method that makes buildings come alive can also capture the spark of the people you love.
And you don’t need anatomy books, endless measuring, or “natural talent.”
In Sketch People, Ian Fennelly guides you through his gentle 4-step Layers of Looking method that allows you to fill your sketchbook with faces, stories, and memories that matter – even if the last person you drew was a stick figure in kindergarten.
Why Portraits?
If you’ve ever opened your sketchbook and frozen at the thought of drawing a face, you’re not alone.
Buildings feel safe – steady lines, and no judgment if a window looks off.
But people? They move, they change, and the fear of “getting it wrong” can stop you cold.
And yet, people are at the heart of our memories: a grandchild’s grin, a partner’s thoughtful expression, a friend’s twinkling eyes.
That’s why Ian created Sketch People – because portraits aren’t about anatomy or perfection. They’re about stories, quirks, and personality.
Your Sketch People Lessons
You’ll start small – and see progress right from your first lesson.
By the end, your sketchbook won’t just hold drawings…
It will hold faces you love – grandchildren, partners, and friends – captured with warmth and character in a way only you could create.
A personal legacy, signed with your hand, that your family will cherish for generations.
And it all begins today with over a dozen never-before-shared lessons from Ian Fennelly:
Lesson 1: Sketch Karen
In this first lesson, you’ll learn how to ease into portrait sketching with confidence.
Karen’s curls, glasses, and scarf provide the perfect chance to practice building a portrait from loose outlines into bold features. You’ll see how simple lines and tonal layers bring character to life.
Lesson 2: Sketch Graham
Graham’s bold features, glasses, and beard make him the perfect subject for exploring contrast and exaggeration
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to balance strong lines with playful details – capturing not just likeness, but the humor and personality that shine through his story-filled face.
Lesson 3: Sketch Jill
With Jill, you’ll discover how hair, tone, and small details can completely transform a portrait.
From subtle hatching to expressive line work, this lesson shows you how to bring warmth and character into your sketches – turning everyday features into stories on the page.
Lesson 4: Sketch Ann
Ann’s portrait gives you the chance to practice capturing elegance and energy with simple shapes and confident lines.
From her flowing hair to the details of her expression, you’ll learn how to suggest movement and warmth without overworking the page – building portraits that feel alive and approachable.
Lesson 5: Sketch Weisang
With Weisang, you’ll explore how subtle features and thoughtful expression can be translated into strong portraits.
This lesson focuses on proportion, shading, and restraint – showing you how just a few deliberate marks can capture calm, character, and quiet strength.
Lesson 6: Sketch Naz
Naz’s portrait is all about expression. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to capture subtle shifts in mood – from a relaxed smile to quiet focus – using confident line work and tonal accents.
It’s the perfect practice for sketching real people in real moments, where every expression tells a story.
By Lesson Seven Your Portrait Sketches will be flowing with confidence
Lesson 7: Sketch Dom
Dom’s portrait gives you the chance to practice strong outlines and characterful features – from his glasses to his expressive smile.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to simplify bold shapes while still capturing warmth and personality, creating portraits that feel both confident and approachable
Lesson 8: Sketch Pat
With Pat, you’ll explore how everyday details – from hairstyle to expression – can become the heart of a portrait.
This lesson focuses on building character through tonal contrast and small accents, helping you sketch with sensitivity while keeping your lines bold and clear.
Lesson 9: Sketch John
John’s portrait invites you to work with thoughtful expression and finer lines.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use proportion, subtle shading, and line variation to suggest wisdom and depth – skills that will give your portraits lasting presence and dignity.
Lesson 10: Sketch James
James’s portrait is all about thoughtful eyes, lively energy, and a sense of adventure.
In this lesson, you’ll practice balancing precision with looseness – using clean lines for structure while letting expression shine through. You’ll discover how to capture not just features, but the stories that shape a person.
Lesson 11: Sketch Eva
With Eva, you’ll explore how individuality comes through in detail – from her bold eyeliner to her jewellery and unique sense of style.
This lesson focuses on expressing warmth and character through confident line work, subtle shading, and small but meaningful accents.
Lesson 12: Sketch Arg
Arj is a trauma surgeon with a calm, steady presence – but also an adventurer who loves snowboarding and travel.
In this lesson, you’ll discover how to capture both resilience and curiosity in a portrait, showing strength under pressure alongside a spark for life.
By the end, you’ll know how to sketch the people you love with confidence - creating stories your family will cherish for generations
But That's Not All...
Ian wanted to develop your skills even further - so he created a special Bonus Bundle of extra workshops.
These aren’t just trainings, they’re challenges designed to stretch your skills - from drawing familiar faces, adapting your style to animals, to keeping up with the playful energy of a child.
FREE WORKSHOP 1: Sketch Cam
More at home behind the camera than in front of it.
Cam’s portrait shows you how to capture humor and warmth in a familiar face – using simple marks to bring out creativity and character.
FREE WORKSHOP 2: Sketch Stan
Sketching animals is a whole new challenge.
With Stan, you’ll learn how to capture a dog’s warmth and mischief – and how Ian adapts his Layers of Looking Method to bring lively pets to life on the page.
FREE WORKSHOP 3: Sketch Amelia
Children don’t sit still – and that’s the point.
With Amelia, you’ll learn how to sketch quickly and playfully, capturing movement, innocence, and personality in just a few expressive lines.
This Bonus Training Bundle is FREE (Worth ) when you sign up to Sketch People Today
And there's even more to this course, because once you’ve progressed from hesitant lines to confident portraits, Ian takes you behind the scenes with this final bonus training - a personal tour of his Sketch People sketchbook.
From Karen’s flowing hair to Stan the Labrador’s big, loveable nose, you’ll see every portrait up close - and hear the stories, surprises, and lessons behind each one.
It’s an intimate look at how sketches evolve into art, and how your own lines can carry stories that last.
Kian
Adventurous, playful, and full of drive, his portrait celebrates a young man with courage and character.
Pete
A lifelong teacher with a love of history, his portrait celebrates wisdom, warmth, and a twinkle of mischief.
Jenny
Teacher, traveller, and storyteller, her portrait celebrates a character full of wit, warmth, and fascination with the world.
Vishesh
With roots in India and life in the UK, every line reflects his compassion, resilience, and boundless enthusiasm.
Lynn
Full of character and joy, her portrait becomes a challenge in observation, patience, and connection putting your new sketching skills to the test.
Add PLUS to your account when you purchase this course to unlock 5 extra portraits!
Proof Ian's Method Works
Over 50,000 people have taken Ian's courses, with hundreds of 5-star reviews posted to trusted sites like Trustpilot:
Why This Course Matters for You
If you’ve ever thought, “I can’t draw people…” – this unique training changes that.
By the time you finish, you won’t just draw faces – you’ll bring them to life. With Ian’s simple, 4-step Layers of Looking method, you’ll go from hesitant lines to portraits filled with energy, character, and expression.
And it’s more than learning to draw. You’ll be filling your sketchbook with the people who matter most – family, friends, even strangers whose stories catch your eye. Each sketch becomes a memory captured, a story preserved, a legacy created by your own hand.
Imagine opening your sketchbook – but instead of blank pages – you see a gallery of faces you love.
Grandchildren, partners, friends… each captured in your hand, each a memory preserved. These aren’t just sketches – they’re treasures your family can cherish and pass down for generations.
Don’t let those precious faces go un-sketched – start today and discover how to turn memories into art that lasts forever.
Start Today
INSTANT LIFETIME ACCESSOnly:
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The Complete Sketch People Course (12 Online Workshops)
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BONUS 1: 3 Workshop Training Bundle ( Value)
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BONUS 2: Private Sketchbook Tour ( Value)
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BONUS 3: Free Access to our Urban Sketchers Feedback Gallery ( Value)
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24/7 Lifetime Access (it never expires)
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30-Day Money Back Guarantee
Frequently Asked Questions
This course is designed for sketchers of every level – even complete beginners who have never drawn a face before. Ian focuses on personality and expression, not perfection or technical accuracy.
Absolutely. Buildings give structure, but people bring life and storytelling. By learning to sketch portraits, you’ll develop confidence in capturing character – a skill that will enrich all of your sketching, whether you focus on portraits or urban scenes.
Yes. This is over-the-shoulder learning with Ian Fennelly.
Ian is an experienced and engaging teacher and has broken each workshop down into easy-to-follow stages. Within each of those stages, he takes you through each step in the process while explaining everything he is doing, slowly and methodically.
You have the flexibility to slow down, pause, or speed up each tutorial to match your learning pace. Some students also prefer to watch the videos first and then watch them again and sketch along. The choice is yours!
Plus, with lifetime access, you can revisit the course as many times as you like.
The entire course spans approximately 12 hours, but it’s organized into short, manageable lessons. You have the option to repeat any scenes with Ian for additional practice.
While it’s a comprehensive course, you benefit from lifetime access, allowing you to proceed at your own relaxed pace and on your schedule.
Our learning platform is incredibly user-friendly. Each workshop tutorial features step-by-step videos, supplemented with additional guidance and interactive elements to enhance your learning experience. Just navigate through the lessons and play the videos as you proceed.
Yes, you’ll receive lifetime access to the course along with all accompanying downloads and resources. It never expires, allowing you to learn at your own pace, on your schedule, and any device.
Ian Fennelly has inspired thousands of sketchers around the world with his vibrant, energetic style – and his gift for making art feel simple, joyful, and achievable. His teaching turns complicated subjects into clear, confidence-building steps that anyone can follow.
Now, for the first time, Ian invites you into a brand-new challenge: sketching people. Instead of streets and skylines, you’ll discover how to capture faces, expressions, and personality with the same playful spirit that has made his urban scenes so loved.
You’ll watch Ian bring out the individuality of each sitter – not through stiff rules or measuring, but with loose lines, bold marks, and expressive colour that make every portrait feel alive.
And just as Ian is evolving his own sketchbooks, he invites you to evolve yours. Sketch People is about taking risks, trying something new, and unlocking the power of portraits to add warmth, storytelling, and legacy to your art.
Yes! As an UrbanSketch+member you’ll get a 20% discount on the course price PLUS you’ll get 5 extra people sketching workshops (20 in total!).
If you’re not an UrbanSketch+ member then you can add Plus membership at the checkout page and you’ll get the same benefits.
The course discounts alone ensures that an UrbanSketch+ membership continues to pay for itself.
