This summer, the National Portrait Gallery isn’t just warming up – it’s turning the heat all the way up. From inky sketches in the spirit of Edvard Munch to smudged masterpieces à la Jenny Saville, this isn’t your average gallery crawl. Think drop-in drawing on Friday nights, Champagne before noon, queer history tours, and intimate talks that tug at the heart and tickle the intellect.
All set against the backdrop of London’s ever-creative pulse – and yes, Shoreditch-style inspiration included.
Portrait Painting Meets Punk Energy: Jenny Saville Takes Centre Stage
If your idea of painting involves delicate watercolours and gentle brushstrokes, think again. Jenny Saville’s work is raw, bold, and unflinchingly visceral. Her first major UK exhibition, The Anatomy of Painting, inspires a weekend workshop (12–13 July) where artist Kim Scouller invites you to channel your inner Saville – smearing, distorting and pushing portraiture to the brink.
And the best part? You don’t need to be a Royal Academy alumnus to join in. Whether you’re a complete beginner or seasoned sketcher, this two-day event welcomes all.
Drop In, Zone Out, Draw Freely: Friday Nights Just Got Creative
Not ready to commit to a full-on workshop? No stress. The free Drop-in Drawing sessions (2 May, 6 June, 4 July) are the perfect way to decompress after a long week. Pop by for ten minutes or stay for two hours. Everything’s provided – even stools (if you don’t fancy standing like you’re in an arthouse film).
It’s spontaneous, creative and gloriously unpretentious – just how we like it in East London.
Edvard Munch’s Ghost Still Haunts Us – in the Best Way Possible
Forget The Scream for a second. The Munch magic runs deeper, and the Gallery’s panel discussion on 23 May proves just that. Join literary powerhouse Ali Smith, artist Vanessa Baird, and Munch Museum curator Trine Otte Bak Nielsen as they dive into Munch’s legacy. Expect insight, reflection, and probably a few existential questions by the end.
Need something more hands-on? Gabrielle-Aimée Séguin leads a one-day oil pastel workshop on 10 May, inspired by Stanisław Wyspiański. Think colour. Think emotion. Think brilliant smudgy chaos.
Derek Jarman, WWII Memories, and Queer Conversations
This isn’t just a programme for artists. It’s for thinkers, history lovers, and those with a penchant for stories that stir the soul. On 1 May, biographer Tony Peake discusses the brilliant and brave life of Derek Jarman. Later that month, historian Mike Brown marks 80 years since VE Day with a powerful lecture on The Day Peace Broke Out (8 May).
Meanwhile, Jon Sleigh’s Queer Conversations tour (13 June) digs deep into LGBTQ+ histories hidden in plain sight throughout the Gallery. Raw, real, and far more fabulous than your average art tour.
Champagne Mornings Because… Why Not?
Forget brunch. The Art of Champagne mornings (3 and 14 May) combine exclusive early gallery access with Champagne tastings at The Portrait Restaurant. Led by Searcys’ Master of Champagne, Martin Dibben, you’ll sip like royalty – literally. The tours explore portraits of global royals or women who helped shape Champagne history. It’s bubbly, brilliant, and very Shoreditch-on-holiday energy.
For the Tiny Artists and Curious Teens: Family and Youth Events
Got little ones with big imaginations? The Gallery’s got you. May half-term brings Family Day: Bold and Bright (27 May) – a full-on art explosion using collage, paint and textiles. Monthly Little Explorers sessions (for under 5s) keep the creative chaos going with songs, stories, and play.
For the older crowd (15–25), Youth Takeover: The Face Magazine (8 May) brings zines, styling, fashion photography and retro culture to life. Plus, Going Pro (28–30 May) offers teens real insight into creative careers behind the Gallery’s magic.
Inclusion, Always: Accessible and Diverse Programming
The Gallery’s access programme proves that great art is for everyone. Audio-described and tactile tours (20 May, 24 June, 29 July) welcome blind and partially sighted visitors into deeper engagement with the works. BSL-led tours (30 May, 27 June, 25 July) offer social, inclusive art experiences for Deaf and hard of hearing visitors.
For those who think differently, the Sensory Tour (28 July) explores portraits through smell, sound, and movement – because creativity should tickle all the senses.
Join the Inner Circle: Exclusive Members-Only Events
Feeling fancy? Become a Gallery Member and unlock workshops like Life Drawing (2 May) and Analogue Photography (28 June) in intimate group settings. Prefer drama and gossip over drawing? National Portrait Gallery Stories gets personal – with themed after-hours tours like Feuds and Fights (30 May), Great Loves and Losses (6 June), and Rogues and Rebels (25 July).
Who knew the nation’s most famous faces had such juicy backstories?
From creative chaos to cultural reflection, the National Portrait Gallery’s Summer 2025 line-up is shaping up to be a total masterpiece. Whether you want to paint like Jenny Saville, sip like a monarch, or discover stories of love, rebellion and legacy – there’s something here to stir your soul (and your sketchbook).
And in classic Shoreditch fashion, you don’t have to play by the rules. Dip in, drop out, drink Champagne, or draw until your fingers are smudged with joy. Just don’t miss it.
